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Okay... slept the day away, and went out for a nice supper with George. Now I'm up for sharing more details about yesterday's funeral service.
The personnel at the funeral home, including the owner of the business, were very polite and professional. The family and friends were wonderful to deal with, even though I accidentally stated that the deceased had relocated to Winnipeg in 1998 (rather than 1999) and forgot to bless the mourners with the phrase "Kia Kaha" (Maori for "be strong") as they came up to take a stone from the bowl. Very kind and forgiving folks, they were. *is ashamed*
The service went very well. The mourners, in spite of overwhelming unfamiliarity with Wicca, had instructions on the handouts they'd been given to say "Hail and welcome" at certain points in the ceremony -- and actually did so. Afterwards I received many congratulations for an excellent service, but I expect that this is standard operating procedure at any funeral. Still, it was gratifying and encouraging. Some of them even asked intelligent questions about Wicca, including books that they might read to learn more. *feels a little better*
During the service, two accidental events were accepted by the family as proof that the deceased had truly joined us and was present during -- and involved in -- the proceedings.
First, just as I was saying "I would now like to share with you a traditional Wiccan tale, that of the Goddess in the Kingdom of --", the picture of the deceased fell off the altar with a loud THUMP, and the glass cracked across the middle! The picture was in a big oval frame and balanced on one end, leaning back against the podium, which was up against one corner of the altar, so perhaps I accidentally shifted the podium and that made it fall... still, the family chose to see it as her intervention, because apparently she was clumsy in life and it was JUST the kind of thing she would have done. (Her best friend remarked afterwards that perhaps Lesilee felt how very sad everybody was and decided to lighten the mood a little...)
As the family chatted and laughed, I stepped forward, picked up the picture, and repositioned, it, saying to it: "Thank you, Lesilee!", which brought good-natured laughter from the audience. Whew! Crisis averted. (I was later told by at least one person that they admired my coolness and leadership, and the way I kept charge of the situation in spite of the accident. I was also told that in her home, the deceased had a picture of her father, and whenever it fell off the wall, she would say to her partner, "See! Dad's trying to tell us something!" Genuinely spooky.)
The second incident was a lot less explicable, and occurred just after the mourners had come up to make offerings of flash paper "prayers" in the cauldron (and most of them did, which surprised me). The very last person was the deceased's best friend, who brought up a leather medicine bag with beaded tassels, which she started opening to take out some incense to put on the charcoal as an offering. She was standing at the altar in front of the cauldron and the bowl filled with the remaining strips of flash paper... and suddenly the flash paper just went UP, all at once -- WHOOOSH! -- in a ball of flame easily a foot in diameter! She jumped back -- the crowd gasped... then, when they realized that no harm was done, they started to laugh, and some people actually clapped. Apparently this was ALSO the sort of thing the deceased would have appreciated and even caused to happen!
The flash paper was a good eight inches away from the cauldron that enclosed the charcoal, specifically to prevent accidental ignition. The only explanation I can think of that even vaguely fits is that somehow the best friend, in opening the medicine bag, generated a spark that touched off the flash paper... but HOW that could have happened, I have no idea 0_o However, it delighted the family and friends, so it was all good.
There were about 60-80 people present, including one woman who did not know the deceased but who'd had a dream the previous night telling her to come to the funeral home that afternoon. The owner of the funeral home even made noises like he'd be willing to have me back to do another service at some point... and I don't think he was just being polite. Now that I have a ritual under my belt, I'll be putting in my business card and a little package to various funeral homes around town, letting them know that if someone calls, I'm available, because the family in this case called EVERYWHERE looking for a priestess, and nobody knew where to find one.
At the very end of the afternoon, as I stood before the altar to bid farewell to the God and Goddess and extinguish the candles representing them, several people joined me, including the Pagan best friend but also people who were definitely not Wiccan. They listened as I thanked the Deities, mostly off the top of my head; this is what I said, as best I can remember:
"Gracious Lady (or Lord), Goddess (or God) of a thousand faces and names, O Thou comforter and consoler, we thank You for attending and protecting this rite, and for joining us as we gathered to mark the passage of Lesilee, Thy child, into the Summerland. And ere you depart for your lovely realms, we bid you hail -- hail and farewell!"
