Celebrating Life, Honoring Death

Yesterday was the one-week anniversary of my Fiery Spirit Elders passing.  As I lite candles and sit and contemplate what that really means, there are so many emotions that flood in, feelings, thoughts, fears, and questions. Anyone who has experienced the passing of a friend, loved one, teacher, parent, or pet understands this. Those feelings, questions, and thoughts are magnified when the death of a loved one is unexpected and sudden. Often, we feel alone in this process or that our feelings and thoughts are too selfish, or just plain wrong, these my friends are perceptions. To be able to express how we feel in a container that is safe is very important, and it is our responsibility to create a community that can be that space. Looking at the gross chaotic energy of death and refining our awareness to allow All that is, just to Be. I am blessed to be part of a community that no matter the distance that separates us, we are always held in love and are supported. I digress here. The topic of this blog is about growing old and death, so onward we go.

In our mainstream culture today, we do not embrace, discuss, or celebrate growing old or dying. The ads on TV, radio, and social media sell us everything under the sun to stay young, beautiful, and radiant and how to live longer; even modern medical technology is about extending human life. The bombardment of these ideas is so woven into our everyday lives that it is no wonder we avoid the issue of age and death.

Ann (the Elder I was training with) often spoke of her process around growing old and death. She performed many grief rituals along with helping the love of her life transition to the after life in pure love, non-attachment, and sacredness.  She talked about the way of the Celebration of Life and not the process of what we have. Not saying that funerals are bad, just saying that there is another way to celebrate one’s passing that doesn’t need to be based on fear, grief, or attachment. Please note neither am I saying that our grief, emotions, or feelings are not valid; they are. What is most important is how we choose to handle them and how much we allow them to control us. 

We often discussed the question of Why it is we know our birth date but not our expiration date and how knowing our expiration date would help shape the way we live our lives. Would we let go of the fear that keeps us from being who we are? Would we spend more time with loved ones and not take them for granted? These are just a few of the many questions that were asked.

I miss my Elder, friend, and teacher, and I deeply know from my heart space that she is basking in the Glory, which is our birth rite, and that is the reunion with God and our ancestors that passed before us.

I am a firm believer that if we celebrated and honored growing old, had discussions around dying without the fear of how differently our passage to the afterlife may look and how differently it would be handled.

In Love, Service, and Gratitude.

Sage