Archive: February 2012

Thoughts for Lent

28 February 2012
Charles
3 Comments
Categories: Atheism, Attitudes to death, Grief, Religious funerals

 

Posted by Richard Rawlinson

 
 

“I’ve been to funerals where I was pretty sure the majority were atheists and they listened to the vicar say the deceased had gone to a better place and everyone’s toes curled. We can’t prove it’s not so but the chances that it is, are rather meagre. If they did believe you all meet up again in this big theme park in the sky why were they crying? How can you say you believe in the afterlife and weep at the finality of death?”  — Ian McEwan

Catholic Herald contributor Francis Philips suggests this is a rather banal response to the mystery of death and the hereafter. She does so by comparing the novelist’s words with those of Cistercian prior Christian de Chergé, who anticipated his own death at the hands of Algerian terrorists in 1994. Two years before his beheading, he wrote:

 

 

“I should like, when the time comes, to have the moment of lucidity which would allow me to beg forgiveness of God and of my fellow human beings, and at the same time to forgive with all my heart the one who would strike me down… For this life lost, totally mine and totally theirs, I thank God who seems to have willed it entirely for the sake of that joy in everything and in spite of everything.”

This profoundly Christian approach is the antithesis of dreary funerals, argues Phillips. ‘As for weeping at funerals, tears are part of life, of being human… Christian de Chergé’s family would also have wept – even as they believed their son was now united forever with God’. 

R.E.M. – Find the River

27 February 2012
Charles
1 Comment
Categories: funeral music, music

 

Hey now, little speedyhead,
The read on the speedometer says
You have to go to task in the city
Where people drown and people serve
Don’t be shy. Your just dessert
Is only just light years to go

Me, my thoughts are flower strewn
Ocean storm, bayberry moon
I have got to leave to find my way
Watch the road and memorize
This life that passed before my eyes
Nothing is going my way

The ocean is the river’s goal,
A need to leave the water knows
We’re closer now than light years to go

I have got to find the river,
Bergamot and vetiver
Run through my head and fall away
Leave the road and memorize
This life that passed before my eyes
Nothing is going my way

There’s no one left to take the lead,
But I tell you and you can see
We’re closer now than light years to go
Pick up here and chase the ride
The river empties to the tide
Fall into the ocean

The river to the ocean goes,
A fortune for the undertow
None of this is going my way
There is nothing left to throw
Of ginger, lemon, indigo,
Coriander stem and rows of hay
Strength and courage overrides
The privileged and weary eyes
Of river poet search naivete
Pick up here and chase the ride
The river empties to the tide
All of this is coming your way

Quote of the day

27 February 2012
Charles
No comments
Categories: funeral music, music, Quotes

 

 

“I chose the start of the overture from The Mikado as the music for my Dad’s funeral…..it was that, or his other favourite, Doris Day, but my Mum pointed out that everyone would think we were outing him, so G&S it was…”   Source

 

 

 

 

Modern times

27 February 2012
Charles
No comments
Categories: onlime memorial sites

Rum goings-on emerge from the online memorial website GoneTooSoon here (which we’ve never had a lot of time for at the GFG), where a variation of trolling seems to be going on. In an online discussion titled Victim of FAKE memorials 🙁  Vicki writes:

I’m sorry, but recently, I have been the victim of several fake memorials, I have made photos, lit candles, and even bought these fake people presents!!! As soon as I hear that these memorials are fake, I remove every one as relation, remove all candles, photos and gifts left to these fake people!!

Because of the large amount of fake memorials coming from the Brothers and Sisters of Suicide Group Garden 
http://brothers-and-sisters-of-suicide.gonetoosoon.org/memorial/ I have removed myself from all connections with this garden. I do not support fake memorials and the other members of the garden can decide for themselves whether they want to stay or not.

I am not very happy about this. I remember many times being in so much pain, but wanting to help these people (who, I now find out are not real)! 

I’m going to have to take a break from here until I can figure this out. I may have to leave. This literally makes me sick. I’ll let you know what I decide. All my love, Vicki

So far as we can see, GoneTooSoon has taken its suicide garden down. 

