"Now is the soul set free,
Rising from the soul-shrine.
O Holy Eternal Ones from the Realms of Bliss,
Encircle the one we love in your own compassion."
____Caitlin Matthews, "The Celtic Book of the Dead"
When it strikes us suddenly, death usually finds us totally unprepared to leave our lives. There is often a great deal of unfinished business, and an uncertainty on the part of family or dependents as to what our intentions were for the appropriate disposal of our body. Ideally, we would have already made arrangements for these things before the moment of our death, but unconsciousness or grave illness may have prevented us from conveying our wishes. Although the sun shines upon us this summer and thoughts of death may be far distant, it is always good to have our death arrangements in hand.
Apart from practical considerations, there is the matter of our own route beyond death into the ever-living otherworld. We may not know what awaits us, or whether we will pass on to other existences, but we can at least cultivate those spiritual allies who accompany our soul's circuit so that we do not remain earthbound due to lack of orientation. If we have a close friend with whom we can share our soul's concerns, it is good to let her know what our dying needs will be. A soul-friend can act in a more independent way than immediate relatives. Our soul-friend may have no idea what route our soul will take, but she can implore our spiritual allies to give us good guidance to realms of peace.
"Meditate upon what matters need resolution before you die. Leave clear written instructions with family, lawyer, and doctor about your wishes concerning your death. Your dear ones will thank you for being so prepared at a time when they can least cope with important decisions on your behalf."
[From: "The Celtic Spirit" by Caitlin Matthews]
No comments:
Post a Comment