honoring the dead's topics - tribe.net

Ancestors

2008-06-02T06:29:39Z

I have this strong feeling that I am connected to ancestors of a type of rainbow light earth-loving community
surpassing my skin color and race
Indigo children, Hippies, Shamen, witches, priests/esses, Oracles, earth-loving mystery religion followers and magick makers
I find this peculiar. is anyone else in a similar boat?

posted in honoring the dead - 3 replies

I honor

2008-01-30T08:22:47Z

the efforts put before me
the joy that has been blissed
the tears that have been shed
the lives lived
the mother and the father
of this world

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dia de los muertos?

2007-11-23T09:39:07Z

i know it's a bit late for this. but i'm not around here much these days & i'm wondering how or if you celebrated. anyone have any interesting observances or encounters? i created an altar space for the community to come together & honor their departed. it was a beautiful & intimate collective creation & we spent the afternoon sharing stories about our grandmothers and such.

little suprise visit from a trickster at twilight, who materialized out of the darkness of the crossroads seeking some warm food. he had an unrecognizable accent & spoke in an antiquated way, as though from an old novel. we fed & cidered him & inadvertently entered into a lively religious debate. eventually, the traveler prepared to leave. but before going his way, he said simply, 'thank you for believing.'

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visited new orleans for the first time

2007-02-07T05:41:03Z

after having met many who worked there to recreate a safe environment over the past months, i felt really drawn to finally make the trip. east new orleans aside, they seem to have done an excellent job at putting the city back together. i made an offering at the first crossroads, for all those who've passed before us. their energies are still very alive there, from what i saw.

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Reading the Obituaries

2007-02-06T14:54:39Z

I stumbled upon this tribe by accident and saw very few postings in an area that I visit and revisit often. I have a somewhat different approach to honoring the dead than many people that I've talked with do. Right or wrong, I visit the concept, idea, reality, and exposure to death both regularly and voluntarily.

I seek out solace, understanding, and space in life to learn about people who are both alive and those who have died. I visit cemeteries and I read the obituaries on a fairly regular basis. Often times when I learn of a death of someone I did not know, I do research about what their life was like, as well as their death.

Along with honoring the people I knew before they died, I feel compelled to reach out to those that never crossed my path until their passing.

I want to know who died- how old were they? What were they like? Did they have family? Did they have friends? Did they believe in a cause? Did they suffer or go quickly? Did they die a peaceful death or one that was violent and horrifying? Were they funny? Were they alone? Did they go to school? Did they travel? Did they find their passion? What sacrifices did they make? And for what?

And why do I do this?

I've found that my relationship with Death and with Life are intertwined. As I seek answers to the questions about people and those that have passed- family, friends, & strangers- I am blessed by honoring their memory through prayer and by asking myself about my own purpose here, thinking about time changing from fluid to absolute, and thereby requalifying what I prioritize each day.

Each person that dies has been here long enough to leave memories- good and bad. But what does it all mean? And who cares? I search for the answers because the existence of those around me means something to me.

posted in honoring the dead - 2 replies

A brief explanation of Dia De Los Muertes (Day of the Dead)

