Loving Those Who Have Died: Inner Year Inspirations for November
Published: Sat, 11/01/08
Dear ,
Something about this time of year inspires our souls here on earth to think about the souls no longer on earth, those who have died.
Below and on the Inner Year blog I have just posted some thoughts about how we might create a living and lasting connection with dead souls. This connection offers many blessings.
You will also find two links to a couple of gifts from me - so make sure you read to the end of the email.
You will also find two links to a couple of gifts from me - so make sure you read to the end of the email.
October 31 is Halloween in the States and most people think of ghosts and goblins. November 1, All Saint's Day, and November 2, All Soul's Day, in the Christian calendar ask us to devote attention to the dead.
We might wonder about someone we loved, still love, who we can no longer see or hear or touch in a physical body. Does the disappearance of their physical presence, the leaving behind of their earthly existence, mean they are completely gone from us? These are the days of the Inner Year to answer this question.
I've posted some thoughts on the Inner Year Blog on how and why we can stay connected to the dead. I've been doing this in some simple ways and find staying connected to the dead to have many blessings as a spiritual practice.
Yes, staying connected to the dead can become an important spiritual practice if it is free of sentimental memories and invigorated with a deep sense of love. In our spiritual practice, we must love what they are now- ever-present beings of soul and spirit longing to connect with the soul and spirit within us.
In Staying Connected, a book of Rudolf Steiner's lectures and writings on death and the dead, beautifully edited by Christopher Bamford, I found a beautiful prayer by St Benedict. Here is the beginning of the prayer that I wanted to share with all those who just read this email and don't have the time or inclination to click through to my blog.
We seem to give them back to you O God who gave them to us. Yet as you did not lose them in giving, so we do not lose them by their return. Not as the world gives, do you give, O Lover of souls. What you give you do not give away, for what is yours is ours also if we are yours. And life is eternal and love immortal, and death is only a horizon, and a horizon is nothing save the limit of our sight.
I wonder what our world would be like if we were all lovers of souls.
This is the last Inner Year message until next year. In a couple of weeks I will begin Inner Christmas 2008, with some thoughts on Inner Advent, the preparation for your Inner Christmas practice.
Inner Christmas Workshops
I will be presenting three Inner Christmas Workshops here on the East Coast in NY, NJ, and NC. For information on these workshops click here.
Here is a gift: Last year I sent my readers an essay on recognizing the meaning of your holiday traditions. This year I expanded it into an article that was published in the Fall issue of Lilipoh Magazine. The article is posted on the website.
With joy and gratitude,
Lynn
PS: Another gift: Many of you wrote how much the verse on facing fear in my last email meant to you. I have created a 15 minute audio commentary on the the verse. You can read the verse and listen to the commentary by clicking here.
Lynn
PS: Another gift: Many of you wrote how much the verse on facing fear in my last email meant to you. I have created a 15 minute audio commentary on the the verse. You can read the verse and listen to the commentary by clicking here.