And darned if they all didn't repeat "hail and farewell!" after me, with real feeling. :-)
At any rate... my earlier post about the ritual can be found here.
**********************************
The Funeral Ritual, Final Version
1) Welcoming of the Mourners
We gather today in shared sorrow to mark the passing of our beloved sister, Lesilee Suzanne Wilson, from this life into the realms of the Gods. Lesilee was an avowed child of the Goddess, whose spirituality brought her joy and comfort as she faced the challenges of her life with courage, strength, and compassion for those around her.
While I did not know Lesilee personally, through the words of her sister Kerri and her friend Trish, and by the presence of you, her family, her friends, and her colleagues, I have come to see her as a beacon of light, laughter, and love, a woman of boundless energy and endless heart. She possessed a humility that did not often let her see the beauty of her own self, but also a profound wisdom that left each of us with a way of knowing the world.
2) Invocation of the Elements
This chapel in which we gather has already been consecrated as a Temple to the Ancient Ones. It is now customary in a Wiccan ceremony to call upon the attributes and powers of the four elements that make up the world -- earth, air, fire, and water.
Therefore I ask you to join me in calling upon the Powers of the North, the element of Earth, to be with us now and to lend us their attributes of stability, calmness, and grounding. By the fertile fields, by the rolling hills, by the strength of tall mountains and by the ancient life of the trees, we do summon, stir, and call up these attributes to strengthen us in our time of sorrow. Hail, Powers, of the Earth -- hail and welcome to this rite!
I ask you to join me in calling upon the Powers of the East, the element of Air, to be with us now and lend us their attributes of clarity, perception, and inspiration. By the sacred skies, by the whispering winds, by the glory of the storm and the breath that gives us life, we do summon, stir, and call up these attributes to make us wise in our time of sorrow. Hail, Powers of Air -- hail and welcome to this rite!
I ask you to join me in calling upon the Powers of the South, the element of Fire, to be with us now and lend us their attributes of passion, transformation, and courage. By the vitality of the flame, by the limber lightning, by the warmth of the hearth and the love that is in our hearts, we do summon, stir, and call up these attributes to lend us energy in our time of sorrow. Hail, Powers of Fire -- hail and welcome to this rite!
I ask you to join me in calling upon the Powers of the West, the element of Water, to be with us now and lend us their attributes of adaptation, sensitivity, and compassion. By the flowing clouds, by the cooling rain, by the life-giving oceans and the blood that flows in our veins, we do summon, stir, and call up these attributes to comfort us in our time of sorrow. Hail, Powers of Water, hail and welcome to this rite!
3) The Charge of the Goddess
Let us now speak of the Goddess, Whom Lesilee loved as a child loves the Mother from Whom all life flows.
Listen to the words of the Great Mother, who of old was called Isis, Astarte, Diana, Hecate, Cerridwen, Bast, Brigid, and by many other names:
Whenever you have need of anything, once in the month, and better it be when the moon is full, you shall assemble in some secret place to adore the spirit of Me, who is Queen of all the Wise.
There shall you assemble, who have not yet won My deepest secrets and are fain to learn all knowledge. To these shall I teach that which is yet unknown.
You shall be free from slavery, and as a sign that you be free you shall sing, dance, feast, make music and love, all in My praise -- for Mine is the ecstasy of the spirit, and Mine also is joy on Earth.
My law is love unto all beings. Mine is the secret door that opens upon the land of youth, and Mine is the cup of the wine of life, that is the Cauldron of Cerridwen, that is the Holy Grail of Immortality.
I give knowledge of the spirit eternal and beyond death I give peace and freedom and reunion with those that have gone before.
Nor do I demand aught of sacrifice, for behold, I am the Mother of all things and My love is poured forth upon the earth.
