November 2, 2009 Candle Ceremony
Every Monday evening a growing network of people all across the nation, and in other countries too, light candles in memory of their departed pets. It is a very healing ritual with no adherence to any religion or creed, just a simple lighting of candles to bring us all together. Some gather to light their candles in chat room, others prefer to read the ceremony in their homes, knowing they are joined in spirit to others lighting candles for the same healing purpose.We also gather the names of beloved pets and their people, and keep them in a single file, so that all our thoughts and prayers can focus on them. If you have a pet who is sick, or who has recently passed "Over the Rainbow Bridge," and you'd like him or her to be remembered on our list, please just post a message here in the "Candle Ceremony" forum. The candle lighting times are: 10PM Eastern 9PM Central 8PM Mountain 7PM Pacific In Europe: Central Europe - 10:00 PM GMTUK - 9:00 PM GMT Australia (West Coast) 6 PM Australia (East Coast) 8 PM New Zealand 9 PM The following is the suggested format for the ceremony. All are invited to join us. CEREMONY The candles being lit tonight; Cast a soft and welcome flame. And draw our loved ones to the light, As we call to them by name. Imagine spirits taking flight, For a moment our souls entwine. Say not Good Night, but in some Brighter Time Bid them all- Good Morning. WE GATHER TOGETHER TO HONOR AND REMEMBER OUR ANIMALS: Tonight we join hands, hearts and souls across the land as one large extended family to pray for our sick and dying pets and to pay tribute to our furbabies who have gone ahead to Rainbow Bridge. Someday, we will meet them again, with hugs, tears and kisses, as we walk together, in eternity, to our new home. Until that blessed day, we honor these precious souls and remember them with the warm glow of flickering candles, sending a message of love, light and healing, and the faith to believe in miracles. PRAYER: God, Creator of all living things, we ask that as we light our candles, the healing warmth of love will flow into the brokenhearted who are tending their ailing pets. Give to them Your strength and comfort. We also pray that the soft glow of light will part the clouds of grief and sorrow to surround our furbabies at the Bridge. May excitement REIGN SUPREME as wagging tails and ecstatic purrs feel our gentle touch once again. May they know the gratitude we hold in our hearts for their faithfulness and gift of unconditional love as they are forever remembered. We are temporarily separated for only a short while. The silver cord that connects us through time and space can never be broken. AMEN. CANDLE 1: BRIDGE CHILDREN Read the names of the furchildren who have gone on ahead. I will not look back for there is sorrow. I will not look for today for there is longing. I will look forward for there is OUR tomorrow. CANDLE 2: SICK AND INJURED FUR CHILDREN Read the names of those who are ill or have been injured. Together we unite to give thanks for the furbabies who have improved in health and strength. We also, being of one heart, pray for the Mommies, Daddies, and furbabies who struggle together against serious illness. We remember in quiet reverence the furbabies who left us and we pray for the grieving families left behind. With one heart, all are remembered and forever cherished by this family of love. CANDLE 3: FOR ACKNOWLEDGMENT AND PEACE
In honor of all the homeless, forgotten, abandoned, abused animals. For the nameless furchildren who gave their lives for others, for research and as a result of humankind's inhumanity. May the Higher Powers that be forgive the cruelty. We light this candle for them. As our lights shine brightly through the galaxy, may the angels smile upon us, and know that for a brief moment, we have put aside worldly differences to bond as ONE. CLOSING: I have sent you on a journey to a land free from pain, not because I did not love you, but because I loved you too much to force you to stay. MOMENT OF SILENCE. "Blessed are they that mourn, for they will be comforted." Love light and healing to all. Amen Special Needs There have been many of you this past week who have had the courage through your tears and grief to post your loss of a furbaby. On Monday evenings animal lovers around the country light candles in their memory. It is a very healing ritual with no adherence to any religion or creed, just a simple lighting of candles to bring us all together. We also have a list of all the furbabies and you may add your furbaby to the list, giving the dates of birth and the date of passing. The candle lighting times are: 10PM Eastern 9PM Central 8PM Mountain 7PM Pacific 9 PM UK 10PM Central European FAMILY WE LOVE AND PRAY FOR.... The following are names of furbabies who are sick, or have special physical needs. (* New to the list or revised) SICK LIST/SPECIAL NEEDS:
*Ginger, dog, adopted by foster mom, Jennifer/update
*Harmon, almost 15 years, staggering, difficulty walking, Sam
*Jasmine, kitty, grieving for her brother Buster, Ana
*Leo, 14 years, flare up of IBD and pancreatitis, very ill, Sam
*Maggie, Irish Setter, on many medications for multiple medical issues, Lynn
*Roo, dog, found his forever home, Jennifer/update
*Skara, Max (the cat), Max (the dog) and Sierra, missing their sister/cousin
To view the complete Special Needs list see Resources, Documents Folder "Candle Ceremony Lists, File "Special Needs." Special Needs.htm
BRIDGELIST
With sadness and hope that the following furbabies have made a safe and healing trip to the Bridge. As they are quickly restored to health and are busy meeting our furbabies there, we include the new (*) ones with the ones who are there and remember them all with love.
*Buster, kitty, 10/30/09, massive seizure, Ana
*Mini, Dog, 14 yrs., 10/11/09, Clair I.