2005-11-29T17:29:06Z

There are many cultures that have their own customs when honoring the dead. This is a very brief explanation on the Aztec rituals for this.
More than 500 years ago, when the Spanish Conquistadors landed in what is now Mexico, they encountered natives practicing a ritual that seemed to mock death. It was a ritual the indigenous people had been practicing at least 3,000 years. A ritual the Spaniards would try unsuccessfully to eradicate. A ritual known today as Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead. The ritual is celebrated in Mexico and certain parts of the United States, including the Valley. Celebrations are held each year in Mesa, Chandler, Guadalupe and at Arizona State University. Although the ritual has since been merged with Catholic theology, it still maintains the basic principles of the Aztec ritual, such as the use of skulls. Today, people don wooden skull masks called calacas and dance in honor of their deceased relatives. The wooden skulls are also placed on altars that are dedicated to the dead. Sugar skulls, made with the names of the dead person on the forehead, are eaten by a relative or friend, according to Mary J. Adrade, who has written three books on the ritual. The Aztecs and other Meso-American civilizations kept skulls as trophies and displayed them during the ritual. The skulls were used to symbolize death and rebirth. The skulls were used to honor the dead, whom the Aztecs and other Meso-American civilizations believed came back to visit during the monthlong ritual.
Unlike the Spaniards, who viewed death as the end of life, the natives viewed it as the continuation of life. Instead of fearing death, they embraced it. To them, life was a dream and only in death did they become truly awake. "The pre-Hispanic people honored duality as being dynamic," said Christina Gonzalez, senior lecturer on Hispanic issues at Arizona State University. "They didn't separate death from pain, wealth from poverty like they did in Western cultures." However, the Spaniards considered the ritual to be sacrilegious. They perceived the indigenous people to be barbaric and pagan.
In their attempts to convert them to Catholicism, the Spaniards tried to kill the ritual. But like the old Aztec spirits, the ritual refused to die. To make the ritual more Christian, the Spaniards moved it so it coincided with All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day (Nov. 1 and 2), which is when it is celebrated today. Previously it fell on the ninth month of the Aztec Solar Calendar, approximately the beginning of August, and was celebrated for the entire month. Festivities were presided over by the goddess Mictecacihuatl. The goddess, known as "Lady of the Dead," was believed to have died at birth, Andrade said. Today, Day of the Dead is celebrated in Mexico and in certain parts of the United States and Central America.
"It's celebrated different depending on where you go," Gonzalez said.
In rural Mexico, people visit the cemetery where their loved ones are buried. They decorate gravesites with marigold flowers and candles. They bring toys for dead children and bottles of tequila to adults. They sit on picnic blankets next to gravesites and eat the favorite food of their loved ones.
In Guadalupe, the ritual is celebrated much like it is in rural Mexico.
"Here the people spend the day in the cemetery," said Esther Cota, the parish secretary at the Our Lady of Guadalupe Church. "The graves are decorated real pretty by the people."
In Mesa, the ritual has evolved to include other cultures, said Zarco Guerrero, a Mesa artist.
"Last year, we had Native Americans and African-Americans doing their own dances," he said. "They all want the opportunity to honor their dead."
In the United States and in Mexico's larger cities, families build altars in their homes, dedicating them to the dead. They surround these altars with flowers, food and pictures of the deceased. They light candles and place them next to the altar.
"We honor them by transforming the room into an altar," Guerrero said. "We offer incense, flowers. We play their favorite music, make their favorite food."
At Guerrero's house, the altar is not only dedicated to friends and family members who have died, but to others as well.

Carlos Miller,
The Arizona Republic

Art can also be seen here in Portland at The Gold Door off of Hawthorne Blvd. right next to Buffalo exchange.

posted in honoring the dead - 3 replies

logic

2004-10-27T16:41:34Z

I wish the US government would realize that the best way to fight terrorism is to become a more well-liked country.
HOMAGE to all of the innocent lives taken from this idiotic unnecessary war.

posted in honoring the dead - 4 replies

Lost Happiness....

2004-10-15T21:01:25Z

I really could use our communities help. Our vehicle was taken this morning and it had all of the incredible music that I have collected from all of you, during this last year.

If you have ever given me a CD and feel love in your heart to give me another one to replace the one I lost, I would be a very happy Cheshyre!

It was the music that transformed me into my Cheshyre self to begin with! The people just made that transformation permanent!

You can either look for me while you are out and about or send it to:

Cheshyre
2732 Garfield Street
Longview, Washington 98632

Thank you all so much for the privledge being able to hear your great tunes while I had them. Hopefully, I can get some of it back...

Thanks again...
Cheshyre

posted in honoring the dead - 2 replies

Michael Moore in Eugene OR (NOT IN MY NAME)

2004-10-07T05:41:24Z

MICHAEL MOORE'S "SLACKER UPRISING TOUR" IN EUGENE!

