Session 7: Create Magic, Change the World

Beautiful orange sunset over a deep blue ocean. — Tapestry is Sunsetting

The UUA is no longer updating Tapestry of Faith programs.

Part of Faithful Journeys, Grades 2-3

In This Section

Introduction
From Faithful Journeys

Whatever you think you can do, or believe you can do, begin it. Action has magic, grace, and power in it. — Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe Any ritual is an opportunity for transformation. — Starhawk In this session, participants explore the third Unitarian Universalist Principle, acceptance of one…
Session-at-a-Glance
From Faithful Journeys

Activity Minutes Opening 2 Activity 1: Faithful Footprints 5 Activity 2: Move It!…
Spiritual Preparation
From Faithful Journeys

If it would be helpful in creating sacred space, light a candle or chalice. Read the guided meditation in Activity 3, Story Basket and Guided Meditation. If possible, find someone to read the guided meditation to you while you close your eyes and experience it. Otherwise, read it a few times and…
Opening
From Faithful Journeys

Activity time: 2 minutes Materials for Activity Chalice candle or LED/battery-operated candle Lighter and extinguisher, if needed Newsprint, markers and tape Posters of the Unitarian Universalist Principles in both adult and children’s language, or copies of Session 1, Handout 1 for all participa…
Activity 1: Faithful Footprints
From Faithful Journeys

Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Faithful Journeys Path (Session 1, Leader Resource 2) Cutouts of footprints and (optional) wheelchair tracks, at least one for each participant, in a variety of colors (Session 1, Leader Resources 3 and 4) Markers Push pins, glue stick or tape…
Activity 2: Move It! Spiral Dance
From Faithful Journeys

Activity time: 8 minutes Preparation for Activity Read Leader Resource 2. If possible, invite a pagan in your congregation to lead the spiral dance. You may wish to ask your minister or director of religious education to suggest someone who could lead the dance. Obtain a variety of percussion…
Activity 3: Story Basket and Guided Meditation
From Faithful Journeys

Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity A large basket Objects related to the story “The Perfect Peace Harvest,” such as pictures of peace signs, a pentacle (pagan symbol of the five elements: spirit, fire, water, air, and earth), a drum or cymbals A chime, rain stick or other calming sou…
Activity 4: Story - The Perfect Peace Harvest
From Faithful Journeys

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity A copy of the story “The Perfect Peace Harvest” A chime, rain stick or other calming sound instrument Optional: A drum Optional: Fidget object basket (Session 2, Leader Resource 2) Preparation for Activity Read the story a few times, paying special…
Activity 5: Defining Magic
From Faithful Journeys

Activity time: 5 minutes Preparation for Activity Read the description of this activity to ground your understanding of what “magic” means in a pagan Unitarian Universalist context. Description of Activity Gather the group in a circle. Ask the children what they think magic is. Take a few answers.
Activity 6: Creating Wands
From Faithful Journeys

Activity time: 15 minutes Materials for Activity Wooden sticks or dowels, approximately 1/3 inch in diameter and 10 — 12 inches long, for all participants, at least one leader, and any visitors, and extras for children who finish quickly Decorating materials such as feathers; mini-“gems”; embroid…
Activity 7: Blessing of the Wands
From Faithful Journeys

Activity time: 3 minutes Materials for Activity Wands from Activity 6, including one for at least one co-leader Optional: Newsprint, markers and tape Preparation for Activity Optional: Write the blessing words on newsprint, and post….
Closing
From Faithful Journeys

Activity time: 7 minutes Materials for Activity Faithful Journeys Path Signpost for Session 7 (Leader Resource 1), and pins, glue stick, or tape Copies of Session 1, Leader Resource 8, UU Principles Song, for all participants Optional: Newsprint, markers and tape Preparation for Activity Print ou…
Leader Reflection and Planning
From Faithful Journeys

Take a few minutes to evaluate the session with your co-leader immediately afterward, while it is fresh. Share your thoughts with any other team co-leaders and your director of religious education. You might find it helpful to consider these questions: Which activities worked well?…
Faith In Action: Magic Month, Random Acts of Kindness And Senseless Acts Of Beauty
From Faithful Journeys

Materials for Activity Leader Resource 3, Magic Month Letter to Parents Preparation for Activity With your minister and director of religious education, select a month for Magic Month (March and May make for good alliteration). Adapt Leader Resource 3 and send it to parents a few weeks before the…
Alternate Activity 1: Meditation Paintings
From Faithful Journeys

Activity time: 25 minutes Materials for Activity A copy of the guided meditation in Activity 3, Story Basket and Guided Meditation Large roll of paper and markers Optional: Water-based paints, paintbrushes, newspaper, containers for water, and paper towels for clean-up Preparation for Activity…
Taking It Home: Create Magic, Change the World
From Faithful Journeys

Whatever you think you can do, or believe you can do, begin it. Action has magic, grace, and power in it. — Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe Any ritual is an opportunity for transformation. — Starhawk IN TODAY’S SESSION… We heard a story about a Unitarian Universalist child who celebrates the pagan…
The Perfect Peace Harvest
From Faithful Journeys

From the book Aisha’s Moonlit Walk: Stories and Celebrations for the Pagan Year, by Anika Stafford (Boston: Skinner House, 2005). Tell the children you will signal them with a drumbeat (or another signal) when it is time to join in the refrain. Every year on Lammas, we clamor our way to City Hall…
Leader Resource 1: Signpost for Session 7
From Faithful Journeys

Cut out the signpost to add to your Faithful Journeys Path. Printing This Handout Download a high-resolution copy of this Handout (PDF) for printing.
Leader Resource 2: How to Lead a Spiral Dance
From Faithful Journeys

Adapted from the Dream Roads website, which also provides an animated illustration of a spiral dance. For use with Activity 2, Move It! Spiral Dance. Stand in a circle holding hands. Leader drops the hand of the person to their left and begins to move to the left, passing just in front of that…
Leader Resource 3: Magic Month Letter to Parents
From Faithful Journeys

Customize this letter and provide to Faithful Journeys parents well ahead of the children’s Magic Month presentation to the congregation. Dear Parents, In Faithful Journeys, we have been discussing magic as a pagan spiritual practice that combines energy, focus, and intention to effect positive…
Find Out More
From Faithful Journeys

Paganism and UUism To learn more about paganism read Drawing Down the Moon by Unitarian Universalist Margot Adler, or any books by Starhawk. To explore resources for pagan Unitarian Universalists, visit the CUUPS website .