Hear the words of the Star Goddess, the dust of whose feet are the hosts of heaven, whose body encircles the universe:
I who am the beauty of the green earth and the white moon among the stars and the mysteries of the waters, do call upon your souls to arise and come unto Me. For I am the soul of nature that gives life to the universe. From Me all things proceed and unto Me they must return.
Let My worship be in the heart that rejoices, for behold -- all acts of love and pleasure are My rituals. Let there be beauty and strength, power and compassion, honor and humility, mirth and reverence all within you.
And you who seek to know Me, know that your seeking and yearning will avail you not, unless you know this Mystery: for if that which you seek, you find not within yourself, you will never find it without.
For behold, I have been with you from the beginning, and I am that which is attained at the end of desire.
Hail, Gracious Goddess -- hail and welcome!
4) Invitation to Lesilee
And for Lesilee, taken from us too soon, we light a candle and offer the sweet scent of her favorite incense, and invite her to approach us from beyond the veil and join us in this sacred place of mourning and remembrance.
Lesiliee was born on March 28th, 1958. She was known and loved by many and has left us to be with her father Allan Charles, her Aunt and Uncle Bill and Eileen Burton, Uncle Norman, her grandparents, her cousin Brent Burton, and her dear friends Karen Ann and Kelly. (PAUSE) Pup-Dog will be there too. Be comforted knowing that they will receive her in peace. Lesilee was born in Edmonton, schooled in Toronto, and lived in Vancouver, Ottawa, and Kemptville before relocating to Winnipeg in 1999.
Lesilee’s passion for people was always demonstrated through the generous giving of her time, her energy and a genuine sense of caring. She was willing to help anyone who needed anything and Lesilee’s life led her along many paths -- no, many many paths... She loved photography, she loved to fly kites, she loved animals, she loved her environment; never a pop can did she pass that did not lose its tab for the wheelchairs that they buy. Lesilee lived by the motto love, life, laughter, and magic. Her life was creative and colorful. Lesilee’s struggle has ended, she met her challenges in this life and she will live on in those of us that knew her.
She is survived by her son Chase, her mother Cleone and her partner James Rowden, and her brothers, sisters, and their partners -- Bryan (Skip) Duncan of Toronto, Cameron and Joyce Duncan of Toronto, Keith and Dale Duncan of North Bay, Alana Duncan-Cameron of Ottawa, Kerrie Duncan and Rosie Walsh of New Zealand, and Chase’s father, Keith Wilson of Mission, BC. Her faithful companion Feebee, a Husky/Border Collie mix, misses her too.
Lesilee’s nieces, nephews, and great niece were truly loved by her: Kristen, Shelley, Karman, Eve, Anna, Arleigh, Sean, Jessie, Robert and Beki, Matthew, Duncan, Brendan and dear little Mira. She will be sadly missed and graciously remembered by the residents of 64 Nassau, colleagues from the St. Amant Centre and all the wonderful people who recently joined her on her path.
We welcome you, Lesilee, to this place and this time, in the sanctuary of this sacred space, in the names of the Goddess and of the God. Know that you are loved, and that when the time comes for you to depart, you will take with you the words of love and remembrance that we will share today.
5) Eulogy
Lesilee’s eulogy will be given by her niece, Kristen.
(stand aside)
6) “The Goddess in the Kingdom of Death”
I would now like to share with you a traditional Wiccan tale, that of the Goddess in the Kingdom of Death.
In this world, the Goddess is seen in the moon, the light that shines in darkness, the rain bringer, mover of the tides, Mistress of mysteries. And as the moon waxes and wanes, and walks three nights of its cycle in darkness, so, it is said, the Goddess once spent three nights in the Kingdom of Death.
For in love She ever seeks Her other Self, and once, in the winter of the year, when He had disappeared from the green earth, She followed Him and came at last to the gates beyond which the living do not go.
The Guardian of the Gate challenged Her, and She stripped Herself of Her clothing and jewels, for nothing may be brought into that land. For love, She was bound as all who enter there must be and brought before Death Himself.
He loved Her, and knelt at Her feet, laying before Her His sword and crown, and gave Her the fivefold kiss, and said,
"Do not return to the living world, but stay here with Me, and have peace and rest and comfort."
