Anika Stafford, DRE

3083 Making Magic: Stories and Activities for Pagan Holidays

Speaker: Anika Stafford, DRE

Sponsor: UUA Staff

Prepared for UUA.org by: Dick Merritt, Reporter, Editor Jone Johnson Lewis

In a presentation sponsored by Skinner House, Anika Stafford told us about her new book and how to use it to celebrate the pagan holidays in our families and congregations. Stafford is an experienced Director of Religious Education and author of the new Skinner House book Aisha's Moonlit Walk: Stories and Celebrations for the Pagan Year.

Stafford explained that the book is a collection of eight stories, one for each of the neo-pagan holidays, followed by discussion questions and activities. It includes a guide for parents and educators to understand and conduct celebrations of the pagan holidays.

To show us how it is done, Stafford told "The Great Giveaway," the story for the Summer Solstice. As in all of the stories, this one features Aisha and her best friend Heather, a pair of really "with it" ten-year old girls. The teaching points are clear enough for children, but fun enough for adults. They are ideally suited for multi-generational use.

After telling the story, Safford led us in a short ritual which included: a brief centering exercise to get us present in our bodies and place, the directions and elements were honored, and the circle was declared cast. Stafford then lead the participants in one of the celebratory exercises: making flower chains. We were asked to declare what we wanted to manifest and requests for help from the Universe as we added the flowers. Our declarations, dedications, and requests could be silent or aloud. We sang a chant, "The Earth is Our Mother," and closed the circle.

Stafford opened the floor for questions and comments. Many centered on how to make Earth-centered activities and worship acceptable in resistant congregations. The stories and activities in this book are at least a partial answer.

Anika Stafford's Aisha's Moonlit Walk: Stories and Celebrations for the Pagan Year can be purchased from the UUA Bookstore.

Unitarian Universalist Association
25 Beacon St. | Boston, MA 02108 | 617-742-2100