June 8, 2025:
Working with the spirits is important in seiðr, from magick to prophecy. It's important to be on good terms with the spirits, otherwise they won’t want to work with a person, will they? They are our neighbors, friends, companions, mentors, and protectors. You also want to stay on good terms with those who don't particularly care for humans, too.I try to stay on good terms with our incorporeal neighbors and roommates in different ways. Starting with the next generation. From a young age, we taught our kids about respecting animal life, even the creepy crawlies, like house centipedes and spiders. My husband has a fear of spiders, yet getting him to stop squishing spiders was actually easier than expected, because he understood how important it was to teach our kids the value of life.
Not all bugs can go outside, especially when it's too cold for them. We either give bugs the chance to run on their own or we gently move them to a place out of sight and away from foot traffic. They’re our first natural defense against pests. However, because of my allergies, we do kill ants, mosquitos, and fleas inside the house. Unfortunately, any dangerous bug is killed, inside or out. For the most part, bugs outside are fine. I remind the kids that outside, we're the guests. How would they feel if someone squished them because they didn't like them?
Morbid, but it's true and it gives kids that perspective (I've said this to their friends, too. I get upset when other kids try to kill the bugs outside, or mess with other animals like frogs. It changes their perspective pretty quickly!)
I'd rather not kill any critter, not even hornets and wasps. I prefer to use natural repellants, like plants, or unnatural ones like fake nests. We try to keep the outside free of debris to keep other undesirable critters from nest building, too. As best as we can anyway!
The spirits see this. Corporeal animals tend to come around our home more than others, because they know they're safe. In 2023, the outside of our home was a beautiful treasure trove of moths. I had seen so many moths that I didn’t know were in Ohio, and the kids and I ended up learning a lot about the different species that year.
In 2024, it was the year of tree frogs and moths. Despite the outdoor cats! This year, we have a lot of birds. Now one could look and see your basic food chain–nothing spiritual about that—all critters have to eat. Humans do so much destruction of the environment–if I can provide a safe place for comfort, reproduction, and feeding, I will. I can't feed the bird seed like I used to, because of the outdoor and stray cats, but they eat plenty of insects and frogs. Plenty survive and do their part, too. My kids learn about the bittersweet circle of life, and how all animals deserve the right to survive, no matter how cute their prey may be. That’s nature.
Another thing we started teaching our kids when they were young was Reduce Reuse, Recycle. We've been recycling for about 10-11 years. The kids understand the importance of recycling and doing our best to reduce the garbage our family produces. Heck, every Earth Day, my kids go around the neighborhood and pick up trash (I'm trying to turn this into a monthly thing). My eldest is definitely the type who'll go out of his way to pick up trash that didn't come from us. I’m very proud of my kids.
Start them young. I didn't have any of these teachings growing up, but my husband and I decided to learn and pass on the knowledge and actions. We continue to learn with our kids–who really love nature. All three of them want to be environmental scientists right now, they want to learn how to lessen our impact and help protect and grow and heal nature.
I've also been teaching them about our incorporeal neighbors and spiritual side of nature, too. If you care for the Earth, she'll care for you, too. Sometimes there's nothing greater than knowing that you have Nature Spirits as friends and allies. Strengthen the bonds, strengthen the magick.