When I think about my right to die many things come to mind. But for the purpose of this article I shall focus on two of them.

I cannot help but remember my mother who died here in this house nearly 12 years ago. She battled pancreatic cancer for 13 months, ironically 1 month too long in order for my father to be able to collect on the life insurance provided by the employer from whom she went out on disability from, and came home, in the end, on hospice care.

I think about the amount of pain she was in, I think about the fear that gripped her, I remember her words to be during the months of her disease where she asked me why God was punishing her, and I think about the last pain shot that was given to her that erased any hope of final words being spoken.

I do not know if my mother asked the hospice nurse to end her life. All I know if that I was sent to get the nurse to give her meds to reduce her pain and that after that last shot I never spoke to my mother again. For all I know it was a coincidence …. failing organs, death imminent, sped closer by a “normal” dose of morphine. And while my instincts say otherwise, I hold no resentment, only a wish that our society allowed a person to choose to speed their end, especially when wracked with pain and all hope lost.

Which leads me to the other scene I revisit when talking about assisted suicide … the book the Mists of Avalon. In it Vivianne is called to the bedside of the woman who was foster mother to her son. She takes it upon herself, with the blessing of the woman’s spouse, to hold a cup of death to the lips of a woman who she considered a friend, a woman she had been “young with” who she cared for deeply in order to end her pain.

As a Witch I consider life to be sacred. And while I could at this juncture move from the topic at hand to reflect on my views on the death penalty or abortion those thoughts are posts for another day, instead I ask you my readers to pause and reflect on your own views.

When death is imminent and suffering is great is it wrong to speed that end and lessen that agony?

When suffering is great and death will be long, slow, and drawn out, is it wrong to allow death to come sooner than Nature herself might allow in order to allow someone to die in peace?

Recently the author Terry Pratchett was interviewed by the London Daily Mail and he spoke out of his own plans to take his own life, when the time comes, before the Alzheimer’s disease that is destroying his brain robs him of the choice.

Who can blame him?

Wouldn’t anyone rather die “sitting in a chair in (their) own garden with a glass of brandy in (their) hand”(Pratchett), their favorite music playing and surrounded by those they love as opposed to dying while drooling and incoherent, or writhing in mind-numbing agony?

I know which I would choose.

I wish Mr. Pratchett a peaceful meaningful end … one deserving of someone who has brought so much joy to the world.  I hope that he manages to “jump before (he is) pushed and drag (his) evil Nemesis to its doom”(Pratchett)

Blessings

Mama Kelly

Written by Mama KellyTags:assisted suicide, death, euthanasia, terry pratchett

“Llife is your Mother, Death is your sister. If you hate your sister, you will be hated by your mother”. ~ quote from book by Dr. Jorge Adoum

Samhain has just past, a time to honor the the spirits of our ancestors and deparated loved ones. We are approaching the season of winter, the night will be getting longer and our minds and hearts turn inward, reflective, quiet.

An excerpt from song, “Death and the Maiden”,
by classical composer, Schubert
(death talking to The Maiden)

“Give me your hand, you beauty.
I’m your friend and I’ve not come to punish you.
I am not wild.
You’ll softly sleep in my arms.”

In the course of my studies as a witch and my own natural curiosity I have done a lot of reading and had many interesting first hand experiences dealing with death, spirits and ghosts. I accept that death is a natural part of the life cycle. I belief that spirit continues to exist after it leaves the physical body.

It is only natural to at first fear death. But I have learned to understand it and be a peace with the darker side of the Goddess. Coming to terms with how one feels about death and the here after, truly does bring a much deeper level of peace, joy, and appreciation for life each and every day.

Have you ever explored your feelings, fears, and beliefs about Death and the Here After? Feel free to join in the discussion in our forums or leave a comment.

Bright blessings, Lady Rose

Thank you to Betsemes, one of readers who shared the quotes in comments to a post (8/22/08) at our previous blog location.

Written by Lady RoseTags:death, quote, samhain

When life asks you dance – always say YES!

Dances with Life (by Lady Rose)

Each morning I wake is another day to accept life’s invitation to dance.
To follow the beat of my own drum.
To spin, twirl, dip and shake a tail feather.
Should death tap my shoulder and want to cut in,
I will smile and say no I’m not ready for the last dance just yet.
But when that time comes and my dance card has reached it’s end,
I will graciously extend my hand and dance off into the light,
Till the wheel comes round and life asks me to dance again.

*************************

Some times I wake up in the middle of night with the oddest things in my head. Thank goodness for blogging so I can jot down some of them. This is what was rambling through my brain the day after attending a funeral last week.

Bright blessings to one and all, Lady Rose
(cross posted on the Diet Pulpit)

Written by Lady RoseTags:celebrate life, death, poem

If you have ever sat with someone and held their hand as they died, you know how important it is that the dying know they are not alone as they take that last step.

To this rite I would add that the Priestess (or Priest) should add something which acknowledges the other people present after the line “I am here to share your death and to journey with you.”

Something along the lines of “your mother is here … your husband is here …” (naming those who are present in the physical and those loved ones who have crossed over).

Link to the Ritual: Deathbed Ritual
by Samuel Wagar

“I know all your life you wondered
About that step we all take alone
How far does the spirit travel on the journey
You must surely be near heaven
And it thrills me to the bone
To know daddy knows the great unknown…”

– Rick Springfield, April, 24, 1991

Blessings, Mama Kelly

Side Note – I wrote this entry ahead at least 2 weeks ago, it seems very ironic now in the light of us having a death in the family within the past 2 days

Written by Mama KellyTags:death, funeral, ritual