Child's first guardian
Age 4 - 6 years

The guardian is created for the purpose of keeping nightmares at bay & as guardian when the child is alone or in the dark.

A night light in the form of an animal can be used, as can a fluffy toy or a picture of a friendly dragon, fairy, elf, unicorn etc.

To establish the guardian, let the child choose its own guardian.

Ask the child if it should be a mother type or a father / big brother symbol.

Practice building up the visualisation together, tell a story of a guardian, then ask the child to tell you about their guardian & what they would like it to do for them. Then find a place for the guardian to live when not needed, make sure the child knows that the guardian can appear tiny but on command it will grow larger, & larger if needed by the child.

Get the child to draw a picture of the guardian so that it may be carried with them where ever they go in a small purse or pill box.

Practise this visualisation daily with the child & give it an every day name, for when it is tiny & a magical name for when it grows larger & discuss a call to activate it.

The power of the guardian is in its secret name & the all important call.

Make sure the child knows that their guardians secret name is a big secret known only to the child & his / her parents. Try to keep this name short & easy to remember. The guardians name can be used later at school as a code when you are unable to fetch your child & have to send a stranger in your

Place.

The guardian is placed on the child's altar, & the child helps to gather some flowers for a vase to place before his / her guardian.

Place a red candle in the south.
Place some water in the west with a twig or piece of rue & the bell.
Place the salt in the north with a bowl of sweets.
Place incense burner in the east & have some matches & a taper handy.

Get the child to ring the bell & replace it in the west.

The mother lights the taper & helps the child to light the incense stick.

The father takes the taper from the mother & helps the child to light the candle.

Mother shows the child how to bless the water with an equal armed cross & sprinkle it about.

Father shows the child how to bless the salt & sprinkle it about.

Father then dips his finger in the water & blesses guardian & child with an equal armed cross.

Mother repeats the above.

Father now aids the child to bless each one present & the guardian with his / her wet finger.

Father says:

Beloved guardian of ........[ Child's name] protect him / her & keep him / her safe from harm on all planes. Protect him / her from ..........[ Name the child's fears here.]

Mother turns to child & says:

.............[child's name] whisper your guardians secret name. So that he / she will know his / her secret name & come when you call him / her.

Child whispers name.

Parents:

welcome ........[ Whisper name] to our home.
Now all chant in a low whisper.
grow ..... Grow ..... Grow .........
bigger! Bigger! Bigger! [shouted]

Father:

You are strong & kind, protect ...... [child's name] when he / she calls you 3 times & come at once!
May the gods bless you 3 times for the work you do.
I now invoke the law of three, as i will so mote it be!

Mother:

.......... [ child's name] has brought you some flowers & sweets as an offering accept them from your charge.
Put out candle & remove incense from child's reach.
Allow the child to play and share the sweets with his / her new friend & guardian.

N. B. Refer to the guardian daily & in nightly prayers, once a week

Light the candle & incense & get the child to replace the flowers, then give the child something to eat & share with its guardian.

Always remember to snuff candle & remove incense.

Blessed be