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<\/a><\/p>\nThe younger\u00a0kids came upon this wonderful tree in full regalia and marvelled. Before long, the tree became a special destination and member of our community. The children dubbed it the Zauberbaum<\/em> or Magic Tree. Quite regularly a child will suggest a\u00a0visit to\u00a0the Zauberbaum. Sometimes to simply renew its decoration and often to leave offerings for faeries and Zwergs (gnomes and dwarfs). Other times, like today, a child has a very special idea in mind.<\/p>\n The forecast was heavy rain and I had planned for a morning of carefree rain dancing, umbrellas and all. As is often the case, Mother Nature had her own agenda. I think she\u00a0must have changed her mind in answer to\u00a0\u00a0young Sukeyna’s request. Mother Nature listens first \u00a0and best to the hearts of children, I am convinced.<\/p>\n Four-year old Sukeyna, had made a decision to give up her Nuggis (that’s a pacifier for you Americans, and a dummy for you Brits.)\u00a0This is a big deal for some\u00a0children as it\u00a0marks the transition from little kid to big kid, and is a milestone that must be met before\u00a0entering kindergarten. As early years educators, we take this moment very seriously.\u00a0Sukeyna had made her own decision which she\u00a0announced to her mother a week in advance. She would give her Nuggis to the Zauberbaum next week.<\/p>\n When we heard the news that morning, Tatjana\u00a0and I, were delighted and honoured to\u00a0facilitate this important rite of passage as was Mother Nature, for the forecasted heavy rain was suddenly nowhere in sight and the cool calm forest beckoned. \u00a0Sukeyna had taken matters into her own hands. She was clearly ready for kindergarten. It was no coincidence that she seemed to have grown several centimetres in the course of a week!<\/p>\n Sukeyna had three Nuggis with her. Onto each she had tied a long piece of fine thread. It was decided that I would carry them in my pocket on the way to the Zauberbaum. Once there, we gathered round and and I explained to the children that today was a special day for Sukeyna and that we and the Zauberbaum were here to support her in giving up her Nuggis.<\/p>\n In preparation, I had gathered some special friends\u00a0from the forest. I am searching for a word to describe these special friends. I certainly can’t call them “things.” And “items “or “objects” will also not do. Nor can I simply call them “symbols.” Yes, they are symbols but\u00a0they are so much more. To call them anything less than “friends” or allies” would be to deny them their life force and our ability to enter\u00a0into relationship with them. The Native Americans\u00a0would simply call them “people” – rock-people, plant-people, flower-people, animal-people and so on. This day, these other-than-human people served as\u00a0our allies and helpers. In both nature pedagogy and neb-humanism, \u00a0we walk simultaneously in different\u00a0worlds, everything real, everything symbolic, everything alive<\/em>.<\/p>\n A lovely river stone served as the altar onto which many friends were welcomed and placed: a small collection of dandelion leaves, a couple of cuckoo flowers, for these are traditionally one of the fairies favourites, a handful of tender purple violets, a beautiful feather, a few walnut shells and an enormous Weinberg\u00a0snail. We talked briefly about our different friends and the gifts and qualities that they offered today to Sukeyna and her little colleagues. So as not to go on too long and lose the children’s attention, we concentrate on three. Three is a magic number.<\/p>\n First there were Dandelion leaves. Naturally, as it is Spring! Dandelion gets its name from the French dents-de-lion<\/em>, which translates into English as “lion’s tooth,” reflecting the jagged shape of the leaf. Likewise, in German we say L\u00f6wenzahn<\/em>. Dandelion is a powerful ally. Ubiquitous and strong, the dandelion seems to grow\u00a0everywhere, from well-fertilized fields, to the cracks in\u00a0concrete sidewalks of the city and between the slats of a classic Swiss red bench!<\/p>\n Its roots are extremely deep and the dandelion flourishes against\u00a0all odds. The nourishing flower is a beautiful bright circle shining yellow like the sun. It has a\u00a0purity and symmetry, a reliability\u00a0and a tenacity that we are wise to emulate. It is a very child-friendly flower and a perfect one with which to cultivate a relationship when you are 4-years-old.<\/p>\n “May you have the strength of the lion,”<\/em> \u00a0I say to each child as I offer up a tender leaf for each to\u00a0sample. The dandelion leaves are delicious and some children enthusiastically request\u00a0more, yet I ask them\u00a0for patience. After our ceremony we will have ample opportunity to nibble away like hungry rabbits.<\/p>\n Yes, strength is a wonderful quality to cultivate, but\u00a0let us temper it with the softer quality of\u00a0beauty – strength and beauty compliment one another and belong together.<\/p>\n “May you walk in beauty,”\u00a0<\/em>\u00a0I say to each child as I hand them a pretty little forest violet to taste. Violets spring up close to the forest floor when Spring itself has really sprung. \u00a0Their form and leaves are delicate and asymmetrical yet their color is rich and deep. As we walk through the young green forest among the violets on a bright day, after a long winter, we truly feel that we are walking in beauty. These edible little beauties have a subtle sweet taste the children find delightful.<\/p>\n Next we receive the gifts of the generous\u00a0Weinberg\u00a0snail. Although this snail \u00a0is actually edible when properly prepared, we wouldn’t dream of eating\u00a0this endangered species! Snails are among the first “friends” a child makes in the forest.\u00a0Children are fascinated by these responsive slow-moving creatures who carry\u00a0their homes on their backs and travel along on their tummies leaving a glistening\u00a0trail behind them. The Weinberg, like a true friend is a protected species.”May you have many friends,” is our wish and the snail’s gift to Sukeyna.<\/p>\n It is now time for Sukeyna to tie her Nuggis on the Magic Tree. She chooses which Nuggi goes first and where she will tie it. I help her get started as the thread is very fine. Sukeyna pulls on both ends of the thread to secure the final knot. We repeat this will all three Nuggis. Three is a magic number.<\/p>\n Sukeyna \u00a0beams with pride. Next the whole group joins hands and we sing “Love Sukeyna” in our finest voices. Congratulations are offered and photos are taken before the children run off to play in the nearby stream.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n