The circle of life goes round and round
Tonight at sundown is Yom Kippur the Jewish Day of Atonement. A dear friend has her birthday tomorrow and life has been difficult for her this past year, I worry about her and how she is drawn to what appears from the outside to be a community that to me and many others looks uncomfortably like a cult and one that rubs me personally the wrong way as the members seem to be Christians who are "borrowing" (as in taking holidays, traditions and reworking them to suit themselves) very heavily from Judaism. Cultural appropriation is not OK when we are talking about those who were here before the "white man" (and I do agree with that) but groups like Jews for Jesus (not the one she is involved with BTW) and this one are somehow exempt?
Anyhow, that is not the topic of this entry, just a small side rant, sorry!!!
Last night my son who is a med student was up all night delivering babies, the delivery room can be a joyous place of birth or a sorrowing one where birth and death go hand in hand. He is having experiences that will change him forever, writing themselves into his very spirit.
This morning I read a status on fb by an initiate in my spiritual tradition grieving out loud as a fellow initiate is preparing for their final journal of this lifetime. I didn't really think that much about it at the time, I was on my way out the door. This afternoon when I got home I was reading the comments on that status and suddenly I felt my breath catch in my throat as sorrow overtook me when I realized that I knew who they were talking about and no matter how much I shake my head in denial, I know his crossing time is near, not at all unexpected but hope against hope we still looked for a miracle.
In the space of so short a time I heard my son recount with wonder the births he took part in and then had confirmation from dear Shimmer that yes the fb post was indeed about that person and that the individual is nearing his crossing time.
For that elder and initiate (and his beloved husband), who is much of an age with me and Shimmer, I have lit a candle and pray that Those who watch over the dead and dying gather him up gently and rock him to sleep. I regret that I never had the chance to meet him in person. He will never be forgotten.
In the jewish tradition to which I was born for this lifetime, tonight I ask forgiveness of any I might have offended during this year and I forgive those who might have offended me.
In the tradition to which my heart and spirit belong I feel the turning of the wheel of the year, the passage of time and the coming of the time of darkness and communication with those who have gone ahead, the ancestors and the mighty dead.
blessings of light and dark to all.
Anyhow, that is not the topic of this entry, just a small side rant, sorry!!!
Last night my son who is a med student was up all night delivering babies, the delivery room can be a joyous place of birth or a sorrowing one where birth and death go hand in hand. He is having experiences that will change him forever, writing themselves into his very spirit.
This morning I read a status on fb by an initiate in my spiritual tradition grieving out loud as a fellow initiate is preparing for their final journal of this lifetime. I didn't really think that much about it at the time, I was on my way out the door. This afternoon when I got home I was reading the comments on that status and suddenly I felt my breath catch in my throat as sorrow overtook me when I realized that I knew who they were talking about and no matter how much I shake my head in denial, I know his crossing time is near, not at all unexpected but hope against hope we still looked for a miracle.
In the space of so short a time I heard my son recount with wonder the births he took part in and then had confirmation from dear Shimmer that yes the fb post was indeed about that person and that the individual is nearing his crossing time.
For that elder and initiate (and his beloved husband), who is much of an age with me and Shimmer, I have lit a candle and pray that Those who watch over the dead and dying gather him up gently and rock him to sleep. I regret that I never had the chance to meet him in person. He will never be forgotten.
In the jewish tradition to which I was born for this lifetime, tonight I ask forgiveness of any I might have offended during this year and I forgive those who might have offended me.
In the tradition to which my heart and spirit belong I feel the turning of the wheel of the year, the passage of time and the coming of the time of darkness and communication with those who have gone ahead, the ancestors and the mighty dead.
blessings of light and dark to all.