Return to Earth Ceremony

[KLocke77]

Hi

I voulenteer for Rabbit Rescue in Milton, Ontario and we tried to save a bunny that was found underneath a car with horrid injuries. He passed on to the Rainbow Bridge on the operating table during surgery. We will be interring him this Saturday on one of the other member's grounds and I was wondering if there was a "Return to Earth" Ceremony that I could preform for him? I'm glad that he was shown love and care by other members in our group before he passed, he was a truly special little guy.

Thanks,

Kim Locke

[Corwen]

If you want him to return to earth you should leave the body out where scavengers can find it rather than bury it. Personally I'd love a 'sky burial' or to be left on a platform the way many Native American and Siberian tribes dispose(d) of their dead. Burying something means it will be many years if not millennia before the constituent atoms of the rabbit return to the matter circulating in the biosphere.

[katie bridgewater]

In 'Nature' this rabbit would not be buried by its own kind, and its own concept of 'dignity' would not include burial.

In the past I would have wanted to bury such a creature, but isn't it imposing human values to force burial on a creature for whom this is a meaningless act? In 'Nature', the rabbit would be eaten by other creatures in the food chain it is part of. By burying it, IMO, you take away it's 'Natural' end, and impose a human construct on it.

I think that perhaps it would be more 'Natural' to 'Return' the body to a hedge near its territory, where it would have gone to die if given the choice. This could also be made as meaningful an act for the human-persons involved as burial.

[Karl]

Incidentally I wonder how deep the little fellow was buried? If it was only within the topsoil I should imagine the worms and bacteria will turn it over to the plantlife quite quickly, certainly within a year or two. Remember nothing is wasted in Nature!

Maybe a small cairn or even a wooden rabbit carving might be nice, just to make people aware that rabbits live near here. Possibly an offering of something a family of rabbits would find useful; a scattering of berries or carrots in the winter months? How about that for ancestors providing for the tribe?!

[Donata]

With whatever form you take with his body, a simple ceremony of asking for peace from the directions, and then for him to be guided safely into the Summerlands (or your preferred name for the afterlife) without fear. You can ask that he feels the love you (and others) give him, and tell his spirit that he'll be reunited to his rabbit oversoul. Ask the God/dess to bless him and look out for this little one. Bless his body with the elements - water & incense , and the earth where he lies/is buried.

Or any version of the above that comes to mind.

Coifi was a long time member of OBOD, now deceased. He shared his prayer for road kill animals - I say it whenever I see an animal by the side of the road.

Blood spilt
Road kill
Spirit free,
Blessed Be.

Donata

[fulbert-avebury]

Kim, this was a wonderful story to share, and I wish you and your community well with your work.

I was thinking about some of the responses about leaving the poor little thing out for nature to take its turn, but I also think that death ceremonies, depending on the traditions, are often for the benefit of those who grieve more than the benefit of those who passed. With this, do whatever you think will honor life in the most powerful way.

Jeffrey