EVENT: The University of Oregon's Cultural Forum presents Oscar-winning filmmaker
of "Fahrenheit 9/11" and #1 bestselling author Michael Moore.
DATE/TIME: Monday, Oct. 18 at 12:00 Noon
LOCATION: Lane Event Center at the Fairgrounds, located at 13th and Monroe (Eugene OR)
TICKETS: $5.00
U of O ON-SALE:
Monday, October 11 at 9 a.m. for UO Community (with current ID) Available
through U of O Ticket Office window in the EMU, cash only (limit 4 tickets
per person)

PUBLIC ON-SALE:
On-sale to general public on Wednesday, Oct. 13 at 9 a.m. through U of O
Ticket Office, charge by phone at (541) 346-4363 or at window in the EMU

ABOUT THE EVENT:
Moore's show will consist of his monologue, interaction with the audience,
and a few surprise guests. He will read letters he's received from soldiers
in Iraq (published in his new book, "Will They Ever Trust Us Again --
Letters from the War Zone"), offer prizes for people who register to vote,
and conduct the "world's largest karaoke sing-a-long" to John Ashcroft's
"Let the Eagle Soar." At many venues Moore will show as yet-unseen clips
from his "Fahrenheit 9/11" DVD (to be released October 5), and give everyone
present a chance to win their own "pet goat."

"It should be a lot of fun," said Moore. "Most Americans don't vote, and
it's not all that hard to understand why. So, I'd like to offer them some
incentives to give it a try, just this once. The 50% who are the non-voters
are never called by pollsters and are usually ignored by candidates. Should
just a few percentage points of the 100 million non-voters decide to show up
on November 2 -- watch out." Moore said his goal is to see that over 56%
of the voting public votes in this election -- something that has not
happened since 1968.

"It is not the wealthy and the elite who don't vote," added Moore. "The
non-voters are the poor, the disenfranchised, the single moms and young
people. I am calling for a non-voter uprising, led by thousands of campus
slackers who proudly sleep 'til noon and who believe papers are for rolling,
not reading. They are rightfully cynical, but this year their motto will be:
"Bush and Kerry Both Suck -- That's Why I'm Voting for John Kerry!"

With a number of venues already sold out, over 600,000 people are expected
to show up on his tour. Early word of Moore's tour has already sparked
protests by campus Republicans and two schools have already caved to
pressure to cancel Moore's event. "I understand why some Bush supporters
might be upset," Moore reflected. "I would be, too, if I only had a few
weeks left in power."

Catherine Matthys, Contemporary Issues Coordinator for the U of O Cultural
Forum is thrilled to be able to offer this exciting opportunity to the
community: "During one of the most politically charged elections of the
century, it's crucial for cultural icons like Michael Moore to become
involved with encouraging young people to vote."

Visit www.michaelmoore.com for more information and press materials.

posted in honoring the dead - 0 replies

skull and bones baby...

2004-09-21T07:46:03Z

Death and the dead are nothing to be feared. In my opinion, when we conquer this fear it can actually help us live more. As a child, I used to lay awake at night scared of the dark, scared of the demons my god fearing relatives would warn me about if I committed certain sins. The sinning didn't really scare me, but the idea of demons and ghosts, entities that were there in which you could not physically see scared the piss out of a poor little six year old. But what are demons? An idea? A scariness lodged into the back of your psyche only to resurface when there are no other distractions? Luckily my parents did not shove religion down my throat so demons-shemons. Yin and Yang all the way, for me it's wonderful to accept the good and the bad, but who are you going to invite to dinner? And as for ghosts, for me the idea of ghosts has evolved into protectors, guardian angels perhaps ancestors, or my father who died six years ago and dear friend one year ago. I'd love to hear other people's philosophies on death and the dead. I'd also love to hear about other's journeys through the road of grieving. I'd love to hear about other's finding the single light while surrounded by darkness whatever, it's all good.

posted in honoring the dead - 0 replies