the luminous blog

My cousin - my sister (as Christ's cousins were his "brothers and sisters") - died unexpectedly.
She was a mother of one... a wife... a vibrant fun-loving gal.

Her soul lives on - freed of her mortal coil.

She had been for the past 2 years in the Açores... Portuguese archipelago of 9 islands... land of our ancestors to us all in the family... mayhaps the land that none of our dads should have ever left...? Not because it may be better there weather-wise and economically-wise too - since the advent of the European Union... no... simply and purely for happiness sake.
 

Someone found this beautiful prayer in Ceisiwr Serith's _A Book of Pagan Prayer_ that can be for anyone... pagan or not - simply use your imagination. I am a Christian - but I do have imagination. So did Paula.
Here is the prayer:

A Prayer for the Recently Dead

You are journeying across the dividing water that lies between this world and the next,
carried away by the ferryman on your way.
Look ahead of you, do not look behind.
Look ahead of you, where your destiny lies.
Do you see them? They are there, ahead of you on the other shore.
Slowly, they become visible to you;
the shining ones appear slowly out of the concealing mists.
Clearly they appear to you, though hidden from our eyes.
Go to them, they welcome you.
Go to them, not stopping for farewells.
Holy Ones in the world beyond,
open wide your arms to receive this one who is journeying to you.
Make him a home, bring him to rest.
Farewell, [name].
We who have loved you wish you a good journey.

(pp. 185-186)
 

Luciano,

I am so sorry for your loss!!
My heart goes out to you my dear friend.
((HUGE HUGS))

I will pray for you and your family! God Bless You!!

That is a beautiful Poem/Prayer.
Here are my thoughts about what it means to me.

The person who has recently died is being guided by an Angel from Earth to Heaven
(You are journeying across the dividing water that lies between this world and the next,
carried away by the ferryman on your way.)

This is telling the deceased to look ahead towards God and not look back and worry about loved ones who are left on Earth.
( Look ahead of you, do not look behind. Look ahead of you, where your destiny lies )

To me this part talks about the deceased seeing the Angels even though we cannot. Telling them to go to the Angels as they welcome them with open arms.
It is telling them not to look back to say goodbye, but to look ahead towards Heaven.
( Do you see them? They are there, ahead of you on the other shore.
Slowly, they become visible to you;
the shining ones appear slowly out of the concealing mists.
Clearly they appear to you, though hidden from our eyes.
Go to them, they welcome you.
Go to them, not stopping for farewells.)

This is asking the Angels in Heaven to open their arms and welcome the loved one who has died into Heaven.
(Holy Ones in the world beyond,
open wide your arms to receive this one who is journeying to you. )

The Bible says God will prepare a place for us.
(Make him a home, bring him to rest.)

Here the those who loved the deceased are saying goodbye, and knowing that their loved one is now in Heaven.
(Farewell, [name].
We who have loved you wish you a good journey.)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This is a poem I have written called "Gone On". It is about those who have "Gone On" to Heaven.
Just click on the link below to read it.
Gone On

God Bless You (\ô/)
((HUGS))
Countess