h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Jez,

I am sorry to hear of your loss and was moved by your message to your friend.

I shall be lighting a candle for her tonight and will keep her and you in my meditations.

Blessings,
Matholwch /|\.

Thanks, Math - the memorial service was today.

It was - closure. For the family, and for her Christian friends.

My own closure was achieved in three stages.

First, in the house of a heathen friend, where I cried for her, and honoured her life in words and memories which now only I share in this part of the worlds.

Second, beside a cairn on the moors, in the tangible presence of the Wanderer, as He took my cards, shuffled the entire packinto a picture of her life and let me talk out my pain with Him.

And thirdly, on the moors in a circle, where I sang the wild magic, the kin magic, for her. The Guardian welcomed me, and drew me there. It is a very special place for me. And since then, I have felt only my own loss, with it's attendant sadness and love, and regret at the loss of such a person to this world, this time, this place.

But it is over. Now, she has her choices - to follow her god to His place, or to stand again at the doors of this world and pass into life. She will see what we can only - sometimes - remember. She will see - as their book puts it so well in the older translation - not through a glass, darkly, but face-to-face. And all will be there, all life, all love, all the answers she needs to make her choices.

For me, the choice would be no choice - I have loved ones who await me, and I wish to spend some time (time?) with them there (there?) before joining hands again and passing back to this life. I know I am not yet ready to give up this sweaty and interesting place, as surely as I know I will have to do so temporarily at my next death - and although I want to join my ancestors, I am not ready to stay permanently in the halls of my gods. So. I will wait my turn, and attend to the rest of my education.

Blessings on your path, Math, resident Druid...

Jez - still here, still now, still living, still learning.