This week after a little break, Phoenix began asking for a story and craft so we began again. I was delighted to learn and share with the kids about Samhain the ancient Celtic festival of harvest’ s end which is the root of Halloween. I’ve recently applied for my Irish passport as my Grandpa was Irish so I’m feeling this connection to ancestral roots

I learned that the ancient Celts made blessing with herbs and food as offerings for the fields and a future plentiful harvest. Inspired by this Phoenix came up with 3 potion recipes that we wrote/drew and put in a book of magic spells that I’d made when I was little.

Phoenix made a salt and rosemary water potion for the bath. Which we put outside to capture the full moon rays.A fire potion made with sage (definitely inspired by First Nations smudge stick) During making the fire potion Phoenix said he hoped there wouldn’t be so many forest fires this year

Lastly in a large hollow pumpkin we brewed up a compost soup potion which is currently getting funky and full of micro organisms. My Biodynamic farmer dad is going to help us to sprinkle it on the veggie fields tomorrow before trick o treating

Rosemary Bath Potion Recipe

2 cups Himalayan Salt

2 cups Magnesium Chloride flakes (help to release muscle tension and calm nerves

1 cup dried flowers or herbs (we used Rosemary as it is a Samhain herb and is in season in our garden)

1 handful small Amethyst crystals

Children can add the igredients and mix together in a large bowl. Store in a glass jar.

1-2 cups of bath potion can be mixed into bath water for a relaxing soak.

This golden healing oil can be used as a body oil for dry skin or can be added to a beeswax balm to create a salve for cuts and bruises.

Ingriedients: Calendula flowers, Olive oil

Method:

-Gather fresh Calendula flowers. The strongest medicine is in the green base of the Calendula flower, so be sure to select whole flower heads with bright orange or yellow petals. If you don’t have Calendula in your garden you can buy dried Calendula flowers at a healthfood store.

-Using a mortar and pestle or rock to gently mash the flowers to help bring the juices out.

-Loosely pack your herbs into a jar, leaving an inch of space at the top. Pour oil over the flowers until they are completely submerged under oil. Fill oil nearly to the jar brim to reduce oxidation of the oil and molding of the plant matter.

Place the sealed jar in a sunny window. Shake daily for four to six weeks.

Learn more about the uses and benefits of Calendula oil here: https://learningherbs.com/remedies-recipes/calendula-oil/

Painting with flowers is a new favorite. So simple and satisfying! Both my 2 year old and five year old found this one engaging. I’d say this is one for all ages to build appreciation for the beauty of nature.

Method:

1. Collect flowers

2. Using fingers press, mash and spread flowers into paper to see what colours the petals make.

Tip: We found that a water colour paper with a stiff texture worked best to absorb and showcase the petal paint.

Well the second wave has hit here in Melbourne and with that we are back in lockdown. It took me a few days to get my head back into this space, but last lockdown I came up with a plan that worked for us and I’d like to share it in the hopes it’s helpful.

 I so enjoy celebrating the seasons with the kids and during a low point I had the idea that maybe I could apply that same enthusiasm to the Corona lockdown lifestyle….let me explain. As we can deepen our connection to nature and the seasons through activities, stories and crafts we can enrichen the lockdown experience and hopefully keep it from feeling oppressive through nourishing homelife. I’m envisioning a little forest creature creating a cozy den for winter.

There are 5 steps:

Bring the outdoors in: Do a nature activity that brings the outdoors in. We’ve been doing a daily  activity using locally foraged materials that we find on our daily walk.

Foster a connection to world:

-Notice the sun and moon’s rhythms during walks or even from the window. This connecting to the planetary rhythms is a soothing activity especially during uncertain times and can help us feel connected to the world as a whole. Adults can extend this activity to include study of the 7 planetary model of Rudolph Steiner.

-Interact with the elements through Water, with baths or water table fun (I’ve been putting crystals and shells in the evening bath and the kids play for at least 20 minutes). Fire, tend the fireplace, have an outdoor BBQ, or do an activity working with warmth (see the rock painting activity bellow) Earth, sandpit play, tend a garden or houseplants. Air, movement to music, yoga and breathing exercise or windy walks outside. Working with the elements is a way to add interest to the day, to keep us balanced and feeling connected to the earth even when enclosed in our little homes.

Maintain connection to community:

-Hide painted rocks in local parks for other kids to find.

-Draw chalk rainbows on your sidewalk or hang friendly greetings in your windows.

