Calling all ancestors!

Last weekend I returned home from transporting one of our children and tinkered around the kitchen for a while. For some reason, Lisa’s empty wine bottle caught my eye. It’s one from the two boxes that the winemaking company put together and gave to us after Lisa was killed. I picked up the bottle and read the quote that they had so thoughtfully put on the label, a quote that was one of Lisa’s final posts on social media, “The human Spirit is stronger than anything that can happen to it.” C.C Scott…the human Spirit is stronger than anything that can happen to it…I repeated it a few more times and then felt called to stick a candle in it, like we used to do in Vancouver when we were too broke to buy a proper candle holder, but not too broke to buy wine. 

After shaving down the edges of a peach colored candle, I tucked the candle into the mouth of the bottle and lit it up. Something told me to look at the time, and as I squinted to see the clock on the stove, I realized it was the time and day, on Saturday evening, that Lisa transitioned. 

The human spirit is stronger than anything that can happen to it…placing my hands together in prayer, I gazed at the flame and something told me to imagine Lisa’s face glowing through the light. Sure enough, she appeared in my imagination, with her blond bob and big smile. “Imagination or not, I see you Lisa and I bow to you”. I lost track of myself, thinking about her life and lingering in a space beyond time with her. 

We continued our connection until my legs got tired. I told her I’d be listening for her guidance, blew out the candle and went to bed.

That night I woke up in the middle of the night having just dreamt about roses. Everywhere I looked in my dream there were roses of every color. Their petals were unfurling and releasing the most beautiful fragrance with their blooms. I thought about my rose tattoo that I’d had painted on my right lower belly in the midst of my anorexic years to remind me of hope, beauty and my highest self. As I lay in my bed, I felt held in love, immersed in rose beauty and I just knew my ancestors were with me. 

As we approach Halloween and All Souls Day (el Día de los Muertos) this weekend, I invite you to light a candle, gaze into the flame and call on your ancestors to celebrate their life, your life, all the lessons and the love that’s always flowing. 

And remember, the human Spirit is stronger than anything that can happen to it!