Hail and Farewell

We say "hail and farewell," when we close a ritual. It's our way of acknowledging the deities and participants who've come to work Magick with us. It's our way of acknowledging our divinity as Magickal people. It's a simple phrase, but one that carries love, honor and respect.

This past week we said "hail and farewell," to two people whose lives touched many in deep and profound ways. George Michael and Carrie Fisher both left us in the same week and many are still grieving their passing, trying to cope with the loss.

What is it about grieving for celebrities and icons that is so personal? We don't know these people, yet we feel intimately connected to them. I believe it's because they're artists and through their work, they shared their soul. They exposed their vulnerabilities and allowed us to love, celebrate, and wonder, right along with them. Their words, their music, and their art became backdrops and tapestries to our own lives. And when they leave us, we feel it profoundly.

Along with the celebrities who left us this year, there were also personal losses. I began 2016 with the passing of my sweet dog, Shadow, and the year ended with the deaths of others I loved. I'm sure this is the case for many. Death finds it's way to everyone, every thing, eventually. Sometimes I think the mass sharing of grief over icons and celebrities also helps us to cope with our own personal losses. Not everything about social media is bad or fake.

As the Wheel turns toward the new year, and we feel the pain of loss, there is also the joy of a new beginning and looking back at the good things we accomplished in 2016. Not every day was bad, not every moment was filled with sorrow. There were moments of joy, laughter, camaraderie and friendship. Small goals were attained and milestones were achieved. Take time to remember the good things. Celebrate the things in 2016 that made you happy. Though we began the year with the passing of our dog, we ended the year by adopting a shelter dog and that has been a wonderful blessing in our lives.

We all need to carry on. I'm looking forward to 2017. It's the only way to keep moving, to keep going. As long as we're breathing we have opportunities for change and growth. It's up to us to choose how we use the days we're given. Let's make 2017 our best year, yet!