Free resources to help you talk with your teen about magic.
Magic is all around us, isn't it? In books, in the stores, packaged as games like tarot cards, ouija boards, or social media challenges where teens call on spirits. Do you know what your child knows about these things? Are you too afraid to ask?
There's evidence magic is on the rise in real culture. Every month witches cast spells to bind political leaders, and with the click of a button teens can access videos and articles to help them step into pagan religions such as Wicca. See this Focus on the Family article on Wicca.
My parents don't know (sorry Mom and Dad) that as a teen we sometimes messed around with occult-ish things at slumber parties. I still recall a seance in which my friends and I tried to call on the spirit of Marilyn Monroe. There we sat in a circle, candles glowing around us, curiosity on our faces. Would it work? Would we make contact with the dead? Nothing interesting happened (thank the Lord).
But what if something had happened during that seance? What if one thing led to another and I ended up going deeper into the world of the occult? I've met several women who grew up in Christian households who ended up in the occult and were then saved out of it. What a dark road they ended up traveling. They told me it was not a good life to live. Illnesses, toxic relationships, addictions--these were only part of their experiences living a pagan lifestyle. A Christian walk is never perfect, but we can live in freedom and joy in Christ even when we hit a valley if we allow God to carry us.
The presence of magic (also called magick with a k) and other pagan practices are only growing stronger in our culture. It's impossible to completely shelter our children even if we closely monitor their friends and obsessively check their device histories. If they encounter something they find interesting, they might try it. I don't say this to invoke fear. I say this to suggest we live in a day and age where we don't have the luxury of ignoring such topics. One of the biggest reasons I started writing The Good Shadows and the Bible study at the end of the book was because I witnessed a girl teaching my Christian friend's daughter about the Wheel of the Year from Wicca. As a teacher, mother, and pastor's wife, I was disturbed by this on many levels.
We live in a day and age where we don't have the luxury of ignoring difficult subjects. We need to talk to our children.
To help you start a conversation with your kids, I have two resources for you. The first is a list of questions to ask your child. I tried to write them in a way that wouldn't seem awkward. Feel free to ask a few at a time or reword them if you can think of a better way to say them.
Questions to ask Your Teen About Magick
Do you know the difference between stage magic and real magick?
Do people you know use real magic(k)?
Have you seen magic(k) on social media?
Has a friend ever asked you to _______ (play with tarot cards, try an ouija board, do a seance, cast a spell, make a potion, get a palm reading, call on spirits, use crystals...)?
What do you think the Bible says about these things?
Why do you think God wants us to stay away from magick?
What would you do if you were at somebody's house and they wanted you to do something you knew was wrong?
Do you know you can talk to me about anything? There are many strange things in the world that might confuse you.
Does anything about magic make you curious or confused?
The second resource I have for you is a Bible study based on my YA novel about a pastor's daughter who falls in love with a guy who does magick. This novel exposes some Wiccan practices (tarot cards, spells, and full moon ceremonies) and includes an underlying theme that it's never too late to turn to Jesus. There's a strong romance thread, and I suggest this book is for more mature readers (possibly ages 14 and up although there's no explicit sexual content). I suggest perusing it first and then deciding if it's right for your teen. I spent many years researching Wicca before writing and releasing this book. My desire to teach Christians about this pagan religion through this story never faded, and now I'm happy to say this book is available on Amazon as a paperback and ebook. I pray God would use it mightily to free teens from the allure of Wicca or the occult. After all, they're used to magic in books and movies. What's to say they won't become curious about the power of magick in their own life when things get difficult or their friends get involved with it?
To receive a free copy of the Bible study, contact me through my website and I'll send you a digital version. You can also find it at the back of The Good Shadows by Carol Alwood on Amazon, which is always free with Kindle Unlimited.
Thank you for taking a moment to read my thoughts about talking with teens about magick. Please let me know how I can pray for you and your family and if you'd like to learn more about this subject.