You may be interested to explore this new magazine from the Natural Death Centre.
1
October
Funeral of Doug Rogers
Bempton Cliffs
I recently conducted the funeral of a wonderful man – Doug Rogers.
Doug died very suddenly at home in Bridlington. He loved to walk on Bempton Cliffs so whilst I was preparing the words for his funeral I made a trip there to get a sense of who Doug was.
Doug’s sister asked me to post a comment here on their behalf:
‘Dear Georgina,
On behalf of Doug’s family and friends I would like to thank you for giving us such comfort before and during the ceremony. Your words expressed so well our feelings for Doug and made the occasion a celebration of his life. We know that this is what he would have wanted.’
And I have posted this picture of Bempton in memory of Doug.
16
August
‘Joy of Death’ festival in Bournemouth
In three weeks time Bournemouth will play host to the ‘Joy of Death’ Festival!
For more information, check out the festival website.
The festival began as a convention for fans of ‘Six feet under’, but has since developed into an opportunity for members of the public to learn more about modern funerals and to explore our ideas and views about death in the 21st century.
I am looking forward to being there and will be singing (!) in the greenfuse choir at the Good Funeral Guide Awards on the friday evening. Perhaps see you there!
29
July
The Inimitable Rumi
A Garden Beyond Paradise
Everything you see has its roots
in the unseen world.
The forms may change,
yet the essence remains the same.
Every wondrous sight will vanish,
every sweet word will fade.
But do not be disheartened,
The Source they come from is eternal—
growing, branching out,
giving new life and new joy.
Why do you weep?—
That Source is within you,
and this whole world
is springing up from it.
The Source is full,
its waters are ever-flowing;
Do not grieve,
drink your fill!
Don’t think it will ever run dry—
This is the endless Ocean!
From the moment you came into this world,
a ladder was placed in front of you
that you might transcend it.
From earth, you became plant,
from plant you became animal.
Afterwards you became a human being,
endowed with knowledge, intellect and faith.
Behold the body, born of dust—
how perfect it has become!
Why should you fear its end?
When were you ever made less by dying?
When you pass beyond this human form,
no doubt you will become an angel
and soar through the heavens!
But don’t stop there.
Even heavenly bodies grow old.
Pass again from the heavenly realm
and plunge into the ocean of Consciousness.
Let the drop of water that is you
become a hundred mighty seas.
But do not think that the drop alone
becomes the Ocean—
the Ocean, too, becomes the drop!
Jelaluddin Rumi, “A Garden Beyond Paradise”,
A Garden Beyond Paradise: The Mystical Poetry of Rumi
(translated by Jonathan Star), Bantam Books, NY, 1992, pp. 148-149
16
March
Some testimonials from funerals I have conducted
Thank you so much for yesterday, I like to think it was all XXX had wished for.
Thank you …….you have captured the essence of XXX perfectly.
You’ve done a brilliant job, thank you for listening so deeply to our conversation yesterday that you could reflect the spirit back to us so beautifully.
Dear Georgina
I would like to express my thanks on behalf of my family for todays’ service. You captured our feelings towards my mother superbly and all of us believe that she would have been delighted with the comments you made.
Thank you once again.
