Sacred Ordinary: Looking Back and Forward to Death
For more than 20 years I have led groups of journal keepers both with the Ira Progoff method of writing called the National Intensive Journal as well as other writing groups. Death is a topic most serious writers address again and again. The late Ira Progoff used to quote from “I Never Sang for My Father,” that death does not end a relationship. We all know that, but one of the powerful tools we have at our disposal is to have a dialogue with our deceased relatives and friends if we so choose. I personally have had some extremely positive results and I’ve heard dialogues read back countless numbers of time. It is a healing process. Seena Frost’s SoulCollage method is another tool for healing where we explore our lives and our archetypes, including death itself. Collage cards are made in suits and can be read as tarot cards would be, or “sat with” individually. Not only do I have four Death cards in the Council suit, in the Community suit I have cards for many of my beloved dead, including pets, and for people I admired in life, like Albert Einstein and Jackie Kennedy. It is a method I highly recommend s yet another intuitive healing tool.
For the past few years I have put up an ofrenda, or altar, as part of the Dios de los Muertos celebration. My ofrenda has photos of all the people in my own life who have passed, but who I sense are right there behind a veil. I also put memorabilia for some of the people—notes, letters, union cards, something they personally made and that I have kept. Tonight I will add some of my beloved dead’s favorite foods and I will take time to light the fireplace, all the candles, and do some writing. Tomorrow’s post will be my day of the dead litany.
Comments