Chalcedoni - a beloved friend

[Beith]

The shock of reading Alferian's notice that a dearly beloved friend has died is overwhelming, but I wanted to immediately post an "In Memoriam" for Chalcedoni, who was also known as Piastra on this board. And by her own names to those who knew her personally.

I will miss her so much. I can't believe she has died. I know that if there's an afterlife, she'll be laughing at us from it and telling us not to take it all so seriously. She was a wonderful woman - passionate in her love of her children, all things druidic, her friends, about her beliefs and causes she fought for. She loved nature, life, writing, poetry, 'rubber-duckies', dark chocolate, humour, her friends and of course most of all her beloved family.

Reading of her passing is so hard. The things I wanted to send her are still here. I will miss her so much and I never met her. But we had known each other for some years now and were firm friends.

I can't believe she has left this life and I never had a chance to say goodbye - but perhaps that is not necessary if the soul lives on and she would chide all of us who shed tears now, not to be so silly and to focus ourselves on learning and living.

I would like to write a proper eulogy for Chalcedoni, a dear dear friend, but right now it's too soon and shock makes one stilted in expression.

But for our friend Chalci, Piastra, Pepper, Maria - by any name, the woman is just as great and fondly remembered and dearly loved.

I will miss your humour my dear friend and our chats and emails and letters.
I can't believe you're gone. But your light shines one.

with love always to you, and sympathy for your family and all who will miss you.
Nine candles burn for you. Nine blessings upon you. Nine waves of tears shed for you. Nine times goodness to you. Live anew in health and vitality and may your 'flaming hair' guide all who seek you and your great heart comfort all who miss you.

In memory of a deeply loved friend.

Beith

[Kat Lady]

She had the soothing purr of a kitten for anyone that needed her care and guidance. And she was a cougar, ready to pounce on those that sought to harm anyone she loved. She was that perfect blend of dark chocolate, smooth and sweet with a few nuts mixed in.

May her light continue to shine in the dark and may she find peace and oodles of interesting things in the Summerlands.

[Rhodonit]

Blessings upon her.

[Robb Hawklord]

Chalcedoni, Carragh (thanks Kat-L), Piastra long may you live in our hearts and minds, we may have had a big fight off board but even that did not take away my respect for you, I know I was doing the right thing and that our friend is now a very happy person indeed. May you rest for a while in the arms of the One-Mother, you who was a mother to more than just your children, but to many here on the board, and the Foggy Duck, and to all those who needed you in your community. You are one of the Blessed souls amongst us.

Robb

[Crow]

I remember when I first arrived on this message board, some 4,300 posts ago, and trying to get the lay of the land. I found gentleness and intelligence and support, but at first I didn't find any of those things in Piastra, who back then was known as Carragh.

And then one day I was chatting with some friends I don't often see anymore, and we were discussing something or other that we didn't understand, and I said, half jokingly, "I'll PM Carragh and ask her!"

My plan was met with utter shock. "You're going to do what??? She'll kill you! She'll eat you alive! "

Well, I knew I was taking a risk, but after such a juicy reaction to my plan, I couldn't back down. And so I contacted Carragh and asked her my question, and I got back much, much more than a simple answer: I got a friend.

Chalci, Carragh, Piastra, Pepper, friend. By whatever name you knew her, she could be a handful, but you knew you had something that was real. Piastra was the fire element. You could feel her burn easily enough, but the more you explore that element, the more you learn about its different aspects -- about how it warms the soil and nurtures the seeds that grow. To know Piastra was to know passion.

Piastra never did anything in half measures, and to die in the month of Samhuinn would be just as she wanted it. We'd talked about death on a couple of occasions, as she'd been quite ill for a long time. I was alarmed by some of her words -- by just how ready she seemed to die. She was not one to tiptoe up to the veil, lift one corner a little and peer into the Otherworld before gingerly stepping across. No, Piastra, I'm sure, marched right up to the veil, tore it asunder and stepped boldly through. She's with her beloved Aunties now, and our loss is their gain.

Goodbye for now, my friend. I'll see you next Samhuinn and for as many others as I have in this life. And when it's my time to step across, may I follow your example and do so without fear, but with panache!

[Dryadia2]

Piastra, Pepper, Carragh, my friend...
Peace and Blessings to you, I send...
I can hardly find the words to say,
But your wit and wisdom always brightened my day.
Your Spiritual birthday was Samhain night.
And soon after, you took the Journey into the Light.
In your quest to find the Wickerman,
I hope he was there to take your hand,
Through the Gateway into the Summerlands,
Where Selchies await on shores of shimmering sands.

Farewell my friend.
/|\

[Donata]

I'm in shock. I loved her dearly, and enjoyed our correspondence. I knew her first as Chalci, then as Pepper.
She was in my daily healing candle. I'm too saddened by this news to be eloquent. We never met in person - we were planning her visit here with me after her move.

Dear one, I'll miss you.May you rest peacefully in the Summer lands. I'll see you there one day.

Donata

[Beith]

A message posted on behalf of another of Chalci's friends.

"Sleep well sweetheart. With love from Craiggy"

she will smile at that I know.
Beith

[Mey]

[Crystal Dragon]

Farewell and Blessings, Piastra

[Lady Nimue]

I am truely shocked and saddened.
Our loss is the Otherworld's gain.

Rest in Peace.

[Loosh]

I am very saddened to hear that Chalci/Pepper has passed over. I felt something was going on the last message I got from her. She said the flight from Alaska to Ohio was hard on her and she was recovering...She was so strong in spirit, I took it for granted that she would make through again!

See you in the Summerlands dear friend!