But She answered, "Why do you cause all things I love and delight in to die and wither away?"
"Lady," He said, "It is the fate of all that lives to die. Everything passes; all fades away. I bring comfort and consolation to those who pass the gates, that they may grow young again. But You are My heart's desire -- return not, but stay here with Me."
And She remained with Him three days and three nights, and at the end of the third night She took up His crown, and it became a circlet that She placed around Her neck, saying:
"Here is the circle of rebirth. Through You all passes out of life, but through Me all may be born again. Everything passes; everything changes. Even death is not eternal. Mine is the mystery of the womb, that is the cauldron of rebirth. Enter into Me and know Me, and You will be free of all fear. For as life is but a journey into death, so death is but a passage back to life, and in Me the circle is ever turning."
In love, He entered into Her, and so was reborn into life. Yet is He known as Lord of Shadows, the comforter and consoler, opener of the gates, King of the Land of Youth, the giver of peace and rest. But She is the gracious mother of all life; from Her all things proceed and to Her they return again. In Her are the mysteries of death and birth; in Her is the fulfillment of all love.
We, too, must pass from life into death, in order to be reborn again in the inevitable cycle of creation and destruction which is shared by all things in the universe. But for a time, and especially at this time of the year, the veil between the worlds is thin and prayers and offerings can be sent across to those who have gone before. Therefore I invite you all to approach the altar, to take up one of the small pieces of paper in the bowl beside the cauldron -- choosing one with an appropriate word such as “love” or “blessings”, or perhaps a blank piece on which to mentally imprint your own message -- and place it on the lit charcoal in the cauldron, where it will evaporate in a harmless burst of flame and in so doing carry your prayer across the veil to Lesilee.
I also invite you to say any words you might feel are appropriate at this time, and when you are finished, to take from the altar a special stone as a gift from Lesilee.
7) Offering of Prayers and the Gift of the Stones
(As the mourners will; each mourner is blessed with the phrase “Kia Kaha” -- “Be Strong”.)
8) Farewell to Lesilee
The time has come to end our rite and to release Lesilee from all ties that bind her to this place and this time. Therefore join me in addressing her with love and reverence, repeating each line after me, as we bless her steps on the path that she must now walk.
“In love and in light, you shall go forth.
“In wisdom and joy, you shall go forth.
“By night and by day, you shall go forth.
“Through tempest and calm, you shall go forth.
“In the arms of the Goddess, you shall go forth.
“To the Land of the Young, you shall go forth.
“By the strength of the earth, you shall go forth.
“By the reaches of air, you shall go forth.
“By the passion of fire, you shall go forth.
“By the depths of the waters, you shall go forth.
“From death to rebirth, you shall go forth.
”Blessed be!
9) Thanks to the Goddess and God
Gracious Lady and Lord of life, and the givers of life, yet it is the knowledge of Thee which is the knowledge of Death.
Open wide, we pray, the gates through which all must pass.
Let our dear one Lesilee, Your beloved child, go forth with our blessings into the Land of Youth to be reborn.
And when our time comes, as it must, O Thou the Comforters and Consolers, the givers of peace and rest, we will enter Thy realms gladly and unafraid. For we know that when rested and refreshed amongst our dear ones, we will be reborn again by Thy grace.
Let it be in the same time, and the same place, as our beloved ones, and may we meet, and know, and remember, and love them again.
In Thy innumerable holy names, O Lady and Lord, we ask that you teach us to know that in the time of greatest darkness, there is the greatest light. Wherefore we mark the ending of this rite, and release the sacred space of this Temple back to the energies of the Universe.
So mote it be.
10) Blessing of the Mourners
On behalf of the family, I would like to thank you for attending this ceremony and for sharing their memories and their sorrow on this occasion. The family would like to invite you to join them for food and coffee until 4:30 pm, and to share informal memories and thankfulness for what we have. May the light of love and wisdom follow you as you go and comfort you in the hour of your grief. Farewell, and blessed be you all.
