Upon the death in the family of friends and relations

 As a ancestor, a father, passes from this life...a friend of mine grieves with her family his passing today.

May Willard's spirit know the love that surrounds him, and his friends and relatives know peace.

A Prayer for the Dead

You have come to the end of this pathway

In a journey to which we bear witness.

You have come to the end of a pathway

That is barred with a gate and a door.

May this door open swiftly and silently.

May this gate give you a moment’s grace

In which to rest your spirit before you venture through.

We stand here with you, as your companions,

As your family, for you are beloved.

But, for now, we must remain here.

We can not go with you to this old land.

Not yet.

For you will see the Ancestors.

You will see the Beloved Dead.

You will walk among the Divine Beings

That guide and nurture us all.

You go to dwell in the lands

Of summer and of apples

where we dance

forever youthful, forever free.

We can hear the music in the mist

The drums that echo our sad hearts.

We can see your bright eyes and your smile.

And so we open the gate.

We push back the door.

We hold the gate open.

We glance through the doorway,

And with love and grief and wonder

We watch you walk through.

Hail the Traveler!

All those remembered in love, in honor,

Live on.

Farewell, o best loved,

O fairest,

Farewell

Thanks to H. Byron Ballard