Reflections in the Well

Have you ever smelled the original green Palmolive dish soap? Or Ponds’ cold cream? Or maybe theperfume Knowing? Or the Bath and Body Works lotion Moonlight Path? All these smells remind me of my grandmother. She moved on to the Summerland about 3 years ago and not a day goes by that I don’t
think about her. She was very special to me. She was an elegant lady, kind to everyone she met, but also strong and wise. She held a quiet dignity and she was a fabulous listener. She was so very different than me, and yet…I wish to be more like her. Interestingly, my daughter is quite like her, not only in personality but in style and grace. What a blessing to me that so many of the things that I valued in my grandmother have shown up in my daughter’s developing adult personality.

My grandmother’s love reminds me of the goddess Kuan Yin and her gentle unconditional love. She inspired me in my career and in my faith. She encouraged me to think critically and she loved me just the way I was. Having this kind of foundation gave me the freedom to explore and to be confident, even when I didn’t knowing where I was going.

In Wicca, we celebrate the stories and personalities of deities who can bring comfort, strength, and inspiration to our lives. We also honor our ancestors for the same reason. Those who came before laid a path that either we build upon or we bulldoze and make new. Ancestors of blood or spirit can aide us in our lives as we seek to live fully.

The other day, I was watching a video of the scientist Neil de Grasse Tyson and the philosopher Jason Silva as they discussed the scientific and spiritual nature of life and death. Tyson said, “Why should death be anything different than the absence of life before you are born?” Silva says, “As creatures of mind and meaning, we have angst of existing as temporary beings.” Tyson says, “What give meaning to the life that we will know only once? My knowledge that I will die gives focus to every day that I am alive. The way to rage against the dying of the light is to be as alive as possible while you are. Life gives meaning to life, and what we do with it, that gives meaning. Knowing you are going to die gives you focus to live more fully.”

As we near the sabbat Samhain, let us be mindful to not only honor the lives of our ancestors but to celebrate the life we are living now. Let us live fully. As Jason Silva says, “Let us be drunk on awe”. So, that we make each and every day of our lives matter more and that compassion and creativity fill each moment we are here. I think my grandmother would agree, it’s a good way to live.

In mirth and reverence,

Rev. Sarah