Honoring the Cycle of Life

Honoring the Cycle of Life, and Death

Editor’s note: This post addresses multiple issues of death, depression, and euthanasia which some readers may find triggering.

Photo by Chiara Guercio of Unsplash

Life and death, inextricably intertwined, follow one another without fail. Learning to accept and honor the cycle is an important factor in being able to move forward, and frankly, to retaining one’s sanity. 

Kitten Season, inevitably leaves many small deaths in its wake. Try as we might, some kittens simply will not make it past kittenhood. It’s a harsh reality and often one that is heartbreaking. Whether you are a seasoned rescue worker, cat foster, or just a person who suddenly finds themselves caring for a community cat with kittens that seemingly showed up out of nowhere, having the tools to cope with loss and the grief that can follow is important. 

In fact, every person who provides a home for a cat (or any animal) will eventually be confronted with the end of a beloved life. It is part of the cycle of life and nature, and inescapable. 

Photo by CRZ of Unsplash

There is a reason funerary rites exist—they help us to grieve and accept the inevitable end of the story. Every story of life, be it one that is very short, one that spans decades, or just years, ends in death. The sooner we learn to accept this, the better able we are to process loss. 

We’ve created some simple and basic rituals for honoring the life that has ended, as well as honoring the efforts of those who worked tirelessly to save lives and/or make the passing as gentle and humane as possible. Finding ways to process the grief we feel at the loss of a beloved feline is important. 

It is doubly important to recognize the effort that goes into preserving life, and especially honoring those folks who provide palliative care and euthanasia. For caregivers and rescue workers, crafting rituals that help to find the balance between life and death is essential. 

Honoring our feelings of grief and loss are key to maintaining a healthy emotional, mental, and spiritual balance. Here are some simple rituals that can be used to help process losses.

Photo by Loan on Unsplash

Crafting a Cat Funeral

The first thing to decide is whether to inter or cremate. Unfortunately, this is something that has to be decided right away. So, if you have a cat that is spiraling down towards the end, it gives you a bit more time to decide. When a cat dies suddenly it often ends up needing to be a snap decision. 

For folks who move frequently, cremation is often a better option. You can still inter the ashes at a later date. The ashes of feline friends can also become a part of your ancestor altar, if you tend one.  

Burials should be done in an area that is unlikely to be disturbed, so away from water, septic, and other underground utility portals. (If you are not sure, check before you dig. Most states offer access to knowing where these underground lines run.) You should also make sure it is legal in the state or country you reside in for you to bury your feline. Laws can vary a great deal on what the requirements are. 

For an adult cat, you are going to want the depth of the burial to be between two and three feet. Whether you place them in a container or opt for a green burial depends on what the laws are and the circumstances of the death—some states specify that cats that have been euthanized must be in a container or cremated. 

You can place funerary herbs both in the bottom of the burial plot and then around and on top of your feline. Some herbs that are commonly used in funerary rites are: rosemary for remembrance, lavender for soothing, rose for love, rue for protection, and of course, no cat burial would be complete without catnip!

Once the body has been placed in the burial plot, you can offer up a prayer to Bastet, the land spirits, or any divine spirit that you work with. If you do not have any spiritual orientation, or follow a path of atheism, you can make a simple offering to the earth.

Photo by Dyachenkoproduction of Getty Images

Here are few examples of invocation that can be used:

“O’ Bastet, hear my plea. Please hold and keep my beloved (insert name of feline) safe in their passage to the next plane. Love them, as I have loved them, and help them to find as much joy in their transition as they have given to me in this life. Let their passage forward help to lighten our grief and loss. So mote it be.”

-----

“Spirits of the land, elemental spirits of air, fire, water, and earth, I call upon your grace and ask that you receive and tenderly hold the physical remains of my beloved (insert name of Feline) in your embrace. Allow their spirit to soar high, and discover new experiences to grant them as much joy as they have offered to me. And so it is.” 

-----

“I place my beloved (insert name of Feline) into the embrace of the earth so they can complete the cycle of life and provide nourishment to the soil and the plants and other beings that draw wellbeing from it. While they may no longer be at my side, I can take heart in knowing they continue to serve as a part of the living organism that is the planet. Gratitude and thanks for their presence in the world and mine.” 