**********************************
The personnel at the funeral home, including the owner of the business, were very polite and professional. The family and friends were wonderful to deal with, even though I accidentally stated that the deceased had relocated to Winnipeg in 1998 (rather than 1999) and forgot to bless the mourners with the phrase "Kia Kaha" (Maori for "be strong") as they came up to take a stone from the bowl. Very kind and forgiving folks, they were. *is ashamed*
The service went very well. The mourners, in spite of overwhelming unfamiliarity with Wicca, had instructions on the handouts they'd been given to say "Hail and welcome" at certain points in the ceremony -- and actually did so. Afterwards I received many congratulations for an excellent service, but I expect that this is standard operating procedure at any funeral. Still, it was gratifying and encouraging. Some of them even asked intelligent questions about Wicca, including books that they might read to learn more. *feels a little better*
During the service, two accidental events were accepted by the family as proof that the deceased had truly joined us and was present during -- and involved in -- the proceedings.
First, just as I was saying "I would now like to share with you a traditional Wiccan tale, that of the Goddess in the Kingdom of --", the picture of the deceased fell off the altar with a loud THUMP, and the glass cracked across the middle! The picture was in a big oval frame and balanced on one end, leaning back against the podium, which was up against one corner of the altar, so perhaps I accidentally shifted the podium and that made it fall... still, the family chose to see it as her intervention, because apparently she was clumsy in life and it was JUST the kind of thing she would have done. (Her best friend remarked afterwards that perhaps Lesilee felt how very sad everybody was and decided to lighten the mood a little...)
As the family chatted and laughed, I stepped forward, picked up the picture, and repositioned, it, saying to it: "Thank you, Lesilee!", which brought good-natured laughter from the audience. Whew! Crisis averted. (I was later told by at least one person that they admired my coolness and leadership, and the way I kept charge of the situation in spite of the accident. I was also told that in her home, the deceased had a picture of her father, and whenever it fell off the wall, she would say to her partner, "See! Dad's trying to tell us something!" Genuinely spooky.)
The second incident was a lot less explicable, and occurred just after the mourners had come up to make offerings of flash paper "prayers" in the cauldron (and most of them did, which surprised me). The very last person was the deceased's best friend, who brought up a leather medicine bag with beaded tassels, which she started opening to take out some incense to put on the charcoal as an offering. She was standing at the altar in front of the cauldron and the bowl filled with the remaining strips of flash paper... and suddenly the flash paper just went UP, all at once -- WHOOOSH! -- in a ball of flame easily a foot in diameter! She jumped back -- the crowd gasped... then, when they realized that no harm was done, they started to laugh, and some people actually clapped. Apparently this was ALSO the sort of thing the deceased would have appreciated and even caused to happen!
The flash paper was a good eight inches away from the cauldron that enclosed the charcoal, specifically to prevent accidental ignition. The only explanation I can think of that even vaguely fits is that somehow the best friend, in opening the medicine bag, generated a spark that touched off the flash paper... but HOW that could have happened, I have no idea 0_o However, it delighted the family and friends, so it was all good.
There were about 60-80 people present, including one woman who did not know the deceased but who'd had a dream the previous night telling her to come to the funeral home that afternoon. The owner of the funeral home even made noises like he'd be willing to have me back to do another service at some point... and I don't think he was just being polite. Now that I have a ritual under my belt, I'll be putting in my business card and a little package to various funeral homes around town, letting them know that if someone calls, I'm available, because the family in this case called EVERYWHERE looking for a priestess, and nobody knew where to find one.
At the very end of the afternoon, as I stood before the altar to bid farewell to the God and Goddess and extinguish the candles representing them, several people joined me, including the Pagan best friend but also people who were definitely not Wiccan. They listened as I thanked the Deities, mostly off the top of my head; this is what I said, as best I can remember:
"Gracious Lady (or Lord), Goddess (or God) of a thousand faces and names, O Thou comforter and consoler, we thank You for attending and protecting this rite, and for joining us as we gathered to mark the passage of Lesilee, Thy child, into the Summerland. And ere you depart for your lovely realms, we bid you hail -- hail and farewell!"
