To Ease the Passing

Today Thorn wrote about Cora, and her final struggles as she waits to pass from this world to the next. I have sat before with a woman (one of my aunts) waiting for her final breath, sending her the energy to help her either recover or pass. It was clear that she was ready to pass, but she used that energy to hold on just a bit longer, until more relatives could arrive... until she could see everyone off.

I don't know Cora, except by reputation and through the teachings of Feri. For those teachings, for all great and small contributions to what Feri has become, for touching the hearts and souls of the teachers who bless the world by passing that tradition on, I bless her.

In honor of Cora, and the process she is going through which I have witnessed only once but am sure to witness again, I was inspired to write this.

Song to Ease the Passing

Open the door
let the light flow in
they sing to you from beyond.
Open the door
let your light flow out
we sing for your safe return.
Open the door
and close your eyes
they wait to welcome you home.
You are our friend
we must say goodbye
we know that we will meet again.

It's a little cliche, but lovely when set to music. I thank the ancestors for unraveling it within me.

Blessed be, Cora. May your remaining time be joyful and your transition be peaceful.
Blessed be, Fay. May you move Cora's spirit safely to the next world when the time comes.
Blessed be, Ancestors. May you great our elder with open arms.

How to Change the World

If there is one thing that my spiritual work has taught me, it's that the only way the world is going to change is if people change, and the only way people are going to change is if we change ourselves first.

There is a reason that Feri teaches Iron before Pearl. Even teachers who teach them at the same time discuss Iron first. It's because we need to fortify ourselves, be Kala in ourselves, before we can fortify and be Kala in our communities. Skipping (or glossing) the first step leads to putting forth a great effort but never achieving your goal, like spinning your wheels in the sand.

We can't force anyone to wake up, to see the bigger picture, to look at things and care about things the way that we do. Society won't change until people change. It's not about the actions people take or the laws that govern them. It's about who they are inside. And we can't change that. We can only change ourselves, and offer ourselves as a model for the "better way" that we so desperately want others to adopt. But if we were truly living in that better way, maybe we wouldn't be so desperate. Maybe we would see that pressuring people to change is what got us here in the first place. Maybe we would see that the system is flawed because it's run by flawed people. Maybe we would see those flaws within ourselves and learn to have compassion when we see them in others. Maybe we would see that the war is within us, ourselves, individually - not out there with everyone else.

A Toast to Health

Today, and for a while, I'm feeling under the weather. I know I'm not the only one.

When was the last time you enjoyed your health, truly and consciously. When was the last time you felt good and were thankful for it?

Raise your glass. If you don't have a glass, raise it the next time you do. Raise your glass and let's toast to health. Feel your good health, or remember what it was like. Feel yourself feeling good, and feel that feeling for everyone you love, and everyone you know, whether you like them or not. Feel good, and feel it for everyone.

Here's to Health. Good Health. May it be shared by all!

Drink that in and be kala.