Here's an interesting article from The Seattle Times on greener funerals, your pocketbook, and "death midvwives."
Lyons is a "death midwife," a specialist in the little-known field of helping people manage the passing of a loved one outside the traditional funeral industry. As the nation reels during its worst economic crisis in more than a generation, her business is booming.
In normal times, Lyons' clients tend to be people more interested in alternative lifestyles. But many people are drawn to her by a stark calculation: They cannot afford traditional funerals and burials, which often run $10,000 or more.
I like reading articles about this subject because they draw my attention to it. It's not something I think about much, but I should. There are a lot of Pagans who are experienced in union ceremonies, Wiccanings, and similar joyous rites of passage, but far less with funeral rituals. As a Pagan, I feel like I need to leave pretty detailed preparations in order to have my wishes carried out. Something to think about.
This past weekend was Turning the Tide, a small, local festival that EMLC puts on. I had to work Friday and Saturday, but I joined the festivities Saturday night and Sunday. These were the highlights for me:
- Spending time with friends. EMLC and our extended Pagan family totally rocks.
- The main ritual. It was inclusive and lively. The young Oak King and the aging Holly King while the rest of us cheered one or the other.
- Toasting marshmallows in the ritual fire, which I'd never seen and might normally be considered insulting. Even the drummers paused for some.
- Watching one girlfriend pour libations to her "homies". She'd had a few sips of wine by then.
- Iron Witch, a magickal take on Iron Chef where witches had 10 minutes to craft impromptu spells with a stock of items and a secret ingredient to be judged by a panel of vocal judges open to bribes.
- Seeing our magickal family grow. We had more people this year and a baby!
