If your loved one dies at home, contrary to modern thinking and practice, you don’t have to call the doctor and the paramedics straight away and have their body carted away asap.
Those things can wait while you have time to process and just be.
In recent years a treasured and important time with the deceased has been lost. In the hurry and flurry of the legalities and red tape after someone dies, somehow we lose our person – and ourselves.
There is a way back to a simpler time, a connection, a truth.
It’s not widely known that we can conduct our own funeral rites, just as our ancestors always did. We are under no obligation to hand that work to anyone.
And yet, even with this knowledge, in our grief and disorientation we may not feel able or equipped.
We can help – and it would be our great honour to do so.
Feeling that you cared tenderly for your loved one after they passed gives great, great comfort. I speak from experience. It’s a beautiful act of service, facilitating a gentle and easy transition of the soul on its onward journey.
So an alternative ‘ending’ might look something like this…
The body of the beloved remains with you at home.
On the day before the funeral we create sacred space by setting up a Celtic medicine wheel – this is simply a healing space.
The body is cleansed. Flower petals float gently on a bowl of crystal clear water. The beloved deceased is gently washed with natural cloths and sponges.The element of water allows our feelings to flow, tears to fall and emotions to be released.
The body is then anointed with rose oil. Rose for love and for an open heart.
There might be flowers and candles in the room, some beautiful music or even singing.
The body of your beloved is dressed, hair brushed and flowers or important objects placed with them.This is how I honoured my own mother on the evening of her death.
The deceased is placed within their coffin and the lid is closed.
I wasn’t brave enough or aware enough to have a full shamanic funeral for my mother – and I’m not sure it’s what my family would have wanted or understood.
But if it’s what you want for your beloved deceased, we are here to offer this support.
The day of the funeral might look something like this….
We reopen the medicine wheel in sacred ceremony.
Candles are lit and tributes are offered. Just as in a crematorium or a church there might be poetry, readings, music or personal tributes.
Those attending might take part in a symbolic gesture such as hanging ribbons in a tree, casting wildflower seeds, or decorating the coffin. Anything that’s relevant or important to you, goes.
We call back lost soul parts. In times of trauma and shock during our earthly lives, parts of our soul can detach and become a little lost. We call these back in service to the onward travelling soul. This is a sacred healing for the soul, a way to bring back wholeness.
Finally we offer blessings to our beloved and close the medicine wheel.
Beautiful, simple, sacred funereal rites – something our ancestors would recognise.
Please reach out if this is something that speaks to your soul.
It would be our honour to support you.