Death and Life

27 February 2012
Charles
No comments
Categories: Books

 

Transitus member Zambodhi Schlossmacher has written to tell us of this book, just out. Here’s the blurb:

Bruno Bitterli-Furst was amazed when Elisabeth Kubler-Ross first contacted him from the spiritual world. Initially, he disbelieved her authenticity. However, over the course of communicating with her, it became unequivocally clear that this being from the spiritual world was a profound expert on death and dying. A few days prior to this unexpected encounter, Bruno had already decided to embark on another book project. So Elisabeth and Bruno determined to write a book together across the threshold of this world and the world beyond. Soon thereafter, a profound document emerged that shared deep insights about death, Elisabeth’s personal experiences in the nonmaterial world, and the collaborative creative process that is possible between the spiritual world and Earth. Their collaborative process culminated in this book with words that both touch deeply and put death in its rightful place – central to life! Bruno Bitterli-Furst initially worked as a woodcraft teacher. At 32, he embarked on an intensive course of study involving collaboration with the spiritual world. He has since been working as a psychic counselor and course leader supporting people to connect to their own inner guidance.

Zambodhi Schlossmacher adds:

The book investigates death and looks at issues in everyday-life relevant to death. Elisabeth shares her own experiences of what she went through when she died ‘for real’ and how she is now continuing to investigate aspects of death in the spiritual world. 

 

The book is an invitation to enter a deep inner process and it is not written for the intellect but for the heart. It follows themes and threads in gentle rhythms and has a meditatively slow pace in favour of reaching deep. It is very suitabe to read in small groups or together with a friend. 

 

The book is by no means gloomy and dishartening, on the contrary; it is very life-affirming and includes humor, based on the best that we as humans can be.
 
Most of all I am sure ‘Death and Life’ can help people who are in need to make peace with the reality of death in our earthly existence.

 

You can order it from the Book Depository here  (special offer at the moment) or on Amazon here 

All lit up in love

27 February 2012
Charles
No comments
Categories: crematoria

 

From a story in the Times of India: 

BHOPAL: Marriages are said to be arranged in heaven. But this one was solemnized inside a crematorium amid beating of drums, music and dance.

Vinod tied the nuptial knot with Vinita, daughter of Amar Rai, on Saturday here at the Anand Nagar crematorium on Raisen Road. For those who wonder why, Amar is the caretaker of the crematorium and live in the crematorium.

 

Source. David Lee Murphy.

By what magic can a personal experience be communicated to another?

27 February 2012
Charles
1 Comment
Categories: celebrants

 

‎”The priest presents for consideration a compound of inherited forms with the expectation (or, at times, even requirement) that one should interpret and experience them in a certain authorized way, whereas the artist first has an experience of his own, which he then seeks to interpret and communicate through effective forms. Not the forms first and then the experience, but the experience first and then the forms.

“Who, however, will be touched by these forms and be moved by them to an experience of his own? By what magic can a personal experience be communicated to another? And who is going to listen?”

 Joseph Campbell, “Mythological Themes in Creative Literature and Art,” The Mythic Dimension, p. 186

Do we, somewhere in this, wonders Tony Piper, find the way of the celebrant, part priest, part artist?

Got something to say?

26 February 2012
Charles
No comments
Categories: funeral directors


Have you recently lost a loved one?

How was the funeral?

Did it go well as could be expected or were there problems you felt you shouldn’t have had to deal with?

I’m a journalist working for a small independent television production company. We are currently looking into funerals and we want to hear about your experiences. Were you shocked by the cost or was it reasonable? How were you treated by the Funeral Director and the other staff? Did your relative have a funeral plan? If so, do you think that helped make their funeral go more smoothly? Please get in touch by emailing me (tom@hardcashproductions.com) or calling me (07921 69 35 97 or 02072 53 27 82) and mentioning that you have a funeral story to tell.

 

 

 

 

Joke of the day – RIP Frank Carson

25 February 2012
Charles
No comments
Categories: Humour

Posted by Vale

“Fella said, ‘Your mother-in-law has just died. Do you want her embalmed, buried or cremated?’ He said: ‘Take no chances: give her the lot.'”

It was the way he told them.

Quote of the day

24 February 2012
Charles
1 Comment
Categories: Humour

“It’s a bit tragic though, isn’t it, when the only social life you have is going to funerals? They’re not quite as joyful as a wedding. But look on the bright side. At least you don’t need an invite and you don’t have to bring a present.”

Ask Agnes, agony aunt, Horsham Australia — here