When my husband passed 4 years ago on 12-11, I sat in his ICU room and did exactly what you have described. I called on everyone I knew who had passed and anyone else that could help him with his journey to the other side. As he was dying ( my chose to take him off everything) he went through 3 stages. I don’t remember much about the first, it seems it was a sense of calm. The second he was reaching up to the sky with arms he had not raised in 6 days. This continued for at least a couple of hours. I knew there were spirits all around us, I could feel them. The final was a beautiful sense of peace. I miss him physically everyday but also know by little and big occurrences he is always with me!
I am so happy to have found you and your beautiful book! I did not need validation, it is just wonderful to know there are kindred spirits out in the world.
oh Cindy, this moves me so much and the story you have shared is such a gift to us. Hard as it is to let go of the bodies we love with all our hearts, death is not just a departure, it is also a homecoming. What is your husband's name? I would like to invite him to help me with my next piece of writing, if that is all right with you.
“But the only antidote to these fears is our radical faith in the dead to hold us and guide us.” Thanks for the encouragement to take just one more fear and turn it over to my beloved dead today. So helpful, and so often I still forget to do this!
I write it because I have to remind myself of this every day. Every hour. Every minute. I forget. I remember. The dead show up. I'm stunned all over again at how real they are in my life.
“Only faith can vanquish fear”. Oh yes. And Love of course but that’s part of it. Can you have faith without love? I totally get putting off medical tests. I’m 71 and have never had a mammogram, colonoscopy, or pretty much any other test we’re supposed to have. No flu shots ever, which always shocks people. I feel healthy. I use herbs as my primary medicine. And prayer, I guess. Jim is in the hospital now, complications with his knee replacement due to his body’s exuberance to form scar tissue. When I read here about you calling on your wild tabby cat, I had an ah-ha moment and called on my heart kitty Porter to go curl up with Jim around his knee and purr purr purrr. He loves Maxwell and is so astounded and grateful when Maxwell wants to sit in his lap. But Maxwell is alive and with me. Porter . . . there will never be another Porter (I also called him Honey Bear and Love Slut). Thank you for reminding me that it’s not just our human dead. And me too. George was my favorite Beatle!
"When we are frightened we are dangerous—both to ourselves and others. But the only antidote to these fears is our radical faith in the dead to hold us and guide us." So true in my life. Thank you for this reminder.
Good Day!
When my husband passed 4 years ago on 12-11, I sat in his ICU room and did exactly what you have described. I called on everyone I knew who had passed and anyone else that could help him with his journey to the other side. As he was dying ( my chose to take him off everything) he went through 3 stages. I don’t remember much about the first, it seems it was a sense of calm. The second he was reaching up to the sky with arms he had not raised in 6 days. This continued for at least a couple of hours. I knew there were spirits all around us, I could feel them. The final was a beautiful sense of peace. I miss him physically everyday but also know by little and big occurrences he is always with me!
I am so happy to have found you and your beautiful book! I did not need validation, it is just wonderful to know there are kindred spirits out in the world.
Thank you!
oh Cindy, this moves me so much and the story you have shared is such a gift to us. Hard as it is to let go of the bodies we love with all our hearts, death is not just a departure, it is also a homecoming. What is your husband's name? I would like to invite him to help me with my next piece of writing, if that is all right with you.
His name is Michael. A absolutely wonderful man, the strongest person I have ever known. I am sure he would love to assist you.
“But the only antidote to these fears is our radical faith in the dead to hold us and guide us.” Thanks for the encouragement to take just one more fear and turn it over to my beloved dead today. So helpful, and so often I still forget to do this!
I write it because I have to remind myself of this every day. Every hour. Every minute. I forget. I remember. The dead show up. I'm stunned all over again at how real they are in my life.
“Only faith can vanquish fear”. Oh yes. And Love of course but that’s part of it. Can you have faith without love? I totally get putting off medical tests. I’m 71 and have never had a mammogram, colonoscopy, or pretty much any other test we’re supposed to have. No flu shots ever, which always shocks people. I feel healthy. I use herbs as my primary medicine. And prayer, I guess. Jim is in the hospital now, complications with his knee replacement due to his body’s exuberance to form scar tissue. When I read here about you calling on your wild tabby cat, I had an ah-ha moment and called on my heart kitty Porter to go curl up with Jim around his knee and purr purr purrr. He loves Maxwell and is so astounded and grateful when Maxwell wants to sit in his lap. But Maxwell is alive and with me. Porter . . . there will never be another Porter (I also called him Honey Bear and Love Slut). Thank you for reminding me that it’s not just our human dead. And me too. George was my favorite Beatle!
"When we are frightened we are dangerous—both to ourselves and others. But the only antidote to these fears is our radical faith in the dead to hold us and guide us." So true in my life. Thank you for this reminder.