I wasn’t raised to believe in one faith or any faith for that matter, but after discussing with my parents I concluded that Christianity played a small role in the theological beliefs through the lens of AA. An even larger component to my belief system was the values of Nature Based Religion which includes the Wise Women’s Tradition. Nature Based Religion is the view that nature as a whole is considered to be the source of universal consciousness and energy.
Nature Based Religion holds reincarnation as a primary belief “The child emerging from the womb emerges from that other world, that Summerland, and everyone who dies returns here” (Stein 184). This connects back to our birth unit about where/who the human spirit is before we enter the world that we have the most knowledge about. When I was younger I thought for sure that there was a higher power that used a classic hand counter to make sure that for every person who died another was born the very following millisecond. This also brings up an idea that Devin, Johnny and I were discussing about how people don’t want to enter the world the way they entered it. This could be in terms of dependability on others, being covered in fluids, vulnerability, or lack of knowledge about their environment/fate. Based on this text the other world is “Summerland” which according to my mother is “not seen as a place of ruling, but rather as a spiritual self-appraisal where a soul is able to review its life and gain an understanding of the total impact its actions had on the world” (Pagano).
Our culture has a problem with letting things change; there must always be an intervention, so we have the control. “The medical systems insistence on preserving clinical life by heroic means encourages ghoulish procedures and surgeries on dying people” (Stein 185). Heroic, that’s a perfect phrase; it’s possible that western culture is in a race against themselves to be the most heroic by “stopping” (really just prolonging) the unavoidable journey of bereavement. Seriously who can prove themselves to be more powerful after they participated in evading death? I haven’t witnessed a death but seeing loved ones hooked up on life support could be a glimpse of death in its most distorted form. But that’s what can one expect after trying every possible opportunity to shun it. “Often during the heroics the Be-ing of the woman dying has already passed over. She wants to be released and free to go” (Stein 185). People are so focused on the medicine or taking charge that they can’t see when death has begun taken the person away from their loved ones, trying to “save” that person is simply swimming upstream.
In Women’s Spirituality memorial rituals are considered to be the final rite of passage these are not only directed at the Be-ing but also at those who mourn her passing. “Life is celebrated with joy, and recollection of life death and reincarnation is highlighted” (Pagano). The dominant practice of memorials focuses way too much on who is no longer there instead of a balance of attention/care for both the dead and the mourning. During a memorial an altar would be decorated in all white or clear candles and flowers, “this is the color of the transpersonal point chakra, the Be-ing’s connection with Goddess beyond the physical plane” (Stein 185). Evergreens and other earthy things are placed on the altar; this is a reminder of rebirth. “The void contains all and consumes all… Where is the void? Is it heaven? Is it hell? The day begins with an invocation to the goddess Tara, life giver. An invocation to Mahakala (Kali), the goddess of death closes each day” (Weed 13)
Sources:
Stein, Diane. Casting the circle: a women's book of ritual. Crossing Pr, 1990. 184-185. Print.
S., Susun. Wise woman herbal healing wise. Woodstock, NY: Ash Tree Publishing, 1989. 13. Print.
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