January Update: Classes, Our Book, New Items

We have quietly been working on a big project: we’re writing a book! It is going to be an amalgam of our personal spiritual practices with everything from domestic magic to spiritworking, from polytheism to ritual costuming and quite a bit in between. As we work on it, we will be publishing each section as its own ‘article’ so to speak for purchase. They will be available for immediate digital PDF download, but we may also do some limited edition hand-bound and blockprinted booklets as well. Isáine is attempting to create linoblock carvings for each book section, and we want to do inked prints and have them available separate from the booklets as well. We are just finishing up the section on Shapeshifting and getting it ready for sale.

In preparation for the release of our shapeshifting article (and all the others to come) we will be doing a string of posts here and on our Facebook page on the topic. There will be short stories, articles or links to other posts/authors on the topic,  personal recounting and of course Q&A and opportunities to share your own stories for anyone who cares to.  Shapeshifting, though a bit more advanced of a practice, is also going to be one of the first classes that we offer.

We decided near the end of 2014 to start offering one-on-one mentoring and classes as we are able after the New Year. Now that it is now 2015, it is time to get the ball rolling! We are still working on class outlines, setting up online programs/recordings, and arranging spots for teaching in-person locally (Swansboro/Jacksonville, NC), but in the meantime we are available for short one-on-one mentoring sessions on various topics, listed below. If you are seeking information or guidance regarding a topic not listed, please contact us and we will see what we can do to help! There are others we know who may be of help when we aren’t. Message us on Facebook or better yet, e-mail us at: thetwistedtree.shoppe@gmail.com

—–>>To read more about our classes please see our new Page (under “Classes & Gatherings”).

[[ As we finalize class details we will post scheduling there, updates on our blog feed and Facebook page, and in our newsletter. To be sure to not miss any upcoming classes please subscribe to our MailChimp Newsletter here: https://www.facebook.com/TheTwistedTree.Shoppe/app_100265896690345 ]]

** We are also going to start doing short recordings and posting them on Youtube and our blog (here) covering various topics, Q&A/FAQs (send us yours!), how-to’s and crafts, etc. so keep an eye out for those! **

[[ One-on-One Mentoring Sessions ]]

• Cost~ We ask for a donation of $15-$35/hour, whatever you can afford and feel that our time, knowledge, and service are worth … We accept Cash or Paypal
• Topics~ Women’s Mysteries, Sacred Beekeeping & Path of the Melissae, Domestic/Hearth Magic, Protection Magic, Basic Energy Work, Spiritworking & Bioregional Animism, Working with Deities/Polytheism, Involving Kids in Practice, Altered States of Consciousness, Sacred Birthkeeping, Shapeshifting, How To: Magical Healing…

[[ Upcoming Classes: Online ]]

• Cost~ Classes/Videos will range from Free to $25, but we always welcome donations
• Current Topics~ Protection Magic + Shapeshifting + Altered States + Herbal Medicine Making + Bioregional Animism: Working with Spirits of Place + Intro to the Path of the Bee + Domestic/Hearth Magic…

[[ Upcoming Classes: Local ]]

• Cost~ Classes will range from $10-$35/person to cover the cost of any supplies, and we always welcome donations. We may occasionally offer a free class, and hold drawings to win a free class!
• Current Topics~ Protection Magic + Shapeshifting + Altered States + Herbal Medicine Making + Bioregional Animism: Working with Spirits of Place + Intro to the Path of the Bee + Domestic/Hearth Magic…

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And last but not least, we have new items in the shop! Be sure to check them out before they’re gone– limited quantities on most. Custom orders are always welcome! [[ Use Coupon Code: NewYr2015 during checkout for free shipping! ]] *Domestic purchases only, valid through January 20, 2015*

 

Pagan Homeschooling & Parenting Resources

 

This is going to be an on-going post updated as I find new information, resources, and websites to add to it. This is partly for my own records, but also for sharing with others. Our son is only 2.5 but it is never too soon to start “education”. We are keen to the “un-schooling” movement, and I am also a fan of Waldorf education, and being homeschooled myself for a time, I have a fondness for it. We will probably be doing a blend of styles, potentially enrolling him in a Waldorf school or group, etc. when the time comes, but we as an eclectic pagan family want to raise him in a nature-honoring, animistic and spiritual way while also teaching about other religions and cultures, science and mathematics, philosophy and astronomy, arts and bardcraft, writing and storytelling, etc. etc. If you have any resources to contribute, or experiences with any groups/sites etc. please leave us a comment!

