Attachment Parenting and Wicca: A Perfect Fit

Wicca as a religion is growing more and more every day in the United States. Many of those who follow the Wiccan path are parents hoping to pass on some of their beliefs to their children, but at the same time do not want to lock their children into a path that might not be their own. The ideals of unconditional love and respect that are held by those who raise their children with attachment parenting practices are a prefect fit with the same ideals found in Wicca.

What is attachment parenting? Attachment parenting, or AP, looks different to every parent. The basic practices of breastfeeding, family bed, and baby wearing are just a few of the many ways that AP parents work to create a loving and strong bond with their children. Also called instinctual parenting, there is a belief that children are not future people but people today worthy of respect, attention, and love. AP is not a set of rules but a tool to help parents listen to their natural instincts rather than what the cultural norm believes about raising children.

For many of the Wiccan faith turning a back towards modern culture and finding a deep connection with nature is something to be aspired to. Becoming harmonious with the world around and feeling the bond between oneself and the whole of the world is one goal of those who practice Wicca. Those who follow the Wiccan path are often more in tune with their instincts and their place in nature.

For Wiccan parents attachment parenting is just another way they can let go of the cultural belief that humans are superior to nature and feel a connection to their own inner power. Understanding that nature made your response to hold a crying baby, to comfort an upset child, to nourish your child from the milk that you are creating, and to allow your child to let you know his needs Wiccan parents are finding the balance and peace that many seek.

Wicca is an Earth based religion, those who practice Wicca honor and respect the Earth and follow the natural cycles and seasons on the Earth. Many of the common practices in AP fall into line with these beliefs. Breastfeeding, for example, is not only natural for the mother and child but it also honors the earth by reducing pollution created by formula cans and bottles. Cosleeping, or sleeping with your child at night, is another common AP tool that reflects the natural cycles of a baby's connection to his parents. It is not hard to see that many of the approaches in attachment parenting are be echoed in the beliefs of Wicca.

In perfect love and perfect trust are not only ideals held by Wiccans, but are also ideals that many AP parents hope to create with their children. By creating a bond and a connection with their children AP parents are crating a trust within the child that their needs will be met, that they will be loved and cared for no matter what, and knowing that they will always have parents that they can trust and that will always be there allows them independence once they are ready to walk their own path.

In the end what really matters is that parents care for their children in the best way that they can. For Wiccan parents they must assess all of the possibilities and find what fits into their lifestyle and beliefs. When facing a major decision in the uphill battle of parenting ask yourself how you think the Goddess would handle such a situation and follow her lead.