Honouring Community, honouring the final rites of passage.

A blog of reflection as a pagan on this life path witnessing life's seasons.

I have been walking a pagan path all of my adult life, exploring different aspects, wicca, shamanic, druidry, witch. I came to it in my early twenties, it was small compared to the community now. Not many people I knew were actively pagan. But 25 years on the community is huge. In the beginning my awareness of paganism being an active pathway, and not something the vikings were as I'd learned from my dad, was opened as I stood in Avebury with friends one Solstice day. Druids were walking to the centre of stones on the Michael Line. A crop circle of the sun in another field. I recall a conversation in the shop between the shop keeper and local about how the aliens must have created the crop circle.

My world flipped that day. It was the beginning of seeds that I would later nurture.

In those days being pagan was a quiet conversation. Not one to share as it wasn't common, many pagans kept quiet because of lack of understanding from others.

Today things have changed so much. Our community has grown. People are open in conversation, public about their path.

More people are joining pagan groups, and exploring nature based paths for a greater sense of connection, and nurturing their relationship with world in which we live.

Another realisation is that our community is also aging.

With the inevitably of aging we find ourselves considering our final passage in life, our, passing, our funerals. How we wish to return to the earth, and what lies beyond.

I have held and witnessed a number of life rites, celebrating life. Such as handfasting ceremonies, naming, and age marking ceremonies, within my personal and wider community.

But in recent years more final rites of passage are presenting. More people wishing for pagan funerals. I have attended a number in recent years, each incredibly moving, as they are unique to each person. Each ceremony reflecting their own pagan path. I find myself leaving pagan funerals respectfully uplifted from the way each ceremony is held, because its so honouring of the persons beliefs.

As a celebrant I have had the deep privilege of holding them too. It isn't a ceremony I advertise. I have only held them when called. It is a true honour, a privilege to hold delicately, carefully, the wishes of the person diseased, and the hearts of family and friends. It feels quiet a deep responsibility, which is also why it's not one I advertise.

This week I was asked to hold a pagan blessing for a scattering of ashes, for a lady who walked an eclectic path as a witch. It felt a sacred honour to serve community in this way, I was available too, which is unheard of recently. I spoke with the ladys daughter. I then sat over two days to carefully, in ritual, write the ceremony.

The ceremony was a unique, bespoke, beautiful experience. I found myself in awe as I stood as Celebrant in the delicate, sensitive, holding of the magical ceremony, in the presence of the family and the essence of the lady herself filling the room and all the hearts there. So in awe I lost my words, not something you want to do as a celebrant, but I felt so moved. I also suddenly felt the responsibility of the holding.

The ritual became the lady's final spell, the families final blessings, as we essentially created a charm by blessing her ashes with elements, and things the lady used in her own spell craft.

Her ashes were placed in the sea within a coracle, and honoured with fire arrows, and two brilliant drummers, who drummed to support the ladies final path as the waves embraced her, returning her to sea, sky and land.

I must admit I'm still lost for words. I have no words, only open hearted connection, deep reverence and mirth for my witnessing of the ceremony.

I woke today in awareness, a bit heavy and warmed inwardly, knowing we are walking into the beginning of a future of witnessing and holding respectfully more pagan funerals. Honouring our community in beautiful bespoke ways that reflect each person.

The ladys daughter wrote to me afterwards. I'd like to share these words, because it reflects the impact of a nature based pagan ceremony.

I'm aware also that not everyone reading this will be pagan. I'm also aware that funerals are in general becoming more bespoke, with more options. Which is amazing!!!

Death isn't a subject our society supports well. We barely speak about it, or prepare ourselves. We should. The more open we are, the easier the threshold of the final rite of life will be for the person walking through, and their loved ones grieving. It comes to us all, we will all cross the threshold and take our place as ancestors, returning our body, gifted from nature, back to her embrace. It's a time to celebrate the person, their life.

Remember, grief is only present when we have loved so much.

Today through these reflections on honouring the pagan community, and path, on how it's grown so. I feel deep reverence, mirth, and very humbled.

I do so love this path and community 💚 🌿

Image of solstice sunset over the sea.