
My branch for Aadhaar, along with my friend the squirriel having his breakfast
Today was the memorial service in Australia for my friend, Eric Aadhaar O'Gorman.
Here are some instructions he wrote in a blog post before he died, that was put up by a friend after his death:
If you are attending the funeral, please dress as if you were going out for a lovely lunch or something like that; don't be afraid of colours, or celebration, for it will be a celebration of life as much as a ritual of its passing. Please bring with you a spray of foliage; a small branch or twig of leaves from a favourite tree or shrub, or any plant that speaks to you along the way; of the right sort of size to act as a fly swisher or a fan. This will be used in the ceremony, so hang on to it.
If you wish to attend but cannot and would like to participate in my passing, then maybe consider a small ritual of your own. Find yourself a suitable little branch of leaves, a beautiful quiet spot with an outlook on something natural, and meditate on the life that runs through you. The life that runs through your being from crown to footsoles, that courses through your switch of foliage, that extends around the planet and is the very same energy with which you and I are connected. Meditate on the Oneness of you and I and everything, and if you are moved to do so, bring your memories of me to mind. Then take your fan of leaves, and swish me away. See my spirit rising up before you as if a wreath of fragrant smoke, and fan my spirit back home. Guide my spirit upward and outward, fan me away, and let me go. Dissolve. When you are done, return your little branch to nature as best you see fit; fire, compost, or just left gently on the earth under some trees. And say a prayer for yourself. Perhaps the one below.
And also, have a wonderful day.
Great Spirit, whose voice in the winds I hear,
And whose breath gives life to all the world. Hear me.
Before you I come, one of your many children.
Small and weak am I.
Your strength and wisdom I need.
Make me walk in beauty.
Make me respect all you have made,
My ears to hear your voice.
Make me wise that I may know all you have taught we people,
The lessons you have hidden in every rock.
I seek strength not to be superior to my brother,
Make me able to overcome my greatest enemy, myself.
Make me ready to stand before you with clean and straight eyes.
When life fades, as the fading sunset,
May my spirit stand before you without shame.
(adapted from Chief Yellow Lark of the Lakota, North America).
I just saw the message with funeral details this morning, so I missed participating last night, at the same time as those in Australia, but it doesn't matter.
This morning I went out into the side yard and cut the small branch you see in the vase. The bough sprang up when I did, as if it were glad for the release.
I took it to work with me today, to commemorate my friend. I took its photo while My Friend the Squirrel was having breakfast. When I got back home this evening, I went out into the yard with the branch and burned some sage and remembered.
I am grateful for what I learned from Eric Aadhaar about
blenderized diets and courage and humor and facing death.
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