Now you dwell inside the rhythm of breath,
As close to us as we are to ourselves.
John O’Donohue

Now come the well meaning platitudes. She’s in a better place. Life goes on. Phrases intended to offer comfort and counsel: yes, it’s very sad but it’s time to get on with life.  Through the threshold, done and dusted, as they say in Ireland. Phrases that reflect our discomfort with the death threshold and totally miss the opportunity to explore and experience the mysteries of that liminal landscape.

She’s in a better place. In fact Annalu is now in a place where she is free from the pain and suffering of many months. Is it a better place? The Irish, especially our Irish ancestors, would say it is. The heritage of the Irish wake is celebrating the return to the Otherworld, Tír na nÓg, a supernatural realm of everlasting youth, beauty, health, abundance and joy. In Irish mythology and history it is an island in the west. Is it a better place? Recently two dear friends, including Annalu, spoke with a psychic and in those sessions both of their beloved dead husbands expressed tremendous enthusiasm for the beauty and grandeur of the world beyond the veil. A world that is very near, as close to us as we are to ourselves. A world we can touch if we are open to it.

Life goes on. Well, of course it does. But our souls never die so life goes on for all of us. When we usher someone across that threshold and close the door we shut down the opportunity to continue a relationship with those in other realms. We miss the opportunity to touch the mystery of liminal landscapes and eternal connections. 

People continue to ask how I am doing. And they seem surprised that I’m not walking around with pockets full of tissues. Perhaps that will come. Perhaps not. But right now I am dancing in the liminal landscape and opening to a new weaving of souls, mine and my Anam Cara’s. And in this there is such grace and peace and joy. 

How am I doing? Well, let’s talk about thresholds!!!

Beannacht,
Judith – judith@stonefires.com 

Crossing The Threshold. Elders & Ancestors. To Be A Mythic Crone. Sacred Threads. Earth Threads. These chapters of my book became a narrative of Annalu’s journey and our last months together. It was a mystical weaving of souls and journeys. The energy of Anam Cara.

At the end of some chapters I include personal stories and I wrote a story of Annalu for the Mythic Crone chapter. Because she is. However it was becoming clear she would not be with us much longer and so I also wrote of her dying. I sent it to her and told her I could always re-write it. She said she loved it just as it was. But I didn’t. The writing may have been good but the ending sucked. So through the progression of her cancer I would grab a moment of hope and revise the story and change the ending. But the ending didn’t change. Now I have rewritten the story one last time. Here is some of that story.

As I write this book my Anam Cara, my spirit sister, my Crone sister has died. Cancer. Again. Annalu has been my heart partner, my thinking partner, and my inspiration as we walked this journey of becoming Crone. We created workshops, we walked the mystical landscapes of Ireland, we shaped and reshaped the Sacred Ireland journeys I lead to embrace and hold the unfolding of Crone wisdom. Living her life in right relationship with the sacred, with the Earth, and in community, the ancient ancestors always celebrated her return and her presence in their mystical, mythic, and megalithic landscapes. For Annalu was not just a wise Crone. She was a mythic Crone.

Over the years she and her beloved husband, Stu, a renowned palliative care physician, facilitated workshops for doctors and medical teams throughout the country that they might shift their thinking and their protocols. That they might come to understand that death is not a failure but a natural process to be honored, respected, and supported. They facilitated many cancer retreats where participants were able to transition from dying from cancer to living with cancer. Even those with a terminal diagnosis emerged with a new sense of peace and a renewed enthusiasm for life.

She held a deep knowing of this place of the death gate. And she was clear about how she would stand at that gate with grace and peace, with love and laughter. It was an honor to stand there with her when she crossed the threshold.

Beannacht,
Judith – judith@stonefires.com

The Muse had arrived at long last. She was present and persistent. So when I returned from Ireland in early October I settled into the energy of the cave to write my next book, A Call To Crone: Weaving Wisdom With Threads Of Irish Heritage. It was an inspired piece of time as I stepped away from all other writing. Including this blog. Which many of you have noted. 

What I didn’t know is that I would also step away from writing my book and would stay in the cave energy to be with my Anam Cara, my soul sister, on her journey with cancer. A horrific journey through two surgeries and radiation treatments. Annalu made her transition last week with all the grace and peace and love that was her essence.

It’s tempting to stay in the cave. To hide. To grieve. To welcome a reweaving of our souls. But now with weeks until I am again in Ireland, it’s time to come out of the cave. I know so much healing will happen in Ireland…in the sacred landscapes we walked together. And much healing will happen in writing again on my book that Annalu was so part of and so excited about. Healing will happen in writing again on this blog. And I will write my way out of the cave, dancing with the sacred. Dancing with the spirit of my Anam Cara.

Beannacht,
Judith – judith@stonefires.com