More on being Druid

[xjsjaglvr]

I was reading a thread in another section of the community concerning the impending loss of a relative. It got me to thinking and observing. We often deal with the loss of friends or relatives in manners common to most people. Grief among man seems to be rather well orchestrated and most follow the accepted patterns base on local culture. Now I know some may think this is rather clinical and cold but as I have said before a Druid "Observes" mankind and comments on what he sees.
When I was a boy I spent much time with my grandfather on my dads side. We spent long days hunting or fishing in the part of Maine where I grew up. He started me on this path, taught me much of how I look at things today. His philosophy on life boiled down to one thing, when he received the Silver Star during World War I the General who gave him the medal asked why he did what he did to win the medal. His reply was "Someone had to do it."
Did I grieve when he passed away? Yes I did, and for years missed him dearly. Then as I grew older a remarkable thing happened. I began to notice in the mirror the same hairline as my Grandfather. The same nose and eyes. My manner of dress was similar. My Grandfather was still with me, he was part of me. Because of genetics, the people who came before us live on through us. It is eternal life, though we, after dying are unaware we live on, our physical blueprint lives on. Yes there are some changes, we each of us get half our genes from each parent, yet amazingly one side or the other often comes through with greater strength than the other.
I see this same thing in my daughter, her mother commented last night on a tiny birthmark on her hand. I smiled and showed my daughter we shared the same mark. She saw it as a connection to me, I saw it as evidence that I too shall have eternal life.
Jag,
I am the servant of Morrighan

[Druidess Cara]

Very true :) I've always believed that too and well said. Take care, Blessings. Happy Thanksgiving !

[keelyoherne]

Very well said, Jag! In a way, a Druid can observe the circus without being one of its clowns.

On that note, I share double-jointed thumbs with my father. I wonder if his father had the same thing, it would be nice to know I shared some quality with him. He died of a sudden heart attack when I was five, and I still miss him.:(

On mom's side a lot of the women have a tendency to be Gifted in one way or another. Great grandmother was a natural witch— an earth mother from the way mom described her. She could make just about anything grow in any circumstance. Grandmother had the sight and could astral travel, but she was afraid of it. Mom can astral travel and dream travel, plus has a natural healing gift. I think I'm the only one who has been going through conscious training in any of it.

I hope this didn't get off topic.:D

Keely

[thefluiddruid]

Originally posted by xjsjaglvr
Did I grieve when he passed away? Yes I did, and for years missed him dearly. Then as I grew older a remarkable thing happened. I began to notice in the mirror the same hairline as my Grandfather. The same nose and eyes. My manner of dress was similar. My Grandfather was still with me, he was part of me. Because of genetics, the people who came before us live on through us. It is eternal life, though we, after dying are unaware we live on, our physical blueprint lives on.
Jag,
I am the servant of Morrighan

Very well said Jag.

My Grandfather passed on almost 10 years ago.
I still miss him deeply, even though he visits me in the dream world occasionally.
A few months before his death I was visiting him for Yuletide, the first time in many years I had been able to visit him.
He has never met my (now ex) wife, and you could see the pride in his eyes as he looked at the two of us.
He had experanced a premination of his impending death, and although he wouldn't admit it to anyone yet, I could see it too.
When I looked at him it was like I was seeing a double image, the strong vibrant man who had helped to raise me, and the old worn out body he was trapped in.
During that visit he pulled out photos and letters that I had never seen beofre, and laid his life before us in photos and words.
One of the main points that he kept makeing over and over was that in many ways I am what my Grandad was when he was young, even more so than his son, my uncle Bub.
When we left after the holy days I drove away with tears in my eyes because I knew in my heart that I would never see my dear Grandfather again.
He passed the following march, but much of him lives on in me.
I pray that maybe someday I will have children and I will see His eyes in them.

[Maggie]

Originally posted by xjsjaglvr
I was reading a thread in another section of the community concerning the impending loss of a relative. It got me to thinking and observing. We often deal with the loss of friends or relatives in manners common to most people. Grief among man seems to be rather well orchestrated and most follow the accepted patterns base on local culture. Now I know some may think this is rather clinical and cold but as I have said before a Druid "Observes" mankind and comments on what he sees.
When I was a boy I spent much time with my grandfather on my dads side. We spent long days hunting or fishing in the part of Maine where I grew up. He started me on this path, taught me much of how I look at things today. His philosophy on life boiled down to one thing, when he received the Silver Star during World War I the General who gave him the medal asked why he did what he did to win the medal. His reply was "Someone had to do it."
Did I grieve when he passed away? Yes I did, and for years missed him dearly. Then as I grew older a remarkable thing happened. I began to notice in the mirror the same hairline as my Grandfather. The same nose and eyes. My manner of dress was similar. My Grandfather was still with me, he was part of me. Because of genetics, the people who came before us live on through us. It is eternal life, though we, after dying are unaware we live on, our physical blueprint lives on. Yes there are some changes, we each of us get half our genes from each parent, yet amazingly one side or the other often comes through with greater strength than the other.
I see this same thing in my daughter, her mother commented last night on a tiny birthmark on her hand. I smiled and showed my daughter we shared the same mark. She saw it as a connection to me, I saw it as evidence that I too shall have eternal life.
Jag,
I am the servant of Morrighan

Actually, the basic rituals of death in any society help the survivors cope, they do have value.

I've always felt that the tears shed at someone's death are for ourselves, the grief at losing their physical presence. Many people don't look beyond this grief for the proof of the permanent connections.

Maggie