A lovely
and gentle, and learned Lady from the Network of Bards, Ovates, and Druids
who will keenly miss her presence.
It
has been a weekend of tangled emotions. I am more exhausted and emotionally
drained than I can ever remember being in my life. Yet, I have a strange
sense of peace and affirmation in the rightness of my chosen path.
We went to New Forest around 5pm Friday afternoon as the sun was on its downward
slide in the western sky. A beautiful time of day. JP had the urn with Mary's
ashes which he placed in the northern quarter of the stone circle. A central
fire was lit. We prepared the circle with other ritual items and smudged it with
sage. As the sun sank below the tree tops in its progress toward the horizon,
we did a full Druid ritual of parting. There were only four OBOD druids present,
but about a half dozen open-minded friends of JP and Mary took part as well.
Words fail me now. The ceremony lit by the orange gold of the setting sun streaming
through the trees was so beautiful and moving, I am at a loss to describe it.
Although, there was deep sadness during the weekend, there was no somberness
or feeling of hopelessness. We shared laughter as well as tears; happy memories
of Mary in counter-balance to her sad ending. And so life goes on....
Blessed Ceridwen, Keeper of the Cauldron,
Open your arms and welcome Mary to the Summer Isles.
Guide her journey to the Hall of Ancestors
And give her a place of honor at the High Table.
With Lugh, the Shining One, on her left,
And Brigid of the Sacred Flame on her right,
May she feast and be merry in the radiant company of the Gods.
And when she has drunk her fill of the Dagda's golden Mead,
And been nourished by the healing Milk of Anu,
Let her spirit return to the Cauldron
To be born again in Light.
I
first met Mary when she came with John to a Samhuinn ceremony at our
grove in England about four years ago. She was quite shy and reserved,
but then over the following years, as I saw her and spent time with her
at each of the US Summer Camps, I noticed a delicate blossoming…as
if she were gradually allowing herself to relax and enjoy life. Louise
expresses this well in her reminiscence of Mary joining the Hot Tub
club.
But life is so hard, and sometimes the call of the Summer Isles is strong
- to return to the Source, to learn to live again in a new way. Dear
Mary, may you fare well in your journey to the Land of the Blessed! Dear
John, may you fare well in these coming weeks, months and years. May
you Þnd strength
and the support from every direction!
Philip Carr-Gomm
"Mary Poshka was the heart of our OBOD NASC summer camps - our generous hostess, who always was there, working for others, making things good for all of us, worrying that we weren't fine, or having a good time, or that something needed to be done.
She looked out for us all. Mary is a tremendous loss to all of us. Even though she never joined NOBOD she had a far reaching gentle influence on us all, and especially those of us fortunate enough to take part in any of the last three years at NASC. May she have as gentle a passing as she lived her life. We will miss you." Donata Ahern
As I sit here and think back over the last year and a half. I realize how much of an influence Mary had on me. And how much she added to my life.
I first had contact with Mary when I called for information about NASC 98. I talked to her for quite a while and then she passed the phone over to JP. The closeness between them, two people truly joined, was evident even then.
When I got to Brushwood (for summer camp) I was looking for the OBODies. I saw Mary walking up the path and immediately connected with her. There wasn't really any "get to know you" period. It was like we already knew each other. Every word, every look just added to that feeling.
The blessings that she gave everyone at summer camp were too numerous to even count. She was constantly doing things for everyone to make them feel comfortable. I could not and cannot thank her enough for everything!!!
Right now I feel the loss of her smile and the sound of her voice. I miss the connection I felt and feel the urge to pick up the phone expecting to here her voice on the other end of the line. And yet, I remember her with Love. I remember her with a smile even though tears fall on my lips. I rejoice in having had the chance to know her yet again. And I look forward to our next meeting, even as my heart breaks at this passing.
My love goes to John. So much to bear!!! My words can never express what my heart feels for you!!!!!
Again I wish to post a poem that I wrote.... This time I wish to dedicate it to Mary.... Sister to the sisters.....
Sisters - A story of lives reborn.....
Eight
women came of age that day
On that island long ago.
They braved the earth, air, water, fire,
And spirit made them glow.
Each
one was garbed in robes of white
When the women welcomed them.
Upon each brow was placed a crown
Made of metal and of gem.
Many
things they learned that year
As they became as one.
Each had a talent, a gift, a geis,
Each blessed beneath the sun.
They
worked and played and learned and gave.
Like sisters they became.
In pairs, and fours, and eight they were
In their chores, and in their game.
Then
one day the warning came.
A wise one gave alarm.
To pass their spirits through the veil
To save these girls from harm.
So
they gathered in the temple fair
The light came shining down.
It bathed them in the fire bright
And drew their spirits on.
A
break was called upon their school
As each was now reborn.
So many things they'd yet to learn
Things yet to do they'd sworn.
Through
many, many lives they grew
And each learned so much more.
But did not remember their bright band
That they had known before.
Until
they chanced to meet again
Upon another isle
When North looked again at South
and she knew her sisters smile.
