Imbolc 2026 (delayed)
A brief note this time as it has been a tough few weeks, saying farewell to two wonderful women – both gone to soon. And yet, I feel honoured and privileged to have have taken a ceremonial role in honouring both.
First, a mentor and colleague who died suddenly before Christmas. Before the funeral, I joined a small group of women to sit before she was taken for her final journey from home to the cremation service. It was a simple and touching time which began with gentle chanting and rose to full-hearted singing of women’s folk songs as the coffin was carried out of the house.
The second, a dear friend from university who died in January after a long and courageous journey with cancer. She was the first person I met when I arrived in Leeds and the most recent person I was only holiday with in Crete. This time, I was invited to officiate the funeral at a stunning natural burial ground in the Netherlands. It was a real test of compartmentalisation – so my grief as her friend didn’t invade the space I was holding for others to mourn.
From both occasions, I have came away reminded just how powerful it is when a service is held by someone within the community and that the way we commemorate someone’s life is most powerful when it is conducted with love to represent their unique contribution to the world.
And so, as we turn towards the earliest signs of Spring, two new ancestors have taken their place.
