“Anything you cannot relinquish when it has outlived its usefulness possesses you, and in this materialistic age a great many of us are possessed by our possessions.”

~The Peace Pilgrim~

I LOVE the people I encounter in my practice!

I meet the most amazing beings on awe inspiring journeys. Some of the journeys are inward, some outward.  Some are through death and beyond. Some of these spirits are teachers.

Recently, one of those journeys involved my friend Teddy, whom I have known for several years. She is the Mother of my dear friend Kelle. Oh, and she is also a Bodhisattva.

Teddy turned 95 years old on June 25. She died Thursday afternoon, July 19. In both her death and in her life, Teddy was a Master teacher.

In Death

With Teddy’s permission, and at Kelle’s request, I offered Teddy death rites (shamanic ceremonies that set the luminous energy field free after death).

With support from Hospice, Kelle and her family were able to keep Teddy at home. They created an island of peace by bringing flowers and beautiful music into the space. The sat a tender and loving vigil.

Each day, in the week leading up Teddy’s death, we cleared and illuminated each of Teddy’s chakras (from root to crown), preparing her for the death rites process.  We worked over the phone – with me in my office (and, at one point, a Kentucky hotel room) and with Kelle holding space in person, and offering feedback.

As the days passed and Teddy surrendered her body, she became more and more incandescent. The energy in the room was exquisite.  These shifts were palpable to Kelle, as well.

I have offered these rites many times before, but this time was remarkable in that Teddy had very little huacha (heavy energy) to release. She already had done this work in life. Some of her process even felt joyful. At one point, when working with Teddy, I began to hear the Beatles lyrics:

“Obladi, oblada, life goes on brahhh
Lala, how the life goes on…”

In these days since, the song is still with me – a constant refrain and a wink from Teddy.

Q’ero Lore says that:

When death comes, the body returns to Pachamama (earth), the soul to the Apus (mountains) and the spirit to the Chaskas (stars).

When Teddy relinquished her body, she flew to the stars.

In Life

In life, Teddy was vibrant and full of adventure. In her 60s, she took a legendary solo cross-country trip in a van. While on journey, she gave up her judgments. She was fond of the Peace Pilgrim, who walked across the US to teach about peace. Teddy embodied peace.

I told you, she was a Bodhisattva!

Everyone who adored her (and they were legion) had a Teddy story. She embraced everyone with love, humor and the grace of her undivided attention. She planted many seeds in fertile hearts.

Teddy wanted no memorial or funeral. She wanted a dance party! I hear that plans are underway….

The Gift

When we gather around a loved one as they die, we are in the veils with them. It can be a holy place. I am so grateful for Teddy’s exquisite teaching.

Since Teddy’s death, I have thought a lot about her legacy. My husband and I have been in the process of curating our lives at all levels. At the physical level (which shamans call “Serpent”), we have cleaned out and relinquished a storage unit, and are releasing or donating anything that no longer has a place in our lives. We are integrating a few treasures – mostly photos and keepsakes.

At the emotional/mental level (“Jaguar”), we are realizing that it is so easy to be swept up in the latest outrage that hits the news or social media. Inspired by Teddy, we are finding ways to be of service, and to be in action, rather than reaction. We are honoring our judgments as our own projections, are letting them go, and are creating new visions that feel full of life.

At the mythic or soul level (“Hummingbird”), we are excited to be embarking on a new adventure with a writing project.

And, at the energetic or spirit level (“Condor/Eagle”), we are giving it all over to Spirit.

Thank you Teddy, for being in our lives. Thank you, Kelle, for sharing her so graciously.

“Obladi, oblada, life goes on brahhh
Lala, how the life goes on…”