And darned if they all didn't repeat "hail and farewell!" after me, with real feeling. :-)
At any rate... my earlier post about the ritual can be found here.
**********************************
The Funeral Ritual, Final Version
1) Welcoming of the Mourners
We gather today in shared sorrow to mark the passing of our beloved sister, Lesilee Suzanne Wilson, from this life into the realms of the Gods. Lesilee was an avowed child of the Goddess, whose spirituality brought her joy and comfort as she faced the challenges of her life with courage, strength, and compassion for those around her.
While I did not know Lesilee personally, through the words of her sister Kerri and her friend Trish, and by the presence of you, her family, her friends, and her colleagues, I have come to see her as a beacon of light, laughter, and love, a woman of boundless energy and endless heart. She possessed a humility that did not often let her see the beauty of her own self, but also a profound wisdom that left each of us with a way of knowing the world.
2) Invocation of the Elements
This chapel in which we gather has already been consecrated as a Temple to the Ancient Ones. It is now customary in a Wiccan ceremony to call upon the attributes and powers of the four elements that make up the world -- earth, air, fire, and water.
Therefore I ask you to join me in calling upon the Powers of the North, the element of Earth, to be with us now and to lend us their attributes of stability, calmness, and grounding. By the fertile fields, by the rolling hills, by the strength of tall mountains and by the ancient life of the trees, we do summon, stir, and call up these attributes to strengthen us in our time of sorrow. Hail, Powers, of the Earth -- hail and welcome to this rite!
I ask you to join me in calling upon the Powers of the East, the element of Air, to be with us now and lend us their attributes of clarity, perception, and inspiration. By the sacred skies, by the whispering winds, by the glory of the storm and the breath that gives us life, we do summon, stir, and call up these attributes to make us wise in our time of sorrow. Hail, Powers of Air -- hail and welcome to this rite!
I ask you to join me in calling upon the Powers of the South, the element of Fire, to be with us now and lend us their attributes of passion, transformation, and courage. By the vitality of the flame, by the limber lightning, by the warmth of the hearth and the love that is in our hearts, we do summon, stir, and call up these attributes to lend us energy in our time of sorrow. Hail, Powers of Fire -- hail and welcome to this rite!
I ask you to join me in calling upon the Powers of the West, the element of Water, to be with us now and lend us their attributes of adaptation, sensitivity, and compassion. By the flowing clouds, by the cooling rain, by the life-giving oceans and the blood that flows in our veins, we do summon, stir, and call up these attributes to comfort us in our time of sorrow. Hail, Powers of Water, hail and welcome to this rite!
3) The Charge of the Goddess
Let us now speak of the Goddess, Whom Lesilee loved as a child loves the Mother from Whom all life flows.
Listen to the words of the Great Mother, who of old was called Isis, Astarte, Diana, Hecate, Cerridwen, Bast, Brigid, and by many other names:
Whenever you have need of anything, once in the month, and better it be when the moon is full, you shall assemble in some secret place to adore the spirit of Me, who is Queen of all the Wise.
There shall you assemble, who have not yet won My deepest secrets and are fain to learn all knowledge. To these shall I teach that which is yet unknown.
You shall be free from slavery, and as a sign that you be free you shall sing, dance, feast, make music and love, all in My praise -- for Mine is the ecstasy of the spirit, and Mine also is joy on Earth.
My law is love unto all beings. Mine is the secret door that opens upon the land of youth, and Mine is the cup of the wine of life, that is the Cauldron of Cerridwen, that is the Holy Grail of Immortality.
I give knowledge of the spirit eternal and beyond death I give peace and freedom and reunion with those that have gone before.
Nor do I demand aught of sacrifice, for behold, I am the Mother of all things and My love is poured forth upon the earth.
Hear the words of the Star Goddess, the dust of whose feet are the hosts of heaven, whose body encircles the universe:
I who am the beauty of the green earth and the white moon among the stars and the mysteries of the waters, do call upon your souls to arise and come unto Me. For I am the soul of nature that gives life to the universe. From Me all things proceed and unto Me they must return.
