Q&A: Funeral Rite for Wiccans
Author: By Kathael
Photo by: Dwane A.
Q: We all have to face this inevitable fact at one time in our lives, so I hope you don't think of me as too morbid as to discuss the less-popular topic of one's death. You see, I am Wiccan, the only one in a family of fervent Catholics, and, the thing is, none of them know of my religion. When one member of the family passes away, of course we all follow the "standard" procedures of a Christian burial ritual. But what if I want to die as a Wiccan? To be buried as a Wiccan? I haven't heard of any Wiccan burial rites being talked about or being practiced. How are they like? Is performing a Wiccan rite for the death of a closet Wiccan in a family of Christians without the family ever knowing an impossible feat in this country?
A: Death to a Pagan is a natural process of life and the moving of Seasons, an aspect in the Circle of life, death and reincarnation. Wiccan beliefs vary depending on the Path but generally the basic Wiccan belief of reincarnation is that we are placed here on the material plane to learn a lesson. Death is the culmination of each incarnation you are born into, a graduation, if you must, from the lessons to be learned from this lifetime.
So what happens in the physical realm as our Soul reaches out for the Lands of Eternal Summer (as Scott Cunningham so aptly puts it)? Our body dies, as our Souls are freed. Wiccans see each death as one step higher towards enlightenment. We enter the Summerland where we then reflect on the right time and the perfect lessons to take on to the next life (karma). So as you live and die and live again, our Soul learns and grows to be perfect for the Goddess and God.
I will not give you a complete ritual here, as I would advise you make your own. You can look into other sites sharing Pagan Death rituals however, as with any ritual, it is not much so on the ceremony, but on the significance of the symbols and words being said. It is important that you believe in what you are saying and what you are doing before anything can take on meaning in the Spiritual Plane.
It is best to perform your ritual by the graveside, however, in your case, being a Solitary, and a closet Wiccan you can have the ritual in sacred places (forests, mountain tops, near a body of water) or if you are city bound, a garden or private area will suffice.
The ceremony need not be elaborate; a Circle Casting with elements symbolic to the loved one being remembered coupled with a ritual celebrating the wheel of life and those beyond life. Offerings for love, rebirth, strength, peace and cleansing are made.
It is a painful and difficult reality to accept our own mortality faced with the death of a loved one. Be at peace that our bodies are mere vessels for the Goddess and the God as our Souls are guided to perfection.
About the Author: KATHAEL is a solitary seeker of ancient cultures and myths. At the age of 18, she discovered that Wicca had been the path she had unknowingly followed all her life. She is a graduate of Computer Engineering (UP Diliman), which for a time sidetracked her from things she is most passionate about. She firmly believes that practitioners should be more focused on the presence of spirituality in magick.
Q: We all have to face this inevitable fact at one time in our lives, so I hope you don't think of me as too morbid as to discuss the less-popular topic of one's death. You see, I am Wiccan, the only one in a family of fervent Catholics, and, the thing is, none of them know of my religion. When one member of the family passes away, of course we all follow the "standard" procedures of a Christian burial ritual. But what if I want to die as a Wiccan? To be buried as a Wiccan? I haven't heard of any Wiccan burial rites being talked about or being practiced. How are they like? Is performing a Wiccan rite for the death of a closet Wiccan in a family of Christians without the family ever knowing an impossible feat in this country?
A: Death to a Pagan is a natural process of life and the moving of Seasons, an aspect in the Circle of life, death and reincarnation. Wiccan beliefs vary depending on the Path but generally the basic Wiccan belief of reincarnation is that we are placed here on the material plane to learn a lesson. Death is the culmination of each incarnation you are born into, a graduation, if you must, from the lessons to be learned from this lifetime.So what happens in the physical realm as our Soul reaches out for the Lands of Eternal Summer (as Scott Cunningham so aptly puts it)? Our body dies, as our Souls are freed. Wiccans see each death as one step higher towards enlightenment. We enter the Summerland where we then reflect on the right time and the perfect lessons to take on to the next life (karma). So as you live and die and live again, our Soul learns and grows to be perfect for the Goddess and God.
I will not give you a complete ritual here, as I would advise you make your own. You can look into other sites sharing Pagan Death rituals however, as with any ritual, it is not much so on the ceremony, but on the significance of the symbols and words being said. It is important that you believe in what you are saying and what you are doing before anything can take on meaning in the Spiritual Plane.
It is best to perform your ritual by the graveside, however, in your case, being a Solitary, and a closet Wiccan you can have the ritual in sacred places (forests, mountain tops, near a body of water) or if you are city bound, a garden or private area will suffice.
The ceremony need not be elaborate; a Circle Casting with elements symbolic to the loved one being remembered coupled with a ritual celebrating the wheel of life and those beyond life. Offerings for love, rebirth, strength, peace and cleansing are made.
It is a painful and difficult reality to accept our own mortality faced with the death of a loved one. Be at peace that our bodies are mere vessels for the Goddess and the God as our Souls are guided to perfection.
About the Author: KATHAEL is a solitary seeker of ancient cultures and myths. At the age of 18, she discovered that Wicca had been the path she had unknowingly followed all her life. She is a graduate of Computer Engineering (UP Diliman), which for a time sidetracked her from things she is most passionate about. She firmly believes that practitioners should be more focused on the presence of spirituality in magick.
© 2006 Manggagaway E-magazine. Articles may be distributed freely on the condition that all accreditation is acknowledged, no part is altered and this notice is attached and the website: http://manggagaway-central.blogspot.com is included. ~ Thank you
posted by Manggagaway @ 9:27 PM
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