Random lists, groups, and resources:

http://www.pinterest.com/blissfaery/craft-y-kids-pagan-parenting-homeunschooling/ [This one actually has a lot of resources and books]

http://thecrunchypaganmomblog.blogspot.com/2012/09/pagan-homeschool-curriculum-and-lesson.html

http://home-school.lovetoknow.com/Pagan_Homeschooling

http://www.homeschool.com/forum/

http://uuhomeschoolers.wordpress.com/

https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/paganfreedomschoolers/info

http://witchesandpagans.com/EasyBlog/resources-for-pagan-homeschoolers.html

http://www.mothering.com/forum/50-learning-home-beyond/1203437-pagan-homeschoolers-curriculum-thread.html

http://homeschoolingonashoestring.com/homeschooling/methods/curriculum/ (homeschooling on a budget)

http://www.unschooling.org/

http://a2zhomeschooling.com/religion/

http://flyingoffthebroomhandle.blogspot.com/2012/10/podcasting-for-pagan-homeschooling.html

https://www.facebook.com/groups/PaganHomeschooling/

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Askeja-Witches-Homeschool/537159899733655

Waldorf Style:

http://www.oakmeadow.com/

Earthschooling (through the BEearth Institute of Education, a preschool through G8 [plus high school add-on] DL school):

http://earthschooling.info/thebearthinstitute/?page_id=753

Charlotte Mason Method of Homeschooling:

(very Christian but can be adapted, and free) http://www.amblesideonline.org/

(with a pagan-spin) http://delaney-smith.net/school/Year_1/

Classical Method of Homeschooling:

“Books such as The Well-Trained Mind (which is my main resource for curricula and homeschooling) and The Latin-Centered Curriculum are both unabashedly Christian. However, this method originates with the Pagan writer, Martianus Capella, who developed the system of the seven liberal arts that comprised early medieval education.” (Quote from http://witchesandpagans.com/EasyBlog/curricula-for-pagan-homeschoolers.html).

Non-Religious General Online Learning Sites:

http://www.time4learning.com/ (preschool through 12th grade)

http://www.abcmouse.com (age 2 through early elementary)

http://www.starfall.com

http://www.readingeggs.com

Pagan Parenting

http://www.witchvox.com/_x.html?c=parent

http://www.paganparenting.com/

http://parentingbythelightofthemoon.blogspot.com/2010/07/links-every-pagan-parent-should-have.html [Includes links to magazines, educational resources, crafts and activities, etc. AND links to pagan-parent meet-up groups.]

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/paganfamilies/

http://www.janetcallahan.com/shopping/ebooks [Pagan Parenting in the NICU]

Books and Activities for Kids in Pagan Families

https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/pagan-kids

http://www.paganchildrensbooks.com/magic_carpet/pc/home.asp

http://www.pieplatepublishing.com/productcat/childrens

Picture Books for Pagan Families: Autumn Equinox

Picture Books for Pagan Families: Lammas

Picture Books for Pagan Families: Summer Solstice

Picture Books for Pagan Families: Beltane

Picture Books for Pagan Families: Samhain

Picture Books for Pagan Families: Spring Equinox

http://sacredhearth.com/activity-books-for-pagan-children

http://www.pookapages.com/ [Themed around a young witch named Elsie and Pooka her cat, including coloring pages, recipes, esbats for kids, kid’s BoS, and other activities for pagan children].

http://www.rayneannastorm.com/english.html [printable coloring pages for things such as sabbats, zodiacs, Book of Shadows, etc.]