*TrixiLena B., dog, 12 yrs., 10/29/09, Perkey B and family
SPECIAL ANNIVERSARY LISTINGS
*Kayleigh, kitten, 4 weeks, Nov. 2, 1998, Perola *Kitty, little bunny, pasturella, 11/02/2000, abolton *Tiny, dog, 2 years, 11/02/01, following administration of meds at the vet clinic, Deb’s stepson and wife *Daisey, dog, approximately 5 years, 11/03/05, Marsha, Jennifer and Gerry *Mister, grey toulouse goose, 18 years, 11/02/05, tragic accident, Kathleen *Scruffy Cat, kitty, 11/02/05, cancer, cyndip
*Kastor, kitty, 04/01/95 – 11/01/99, Rick *Shasta, Sheltie, 15 years, 11/04/02, Kathie and Tim *Beasley, cat, feline leukemia, 11/03/02, may we find a cure for this and more, Ruby *Bandit, wolf hybrid, 11/07/05, cancer in his jaw, Pamela *Pippin, Yorkie, 14 1/2, 11/8/97, Jo and Bob Lynch *Scar, dog, 11/07/99, Laura W. *Big Boy Blue, cat, 11/3/06, CalMar kitty at Best Friends’ Animal Sanctuary/Joni & Felis *Buddy ,Upside down catfish, 11/2/06, Priscilla *Rikki, canine, heeler mix, 2003-11/04/06, Tamara and staff at the Garden *Two Chihuahuas, burned alive in Long Beach CA, 11/4/06, added by Kathy G
*Fly, horse, 11/07/2000, 10 years, thrown from trailer when it was broadsided by a car, Iris *Kodi, dog, 11/8/99, cheryla *Franny, Dachshund, about 1 year, cancer, 11/08/03, John, tapercat’s friend *Snickerdoodle, bunny, 8½ years, 11/08/03, Nanette *Sterling, Akita, 11/07/03, Pamela *Bryanna, dog, Lori Mohr-Corrigan 11/6/98 *Princess, cat, 21.5 years, Himy mix, blind, hyperthyroid, renal and cardiac failure, 11/05/02 Irene's baby, Terilynn's half-sister *Billy, Doberman Pinscher, 4 yrs., 11/6/03, Nova Free
*Count de'Clauwed Kroening 11 years, 11/05 /03, Nan *Sirius, King Shepherd, 15yrs, crossed 11-05-04, Cam, added by Tamara, Cam's friend *Taj, male kitty from House of Dreams, FeLV, crossed 11-05-04, added by Jenn *Willow, gray female kitty, 3 years, 11-05-04 ,FeLV, rescued by Joni, given forever home by Robin *Max, GSD, 3 years, very badly injured when attacked by a Husky/Malamute cross, 11/06/04, Marf’s
daughter Peg and husband Doug
*Black semi-long hair kitty, 11/07/06, hit by a car, added by Marf
*Clipper, quarter horse, 11/08/07, large aneurysm, suddenly while practicing for barrel racing, Sara, added by Gloria.
*Gumby, kitty, 11/09/07, in a horrible accident, Lorri
*Little Tom, 05/04 – 11/4/07, Linda *Clara, muted tortie cat, 2 yrs, 11/7/07, Jonie & other Calmar staff
*Mac, Terrier mix, 11/7/07, St. Francis Animal Sanctuary, Vermillion, OH. *Wendy, West Highland Terrier, 17 yrs., 11/3/08, cairnterrier77 and family
*Bella, 11/09/08, Michael and Jeff
To view the complete Bridge List see Resources, Documents Folder "Candle Ceremony Lists" File "Bridge List" under Resources.
url=http://network.bestfriends.org/groups/phs/media/p/136123.aspx]Bridgelist[/url]
HUMAN NEEDS AND BRIDGE
Because our families are composed of furkids and humans, we add our prayers, love and candle glow for these ones we love who have special needs or who have been returned to health on the other side of Rainbow Bridge. May the glow of our candles carry our love and prayers for their well-being. Denotes new or updated requests
HUMAN FAMILY SPECIAL NEEDS
*Anon, mother still needs to find job to keep family from having to move in with relatives (update)
*Bill, doing fairly well, no more swelling/update
*Brad and Marion, Grieving for Trixi and concerned about Perkey
*Carolyn, 5 years, leukemia, doing much better, re-starting chemo on Tuesday, doctors more optimistic/update
*Linda, fairly stable this week, but has fallen asleep while smoking a few times due to the drugs she’s taking/update
*Lynn, very worried about Maggie
*Marf, ophlamologist appointment 11/06, blind spots in visual field
*Perkey B, grieving for Trixi-Lee
To view the complete Human Family Special Needs list see Resources, Documents Folder "Candle Ceremony Lists" File "Human Family Special Needs." Human Family Special Needs
HUMAN FAMILY PASSINGS
*Agnes, 02/06/09, Susan’s Mom
SPECIAL ANNIVERSARY ADDITIONS
*Dr. V. Kritzinger, 1924 – 11/3/2000, Marf’s doctor before he retired *Tarrin Elymens, 4 years, rare ovarian cancer, 11/08/2000, added by Joni
*John Honahan, 53 yrs 11/2/98, friend of Don and Fina Bruce *Sandy Ottaviano, Beth’s mom, *** cancer, 11/06/01, Beth’s Mom *Pamela S., Small dog rescuer in GA, 11/6/07
To view the complete list see Resourced, Documents Folder "Candle Ceremony Lists" File "Human Family Passings."
Human Family Passings