I just lost a very close friend not a week ago, and I wont be able to go to his funeral. Is there somethting special I can do in rememberance my friend? (fyi- he was a wiccan)
by 
Miyaku
ANSWERS: 6
-
You can write a letter to his family sharing with them what knowing him meant to you.
-
If it is for his family, (and if you were close to them or not) it would get tricky I would think. You know what he liked and loved. Donate money or make something or buy something that reperesents what he cared for, loved, or lived for. Either give it to a deserving person (if not his family) or organization, or put it on your wall or somewhere in your home to honor him. You can look at it daily and always think of him.
-
I am so so sorry to hear about your loss. I'm sure you are grieving deeply. I suggest you read Starhawk's "The Pagan Book of Living and Dying", as it has some excellent discussions on the topic. Do you know who his patron Deity was? Did he have one? Often, a ritual involving a sacrifice to this Deity is approprite, as well as asking for the protection of that person during the transition into the afterlife (or reincarnation) is helpful. For those who do not believe in an afterlife, a ritual celebrating endings and remembering the journey can be an option. Remember that, to a Wiccan, this represents the turning of the wheel in the cycle of life and death. Prayer of Passage Oh Goddess There is great sadness A cherished one has gone Emptyness engulfs me Loss languishes within Help me bear this grief Accompany their spirit Comfort we who grieve Let us rejoice in their life May their essence be recorded In the Great Book of Shadows Renew our rememberance with joy Blessed be.
-
I lost my father just less than two years ago and my attitude is that as long as you keep memories of them in your heart then that's all that matters. There's no need to try and prove to anyone else or even yourself that you remember them, just do. If you don't feel comfortable enough to go their funeral then don't go, it was their life that you knew and cared for. The ceremony marking their death (funeral) is not important, it is the ceremony marking their life (wake) which is important. If you believe in the afterlife then you can say your goodbyes and they will hear you, whether you are at the funeral or not.
-
Funerals are not for the dead; it for those left behind to come together and pay their last respects, grieve, etc. Do not feel guilty for not being there. As he will always be in your heart his memory will be eternal to you. Since he is a very close friend I believe you already have an idea in mind of something special to do in remembrance. Simply do what you feeling and celebrate his life.
-
You could plant an oak tree with a marker telling why you did it. Use the oak because it's sacred to us. My fiancee was cremated and didn't want to be buried, but even though he won't have a grave we're still placing his Marine marker out by his grandmother with some ashes so our son and his family has a place to go and grive. We're also marking the place he died at. You could also get a special piece of jewlery to wear in his honour. I'm getting a gold locket to put some of his ashes in so his always with me.
RELATED QUESTIONS
Copyright 2023, Wired Ivy, LLC