Giving Up The Ghost

Last weekend, I had the privilege to co-officiate a memorial service and butterfly release at ElderDog. It’s a moving tribute where folks (and pups) gather together to remember those canine and human companions that we have said good-bye to, and to honour their passing with the release of a butterfly.

It’s a special community in a beautiful setting for a moving service.

As butterflies were fluttering by, my mind went to the idiomatic “giving up the ghost” as a description. While we recognise this expression to mean that something has broken or that someone has died, the noun ‘ghost’ has evolved from its original intention.

Rooted in the Germanic and Old English, ‘ghost’ (as it appears in early English Bibles) is not meant to represent a phantasm or Halloween-inspired apparition; but rather it serves as a description for the seat of life or intelligence; a soul or spirit distinct from the body.

As such, we can imagine the release of such a being from all the bonds of this life. I imagine such freedom to be a celebration of liberation, a lightness of being that can dance on the breeze in its ethereal state.

In other words, I can imagine a spirit released moving freely and joyously like a butterfly. Wings opening, antennae pulsating as they feel fresh air, tongue tasting nectar as they sip a floral meal.
As we watched the butterflies we had released move among the fauna, in gentle movements, they reminded us all of the freedom of an unencumbered soul. They brought comfort to the moments of grief, and joy to the lightness of our embodied souls.

What a gift to see a physical interpretation of ‘giving up the ghost’ as part of the ongoing circle of life.

unEGGSpected

The past few weeks, I’ve been re-homing some things that I no longer need. There’s a great WeShare group here locally, where we list items either for free or for a trade – no money is exchanged. It’s great for community, reduces waste, and prevents unnecessary overconsumption.

I was offering a board game, with no expectation of trade – I was hoping it would be used. Someone quickly indicated their interest, and when she came to pick it up, she brought a gift.
Fresh local eggs, from her chickens.

I had not been expecting such a gift – and the person hadn’t known if I would even want them, and suggesting if I didn’t, I could find another home for them. (I enjoy eggs, what a treat!)
We had a nice brief chat, and off she went with her game, and into the fridge went my eggs. It was a casual interaction of some pleasantries; yet it was a holy moment too as we both shared in the gift of giving.

For we both benefitted; not just in the objects exchanged, but in the living out of the community spirit: of finding ways to enhance someone else without an expectation of receiving.

We benefitted because we both realised the benefit of giving.

What we have, we have been given.
What we have been given, we are privileged to share.
What we share is a celebration of our interconnectedness.