-----
Naturally, you can include details and memories of your feline, or any other words you wish. You can also incorporate the replacement of the soil as part of the ritual, using it as a way to release grief and sadness—as each handful or spadesful of soil is transferred, imagine a bit of the sadness going with it. 

Once all the soil has been replaced, you can place a large stone over the site, plant a favorite herb, flower or tree, or fashion some other remembrance. 

Photo by Africa Images

Ritual for easing grief and loss

Whether your furry friend has crossed the rainbow bridge or just headed in that direction, this ritual is designed to help you find balance, acceptance, & peace. 

First, select a quiet place that you associate with your feline companion.

Next, assemble whatever herbs you intend to use. (Some suggestions: rose buds, linden flowers & leaves, and lavender.) 

Place the herbs in a mortar bowl. (If you do not have a mortar & pestle, you can simply use your fingers to crush & blend them together. For the ultra modern practitioner, even a small food processor or herb grinder also works!)

Focus on all of the joy, all the sadness, the loss, whatever you are feeling. Allow yourself the space to feel all of it and let it flow into the herbs as you work the mixture of herbs together. 

Once you have worked it to a medium consistency, use the herbs to create a circle. Place items that represent your panther—pictures, whiskers, fur, nail clippings, teeth, cremated remains—inside the circle along with a charm of your choosing to represent your feline.

Next, take a candle of your choosing in size and color and hold it, allowing the energy you are feeling to transfer to the candle. Once you feel that you have nothing left to give, set the candle in a holder and light while speaking this prayer to Bastet: 

“Blessed Bastet, Guardian of Panthers, hold dear within your essence the soul of my beloved friend ______ who walks on four paws. Guide them through their transition from this plain to the next.

“O’ Bastet, accept my tears & heartache as an offering to ease my loss & grief, and to guide me to acceptance.”

Once the candle has burned out, collect the herbs and cat charm and place them in a pouch, box or other receptacle. You can place the collection on your altar or carry some or all of the herbs with you and near your heart. You can also use a tiny bottle to place some of the herbs in to make amulet that can be worn.

If you choose to use a larger candle, you burn it in increments over the course of days or weeks after the initial working to help you to balance out the loss. Our suggestion would be to place the collection of used herbs and other accouterments near the candle each time you light it.  

Photo by John W. Ferguson of Getty Images

Amulet for rescue workers and animal caregivers

Those who work in animal welfare often see the worst of the worst. Burnout can be as high or sometimes even higher than it is for their counterparts who work in human health and welfare. 

Striking a balance between life and death, joy and sadness, can be a complicated matter. It can be hard to feel joy in our personal lives when others are dealing with grief and loss. 

An amulet for strength & balance can be a powerful tool to carry as a reminder to help. 

Here is a simple ritual for creating an amulet. Here’s what you need: 

Penny or any coin
Bloodstone chip
Rose quartz chip
Small bit of rosemary
Birthday candle

First, ground and center and consider the intent you wish to imbue with the amulet. Once you are clear on your intent and purpose, place the penny/coin on a fireproof surface. Next, add the stone chips and rosemary so they are on or touching the coin. Then, hold the candle in your hand and focus all of your intent on it. Gently apply a little flame from a lighter or match to the bottom of the candle—just enough to make it stick and stand on the coin. 

Now light the candle. You may wish to speak aloud your intent and express your desired purpose for the amulet, or you may just choose to think about. You can make up a little verse to be chanted or sung, or not. Whatever feels right, do that! 

Once the candle has burned completely down, you have created an amulet! You can place it in a tiny pouch to carry or wear as a reminder of the importance of the work you do and that you are balanced and strong enough to keep keepin’ on. 

All of the rituals outlined in this article are fluid, simple, and can easily be custom-tailored for whatever your specific needs might be. You can make them as detailed as you wish or need. However, in our experience, simple and streamlined workings often seem to be the most effective—especially when life is moving at a fast pace and does not allow for lengthy practices.