Tending the dead in ceremony, Unpsychology Magazine 10, Edges, 2024

Wendy Robertson Fyfe

My recent article has just been published by Unpsychology Magazine 10, ‘Edges’ Edition, 5 August, 2024. It is a bumper edition with a wide variety of multimedia colourful and vibrant offerings from a diversity of people in a plethora of ways. Recommend diving in … You can also go to Unpsychology’s substack for further publications by Unpsychology Magazine.

I add a short postscript musing at the end of the article here for my substack readers. As aye, always interested in how the work of Abbey Of Soul meets and touches you.

Postscript

“It’s the early morning that l send the last few proofreading comments of the article to the editors…

As l open my orange curtains and the door into the garden, l see my path strewn with soft, scented red petals from the wall rose from the summer rain last night. These are the fallen petals whom l usually collect for my ceremonies with East Beach. l step on a petal path. With bare feet l walk on a red petal path in wonder, in awe, whilst smelling the sweet scent of vanilla jasmine now blossoming by the door where a collared dove is currently nestling …

and l wonder, in relation to the timing, the synchronicity, what if, after these two and a half years of ceremony, here is a particular response smelling in. Of course, it may just be coincidence. But what if it’s not. In my experience this can be the kind of conversation/deep intimate relating that can arrive unexpectedly from the ‘other-than-human’ world. What if l accept the experience as such? Does my acceptance too make a difference? It’s priceless. What difference would it make to live consciously in such an intimate, conversational world of reciprocity? What if we live beyond a 3 minute advert culture where life takes a while to respond. What if we can never fully know where our ceremonies impact in the world, or the kinds of ways this article too will find her way, smell into your life or ...

I accept the petals. What’s more, l decide not to take them as a ceremonial offering to East Beach. Instead, l pick up the rose petals, many are heart-shaped, and l fill my bath that evening dropping the velvety red rose petals in the water before stepping in. It’s probably the most delicious bath l’ve ever had; another kind of ceremony. Perhaps it is us who lives inside Ceremony.”

It is so.

Thank you to my paid subscribers who l look forward to gathering with tomorrow for our monthly ‘Sacred Conversation’. You are most welcome to sign up for paid subscription and join us. You also support the work of Abbey Of Soul by doing so too should you feel resonant with such a place in the world.

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Testimony

“Wonderful teacher.” Michael

May this season of Lughnasadh in Celtic Northern Hemisphere, Spring in the Southern Hemisphere, or whatever season it is where you are, or season in your life, have you reaping or/and seeding the priceless you are born to be in conversation with in the only way you can feed, be fed, sing, praise, create beauty, give gratitude in this world; may you feed the dead well.

Wendy

… walk … talk … dream … vision … myth …

~ Living intimately as animate Earth Ceremony. wrf