The Wheel Turns, the Young Girl Learns

“I don’t know why I let my mother talk me into this,” Erin thought nervously as she crossed the wide, wrap-around porch at the front of Evangeline’s house. Erin reached out a gloved hand for the door knocker, then pulled back quickly when she realized it was a snake swallowing itself.

“Why can’t I be like my friend Rachel? Why can’t I just believe what she believes?”

Erin’s tension reached such a state that when Evangeline finally opened the door, it was like opening a vacuum. Erin found herself propelled into the old woman’s living room. She whirled around to face Evangeline, blurting out her need before she could chicken out. “I just had to talk to someone, Evangeline, and Mom thought it would be best if I talked to you. I’m so upset and confused, I don’t know where to start. You just have to help me, I . . . .”

Erin stopped suddenly, aghast. Here she was telling an 80-year old woman what she had to do.

“We’ll start with some tea,” was Evangeline’s response. “Then, when you’ve caught your breath, you can tell me all about it.”

“We shared in school today about what we did over winter vacation,” Erin began. “I had been real excited to tell about our celebration of winter solstice with the tree and candles, and the gift blanket and all, but once I was talking, I realized that I didn’t know why we celebrate solstice.” Erin went on to describe the teasing she’d received from one of her classmates.

“I can see why that would be so upsetting,” said Evangeline. “Tell me how I can be of help.”

“Well,” Erin started slowly, gathering her thoughts, “Mom and I thought you might be the best person to teach me about our celebrations. You’re the one who taught her and my godmother, Sarah, all they know.”

“You already know that I celebrate the eight seasonal earth festivals, just like your mother and Sarah. Imbolc is coming up next, so I guess that’s where we’d begin . . .” Evangeline paused.

“Great! What is Imbolc, what do I do?” Erin asked in a rush.

“Wait a minute, slow down,” Evangeline said solemnly. “You may not want to help after you hear what my ground rules are.”

Erin suddenly felt wary. “Ground rules?”

“Yes, ground rules. You seem pretty serious about this. Well, so am I. So, there will be ground rules.

“You know it takes a full year to celebrate all of our festivals, so the first ground rule is that we both agree to work together for one full year. That means the final celebration in our year of work will be winter solstice of next year. Do you think you can agree to that?” asked Evangeline.

Erin nodded slowly, feeling very grown up all of a sudden.

“Good. Now, in return for the guidance I give you, you will need to give something as well. I don’t know yet what that will be, and there may be more than one, but such sacrifices tend to fit in with what you are learning.”

Before Erin could speak, Evangeline continued “Now, I don’t want you to give me your answer right away. This is not an easy decision to make, so I want you to sleep on it. Tomorrow will be soon enough to tell me what you decide.” With that Erin found herself being whisked through the house, into her coat, and out the front door which banged shut behind her.

This is how 12-year-old Erin begins her journey of discovery around the wheel of the year, learning about each of the eight festivals along the way. In the process, she also learns more about herself than she ever imagined she would.

Laurel Ann Reinhardt has skillfully crafted Seasons of Magic to appeal to young and old alike. It’s a story that children can read to learn about the celebrations of the year. But it is also a story parents can read with their children to gain a deeper understanding of the festivals of Yule, Imbolc, Lammas, Samhain, the Equinoxes and Solstices. It also makes an excellent jumping off point for family discussions of spirituality.

At the end of the book is Evangeline’s Workbook/Journal. This chapter explains each of the seasonal festivals in detail, with celebration suggestions and worksheets. Each section includes questions to help the young reader focus on what the celebration means to her and her family.

Here is an example of the wisdom contained in Evangeline’s Notebook:

Whatever else a celebration does, it honors us, the earth and it’s seasons, and whoever or whatever created all of these. So, always make time for honoring and gratitude in your celebrations.

Join Erin as she treads the path of enlightenment and discovers the Seasons of Magic.