-Meet friends for exercise walks

-Start a freestore, or little book library or visit the ones in your neighbourhood.

-leave presents on friend’s doorsteps

-Send letters

Find the joy in homemaking activities:

-Cooking, baking, washing, and tidying. These are also a way to interact with the elements through water and warmth. For inspiration read, “Spiritual Tasks of the Homemaker, by (has some great insights but is very euro centric and sticks to strictly assigned gender roles)

 I do 1 main chore per day, plus general tidying and meals. I include the kids in things like chopping veggies, baking or washing the floor. If the children are having a rough one I let the chores slide and do them during show time (full disclosure we do watch ABC kids sometimes)

Flights of Fancy:

Do something that gives you a window into another reality.  Kids are experts at this through imaginary play. When there is a lull in the play I like to do storytelling, or a felted puppet show. In the evening if I’m not too tired I’ll create that window by reading feminist literature with a glass of wine.

I am always so impressed by children’s ability to live in the moment and enjoy the simple joys of life. Even though our world has become much smaller as we stay close to home during lockdown, there is so much learning and wonder that happens throughout the day.

We have been doing a daily walk around the neighbourhood in place of park visits. Along the way we say hi to special “friends” that the children have pointed out. There is a cat that lives in the veterinarian’s office that we can see through the window, a tickle bush that always says hello back with waving fronds in the wind, rainbows of solidarity in so many windows, the echo station (which is some grates in an apartment building where we can make echos) and when we reach the train tracks we always sing a song to the passing trains.

The neighbourhood has so much to offer and the consistent rhythm of the daily walk with familiar landmarks brings a nourishing moment of connection to the outside world.This week Phoenix began riding his bike without training wheels which has added a new faster dynamic to the walks, and for ever inspired by her bro, Sky has begun riding her bike too!

Yesterday, our world expanded for a short while as we drove out of the city for a bush walk in the Dandenong Ranges. It’s the first time we’ve been away from home since the Corona crisis hit and it was an almost psychedelic experience being surrounded by wild nature again.

Sky fell asleep in the car on the way into the mountains. When we arrived, I stayed with her in the car while Nic followed Phoenix practicing new no training wheel bike skills. When Sky woke up, it was to the soft sound of rain on the car roof. I took her out of the car seat and placed her down on the moss. She looked up in awe at the towering gums, “Look Mama Trees”

We chose a trail in Sherbrooke Forest. As we headed into the trees, we stopped to look at the trail information board. Trapped behind the glass was a dead huntsman spider as big as my hand. I involuntarily shuddered, and Sky cried out, “Scary!” Behind us we heard the distinct laughing of kookaburras. I couldn’t help but feel they were laughing at us, “Welcome to the wild, pansies”

I felt like I had stepped back into prehistoric times surrounded by the profusion of huge ferns and vines. There was a delicious smell emanating from the dirt, A mixture of patchouli and beeswax. I breathed deeply. Overhead we could hear a screeching which at first Phoenix said was surely a Pterodactyl but later we discovered was a pair of cockatoos.

After about 20minutes Phoenix sat down and said he couldn’t go any farther.  It seemed that no coaxing would work so Nic and Sky went along the path and I stayed with Phoenix with the plan to meet back at the car after Phoenix had a little rest. Phoenix was uncomfortable and near tears. I held his hand trying to figure out what was bothering him. Suddenly his whole mood changed he got up and said, “Let’s go Mom”, and began running down the path. Revived and ready to continue the adventure.

We met Nic and Sky at a little waterfall surrounded by mist covered gumtrees. Nic commended Phoenix for his courage to continue and we enjoyed the lovely sound of the rushing water.

On the way home we found a little lake and stopped to watch the geese and ducks. An Oak tree had dropped hundreds of its little acorns and cups all over the ground. Phoenix and Sky collected the acorns filling their pockets with treasures.

Life is made up of stories, our own personal story and the story of the world around us. During these uncertain times a great way to help children process their questions and big emotions is to create a space where they can be a storyteller.

In my Steiner inspired family day care I tell a new story every week themed around the season or a subject of interest that has emerged through the children’s play. I set a simple scene with silks and nature objects and tell the story using felted puppets.

After the children are familiar with the story I invite them to add to it or perform it themselves. That is where the real magic happens. When the children become engaged in the story and make it their own, wonderful new plot twists and characters emerge that are relevant to the children’s own lives and questions. This opens up conversations and creates a space of sharing where I can learn more about the children’s feelings and offer solutions in a gentle, authentic way.