Let My worship be in the heart that rejoices, for behold -- all acts of love and pleasure are My rituals. Let there be beauty and strength, power and compassion, honor and humility, mirth and reverence all within you.
And you who seek to know Me, know that your seeking and yearning will avail you not, unless you know this Mystery: for if that which you seek, you find not within yourself, you will never find it without.
For behold, I have been with you from the beginning, and I am that which is attained at the end of desire.
Hail, Gracious Goddess -- hail and welcome!
4) Invitation to Lesilee
And for Lesilee, taken from us too soon, we light a candle and offer the sweet scent of her favorite incense, and invite her to approach us from beyond the veil and join us in this sacred place of mourning and remembrance.
Lesiliee was born on March 28th, 1958. She was known and loved by many and has left us to be with her father Allan Charles, her Aunt and Uncle Bill and Eileen Burton, Uncle Norman, her grandparents, her cousin Brent Burton, and her dear friends Karen Ann and Kelly. (PAUSE) Pup-Dog will be there too. Be comforted knowing that they will receive her in peace. Lesilee was born in Edmonton, schooled in Toronto, and lived in Vancouver, Ottawa, and Kemptville before relocating to Winnipeg in 1999.
Lesilee’s passion for people was always demonstrated through the generous giving of her time, her energy and a genuine sense of caring. She was willing to help anyone who needed anything and Lesilee’s life led her along many paths -- no, many many paths... She loved photography, she loved to fly kites, she loved animals, she loved her environment; never a pop can did she pass that did not lose its tab for the wheelchairs that they buy. Lesilee lived by the motto love, life, laughter, and magic. Her life was creative and colorful. Lesilee’s struggle has ended, she met her challenges in this life and she will live on in those of us that knew her.
She is survived by her son Chase, her mother Cleone and her partner James Rowden, and her brothers, sisters, and their partners -- Bryan (Skip) Duncan of Toronto, Cameron and Joyce Duncan of Toronto, Keith and Dale Duncan of North Bay, Alana Duncan-Cameron of Ottawa, Kerrie Duncan and Rosie Walsh of New Zealand, and Chase’s father, Keith Wilson of Mission, BC. Her faithful companion Feebee, a Husky/Border Collie mix, misses her too.
Lesilee’s nieces, nephews, and great niece were truly loved by her: Kristen, Shelley, Karman, Eve, Anna, Arleigh, Sean, Jessie, Robert and Beki, Matthew, Duncan, Brendan and dear little Mira. She will be sadly missed and graciously remembered by the residents of 64 Nassau, colleagues from the St. Amant Centre and all the wonderful people who recently joined her on her path.
We welcome you, Lesilee, to this place and this time, in the sanctuary of this sacred space, in the names of the Goddess and of the God. Know that you are loved, and that when the time comes for you to depart, you will take with you the words of love and remembrance that we will share today.
5) Eulogy
Lesilee’s eulogy will be given by her niece, Kristen.
(stand aside)
6) “The Goddess in the Kingdom of Death”
I would now like to share with you a traditional Wiccan tale, that of the Goddess in the Kingdom of Death.
In this world, the Goddess is seen in the moon, the light that shines in darkness, the rain bringer, mover of the tides, Mistress of mysteries. And as the moon waxes and wanes, and walks three nights of its cycle in darkness, so, it is said, the Goddess once spent three nights in the Kingdom of Death.
For in love She ever seeks Her other Self, and once, in the winter of the year, when He had disappeared from the green earth, She followed Him and came at last to the gates beyond which the living do not go.
The Guardian of the Gate challenged Her, and She stripped Herself of Her clothing and jewels, for nothing may be brought into that land. For love, She was bound as all who enter there must be and brought before Death Himself.
He loved Her, and knelt at Her feet, laying before Her His sword and crown, and gave Her the fivefold kiss, and said,
"Do not return to the living world, but stay here with Me, and have peace and rest and comfort."