Then
East and West and those between
Came one by one again.
Until the eight were once more
Sisters through sun and rain
Once
they gathered, then they knew
They had been here before.
Each one knew the others dear.
Forever sisters they had swore.
And
yet again the warning came.
Save them from the pain.
For theirs is a task someday to do,
>From which all men will gain.
And
so again theirs spirits rose
To be again reborn
To meet again when life allowed
Sisters always sworn.
Life
after life they meet and part
Each time they meet they know
That they are learning more and more
And each one's talents grow.
Centuries
come and go
Kingdoms rise and fall.
But these eight women join again
For the benefit of all!
Love
it binds this circle rare
These sisters young and old
Their great task is yet ahead
Their story must yet unfold.
Great
Love in Sorrow and in Joy,
Kio
You go
home this night
to your home of winter,
To your home of autumn,
of spring and of summer;
You go home this night to your lasting home,
To your eternal bed, to your sound sleeping.
Sleep
now, sleep, and so fade sorow,
Sleep now, sleep, and so fade sorrow,
sleep now, sleep, and so fade sorrow,
Sleep, my beloved, in the rock of the fold.
The sleep
of seven lights upon you, my dear,
The sleep of seven joys upon you, my dear,
the sleep of seven slumbers upon you, my dear.
Sleep,
oh sleep in the quiet of quietness,
Sleep, oh sleep in the way of guidance,
Sleep, oh sleep, in the love of all loving
You are
both in my thoughts and in my prayers,
katinka-broc'h
"For
we are, each of us, a collection of memories
Our personalities are the collective
result of everything that has
Happened to us, yeah it is at the
end of each day we look back
Upon the days and years through
the looking glass of memory
And when we are gone, we become a
part of the memories
And personalities of others."
From "Sons of Somerled" -
Steve McDonald
With
magic,
Sionnach
The Scottish/Australian songwriter Eric Bogle wrote this. You'll find it on his CD "The Emigrant and the Exile" Original dedication "For the parents of those wee kiddies who died in Dunblane" It's one of my favourite songs, and I dedicate it here for John. I wish you could hear Eric singing it in your mind as I do when I read it.
When I need to feel you near me
I stand in this quiet place
With the silver light of countless stars Falling on my face
Though they all shine so brightly
Somehow it comforts me to know
That some who burn the brightest died
an eternity ago
Chorus:
But your light still shines
It's one small star to guide me
And to help me hold back the dark
Your light's still shining in my heart
I'm learning how to live without you
though I never thought I could
and even how to smile again
and I never thought I would
and to cherish the heart's memories
that can bring you back to life
though some caress me gently
and some cut me like a knife
Can your soul be out there somewhere
beyond the infinity of time
I guess you've found some answers now
I'll have to wait for mine
Til my light joins with your someday
to shine through time and space
And one day fall, in a distant age
Upon some stranger's face
Blessings my friend, we care about you.
Coinneach the seannachie
Three
friends came out yesterday to Verne Nemeton - two had met Mary on several
occasions of celebrations here. We did a ceremony of passing for Mary, using
Hilaire's ceremony and the beautiful prayer from Caitlin Matthews that was
quoted on the list (sorry - don't remember who posted it). We blessed a
7 day candle for healing for both Mary and JP.
We included this prayer from Starhawk's 'Pagan Book of Living and Dying':
For One Who Had Died Violently or in Great Distress:
Mother of healing,
help us to believe in the
place where wounds can heal.
Mother of weaving,
show us that what has been torn
can there be mended.
The worst has happened.
How can we believe again
in hope, love, kindness?
Mary - Mary - Mary.
Boatman, Ferryman,
she has had a rough crossing.
Carry her gently.
Comfort her, Mother,
in your warm arms of
night; rock her to sleep.
Donata
A
hush comes over the hillside. The ocean swells to meet the sand and the
seagulls dance a sorrowful tune as the sun sets in the horizon. The silver
laces twine amongst the soft lashes of waves as the lady in white ventures
to the waters edge. She seeks the sun that once was and sings of the ancient
ways of the deep. She stands, the universe in her hand and the great beyond
at her feet. She walks into the ancient sea, as the sun dips gracefully.
The moon, already arisen, guides the lady on her starpath, singing hums
of love and motion. She leaves only for a while though, to return with the
rising sun after her dance amongst the stars. May she have a good journey.
Blessings,
Amy Ari
When
I remember Mary I think the memory I will always cherish will be of the
night she finally got into the hot tub. There were more of us there that
night than could fit in the tub and we had to take turns sitting out. Mary
was a bit reluctant about going skyclad and had to be coaxed a bit, but
once she got into the tub and relaxed, she had a wonderful time. I can still
see her shining eyes as she laughed at all the silly banter. After that
night, at the mere mention of the words hot tub, Mary had her towel in hand
and was off to the pool house.
I'd like to think she has found a hot tub in the Summerlands and is laughing
there now. May she find peace and healing in the sacred waters of the Blessed
Isles.
Bright blessings,
Louise