With the Covid 19 crisis we’ve had periods of self isolating and like so many others we’ve experienced many changes to our daily lives, like the loss of going to the park and meeting friends. This has created a lot of questions for my four year old son. I like to keep him informed but with so much information and worries swirling around  a story offers a comforting way to think about our current circumstances, the truths woven with imagination in a way that is nourishing to the senses.

So this week I told my son this lovely story by Susan Perrow,

The Little Gnome Who Had to Stay Home

By Susan Perrow – March 2020

Little gnome was confused.

Why did he have to stay home?

Didn’t everyone know how little gnomes love to roam!

He couldn’t go to gnome school, he couldn’t play with his friends in the forest, and his friends couldn’t visit him.

Little gnome was stuck in his tree-root home.

At least he could look out his window through the rocks and the tree roots. He was surprised that there was so much to see. Little ants were scurrying by, brightly coloured beetles were climbing up and down the fallen leaves and floppy eared rabbits were hopping in and out their burrows.

But even with all these things to watch, little gnome was growing impatient. Why did he have to keep on staying home? It didn’t make sense to him why he could not roam.

Then Mother Tree whispered to him:

‘Things are not as they used to be – but trust me – soon you will be free – trust me, trust me.’

Little gnome knew in his heart that he could always trust Mother Tree.

Mother Tree carried the wisdom of the whole forest!

Mother Tree knew all about everything. The birds and the wind were her friends and messengers. They visited her every day sharing the news of the big wide world.

Little gnome could hear when the birds came by. He could hear them singing high up in the branches of Mother Tree.

Little gnome could see when the wind was visiting. He could see the branches swaying this way and that. He sometimes had to close his window to keep out the leaves and dust stirred up by this busy friend!

Everyday Mother Tree continued to whisper to him:

‘Things are not as they used to be – but trust me – soon you will be free – trust me, trust me.”

After I told the story I invited my son to interact with the puppets and I asked him what little gnome felt like. He said little gnome missed his friends at the park. Then my son created a new story in which little gnome at last is able to leave his home and to meet all the forest friends. While it still may be some time until my son’s story becomes a reality, it seemed cathartic and a joyful experience to act out his wish in storyland.

This house has become our world these last few weeks. All the things in it have new meaning and are friendly faces that give us comfort and inspiration. Id like to think of myself as a minimalist but I’m not. I love collecting whimsical objects. One of my greatest joys is creating play nooks and setting up new sceans that invite the kids (and me)  to play. I mostly collect things from thrift stores, free boxes or make them but there are some Kmart purchases hiding around the house too.

Wool and silk clothes are some of my favorite things, I’m crazy about the quality and the protective warmth they create around the children.  Last year I bought the kids grey, silk, wool, cotton long johns from Cosilana. Over the year a story developed and these suits became Otter suits. At bathtime Phoenix always pretends to be an Otter that needs rescuing along with his little sister Otter. I get to play the mommy who comes to the rescue and wraps them up in towels, helps them dress in their otter suits and then we go to snuggle in our Otter den bed. This imagination helps a lot with the bedtime routine and after playing it so many times I look forward to this part of the day as a  joy.

For Easter I got the kids new suits from Mama Owl made out of the same protective silk, cotton and wool combo. I chose a lovely natural white for Phoenix and a dusky pink for Sky. On Easter morning Phoenix was at first more excited about his giant Kinder surprise but when he put on his new suit a new story began to develop. He became a Snow rabbit. When I asked Sky what she was in her new suit she said, “Sausage” at first I thought I’d misunderstood her so I asked again and she pointed at herself with a big grin and said “Sausage Suit”. Well that had me rolling on the floor laughing. I’m interested to see what story she creates surrounding this one.

I think it’s fair to say these guys are pretty excited for Easter! I’ve been taking comfort in celebrating the seasonal shift and crafting with the kids in preparation for Easter. It took some getting used to, having Easter in the Autumn. But finding meaning in a celebration is what keeps it relevent and nourishing and this year I’ve felt the connection again.

For me Easter has always been about celebrating rebirth and the arrival of Spring and here in the Autumn that rebirth still holds but in a different way. As the warmth and light are leaving in preperation for winter the word transformation keeps coming to mind and I’ve been working with that idea with the kids telling stories about caterpillers changing into butterflies and babyseeds going to sleep for the winter, ready to transform into flowers when the warmth returns.

It has been so inspiring seeing Phoenix and Sky taking those images into their play and making their own meanings. I’m always grateful for the magic of the land of childhood!