But She answered, "Why do you cause all things I love and delight in to die and wither away?"
"Lady," He said, "It is the fate of all that lives to die. Everything passes; all fades away. I bring comfort and consolation to those who pass the gates, that they may grow young again. But You are My heart's desire -- return not, but stay here with Me."
And She remained with Him three days and three nights, and at the end of the third night She took up His crown, and it became a circlet that She placed around Her neck, saying:
"Here is the circle of rebirth. Through You all passes out of life, but through Me all may be born again. Everything passes; everything changes. Even death is not eternal. Mine is the mystery of the womb, that is the cauldron of rebirth. Enter into Me and know Me, and You will be free of all fear. For as life is but a journey into death, so death is but a passage back to life, and in Me the circle is ever turning."
In love, He entered into Her, and so was reborn into life. Yet is He known as Lord of Shadows, the comforter and consoler, opener of the gates, King of the Land of Youth, the giver of peace and rest. But She is the gracious mother of all life; from Her all things proceed and to Her they return again. In Her are the mysteries of death and birth; in Her is the fulfillment of all love.
We, too, must pass from life into death, in order to be reborn again in the inevitable cycle of creation and destruction which is shared by all things in the universe. But for a time, and especially at this time of the year, the veil between the worlds is thin and prayers and offerings can be sent across to those who have gone before. Therefore I invite you all to approach the altar, to take up one of the small pieces of paper in the bowl beside the cauldron -- choosing one with an appropriate word such as “love” or “blessings”, or perhaps a blank piece on which to mentally imprint your own message -- and place it on the lit charcoal in the cauldron, where it will evaporate in a harmless burst of flame and in so doing carry your prayer across the veil to Lesilee.
I also invite you to say any words you might feel are appropriate at this time, and when you are finished, to take from the altar a special stone as a gift from Lesilee.
7) Offering of Prayers and the Gift of the Stones
(As the mourners will; each mourner is blessed with the phrase “Kia Kaha” -- “Be Strong”.)
8) Farewell to Lesilee
The time has come to end our rite and to release Lesilee from all ties that bind her to this place and this time. Therefore join me in addressing her with love and reverence, repeating each line after me, as we bless her steps on the path that she must now walk.
“In love and in light, you shall go forth.
“In wisdom and joy, you shall go forth.
“By night and by day, you shall go forth.
“Through tempest and calm, you shall go forth.
“In the arms of the Goddess, you shall go forth.
“To the Land of the Young, you shall go forth.
“By the strength of the earth, you shall go forth.
“By the reaches of air, you shall go forth.
“By the passion of fire, you shall go forth.
“By the depths of the waters, you shall go forth.
“From death to rebirth, you shall go forth.
”Blessed be!
9) Thanks to the Goddess and God
Gracious Lady and Lord of life, and the givers of life, yet it is the knowledge of Thee which is the knowledge of Death.
Open wide, we pray, the gates through which all must pass.
Let our dear one Lesilee, Your beloved child, go forth with our blessings into the Land of Youth to be reborn.
And when our time comes, as it must, O Thou the Comforters and Consolers, the givers of peace and rest, we will enter Thy realms gladly and unafraid. For we know that when rested and refreshed amongst our dear ones, we will be reborn again by Thy grace.
Let it be in the same time, and the same place, as our beloved ones, and may we meet, and know, and remember, and love them again.
In Thy innumerable holy names, O Lady and Lord, we ask that you teach us to know that in the time of greatest darkness, there is the greatest light. Wherefore we mark the ending of this rite, and release the sacred space of this Temple back to the energies of the Universe.
So mote it be.
10) Blessing of the Mourners
On behalf of the family, I would like to thank you for attending this ceremony and for sharing their memories and their sorrow on this occasion. The family would like to invite you to join them for food and coffee until 4:30 pm, and to share informal memories and thankfulness for what we have. May the light of love and wisdom follow you as you go and comfort you in the hour of your grief. Farewell, and blessed be you all.
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*rubs eyes gently*
Damn, the ragweed is really bad this year ... eyes are teary ...
;-)