Casting our first circle

[mamaMAMAma]

I'll be casting my first circle for Halloween/Day of the Dead/Samhein. I've been reading Circle Round and have an alter set up. We've been involved in other Native American type circles acknowledging the directions, saying our gratitudes, putting our minds together and then separating our minds in the end. I guess I'm looking for tips/suggestions for our first circle. I want to keep it fairly simple and light.

[BlueLeaf]

I love Circle Round!

When casting circe with kids, my best advice is to keep it simple and loose. Invoke the elements through movement, instead of poetry that won't hold their attention. Mark out the circle with sticks, leaves, rocks, cards - whatever strikes your fancy. This seems to help kids understand the boundary and not flit in and out.

Have fun! And remember that casting the circle can be a complete rite in itself, and doesn't need a lot embelishment.

[wombatclay]

How did it go? Did you have fun?

I agree that ritual with kiddos needs to be short, sweet, active, and fun! I think one of the best family circles we did was one in which the kiddos "danced" element around the circle... they were pretending to be fish for water, birds for air, dinosaurs for earth (dd1 said it's because fossils are rock and she likes dinos ), and volcanoes for fire. They had a blast!