[Sanas Cuain]

I recall joining this board at Beltaine, back in 2003, Chalcedoni set me right a few times lol... but was of great inspiration to many people.

Golychaf wledic, pendeuic gwlat ri
Ry ledas ypennaeth, dros traeth mundi
By kyweir karchar gweir ysgkaer sidi
Tryw ebostol pwyll a phryderi
Neb kyn noc ef nyt aeth idi
Yr gadwyn trom las kywirwas ae ketwi
Arac preideu annwfyn tost yt geni
Ac yt urawt parahawt ymbardwedi
Tri lloneit prytwen yd aetham ni idi
Nam seith ny dyrreith ogaer sidi
Neut wyf glot geinmyn cerd ochlywir
Ygkaer pedryuan pedyr ychwelyt
Yg kenneir or peir pan leferit
Oanadyl naw morwyn gochyneuit
Neu peir pen annwfyn pwy y vynut
Gwrym am yror amererit
Ny beirw bwyt llwyfr ny rytyghit
Cledyf lluwch lleawc idaw rydyrchit
Ac yn llaw leminawc yd edewit
Arac drws porth vffern llugyrn lloscit
Aphan aetham ni gan Arthur trafferth lechrit
Namyn seith ny dyrreith o gaer vedwit
Neut wyf glot geinmyn kerd glywanawr
Ygkaer pedryfan ynys pybyrdor
Echwyd amuchyd kymyscetor
Gwin gloyw eugwirawt rac eu gorgord
Tri lloneit prytwen yd aetham ni ar vor
Namyn seith ny dyrreith ogaer rigor
Ny obrynafi lawyr llen llywyadur
Tra chaer wydyr ny welysant wrthyr Arthur
Tri vgeint canhwr aseui ar y mur
Oed anhawd ymadrawd aegwylyadur
Tri lloneit prytwen yd aeth gan Arthur
Namyn seith ny dyrreith ogaer golud
Ny obrynaf y lawyr llaes eu kylchwy
Ny wdant wy pydyd peridyd pwy
Py awr ymeindydd y ganet cwy
Pwy gwnaeth arnyt aeth doleu defwy
Ny wdant wy yrych brych, bras y penrwy
Seith vgein kygwng yny aerwy
Aphan aetham ni gan Arthur auyrdwl gofwy
Namyn seith ny dyrreith o gaer vandwy
Ny obrynafy lawyr llaes eu gohen
Ny wdant pydyd peridyd pen
Py awr ymeindyd y ganet perchen
Py vil agatwant aryant ypen
Pan aetham ni gan Arthur afyrdwl gynhen
Namyn seith ny dyrreith o gaer ochren
Myneich dychnut val cunin cor
O gyfranc udyd ae gwidanhor
Ae vn hynt gwynt ae vn dwfyr mor
Ae vn vfel tan twrwf diachor
Myneych dychnut val bleidawr
O gyfranc udyd ae gwidyanhawr
Ny wdant pan yscar deweint agwawr
Neu wynt pwy hynt pwy yrynnawd
Py va diua py tir aplawd
Bet sant yn diuant abet allawr
Golychaf y wledic pendefic mawr
Na bwyf trist, crist am gwadawl

Journey well...

[Kernos]

A friend, by whatever name, we had many long conversations by phone and email. When I disappeared for awhile, Pepper "stalked" me online until I would reappear, though this time I ran out of time. I never know how to feel, but guilt is definitely there and I feel I need to do something.

I think we should create a memorial page for Pepper on OBOD's Memorial site. The this end I would like to solicit appropriate material, art, writings, pictures, anecdotes etc.

See http://www.druidry.org/obod/ancestors/index.html for examples.

Kernos

[greymore]

[Eilthireach]

Chalcedoni was a unique person and the twists and turns in the story of her life certainly would have made a most interesting biography.

In her soul she has paired the pure childlike admiration of the unfolding of the wonders of creation with the wisdom of a woman who has seen and done it all. I remember as she described the Alaskan Northern Light to me a few years ago. I have never seen it but her description was so poetic, vivid and powerful that I can see the light wandering across the night sky in the moment I write this.

She was highly gifted with psychic talents and had to bear all the jealousy and enmity such talents bring with them. However she did not turn hostile and behind her slightly grumpy mask she always had a very big heart.

Last but not least, she was an Elder of the Druidic tradition. The Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids, and these boards will be poorer without her. But she is now in the ranks of our ancestors and we know that we can still communicate with her and ask her advice.

I pray that her journey is easy, and for her family.

Le meas mór, with great respect,

Eilthireach /|\.

[Aylyn]

As I joined the board only a few months ago, I only knew her from a few posts. However, I greatly admired her for the inner strength, as she was so open about her tumors and the fact that she was going to die. I hope that I will have similar strength when it is my turn.

I just thought about her two weeks ago and that I have not seen anything from her lately. It therefore saddens me to learn of her death.

May her journey to the Summerlands be swift, and may she find peace there.

[Petrichor]

Farewell Priestess ..........

Go with speed & Power of Dragon
My heart plays to our rhythm

I will continue the work

My talons are sharp
my wings are strong
from where you be
you will hear the song

Blessings Piastra - Aracos .

[Niht-Wyrd]

Thank you for posting my message B. Beith rung me on Saturday night to tell me the sad news, and it quite literally blew my head.

Like many here I knew Pepper well, though we never actually met. Jeez she could talk on the phone though!! While she was still in Alaska she was on about dragging me over to "sort her feckin' garden out." I dearly wish I'd had the opportunity to do so, though I fear marigolds don't take to well with ice. The old apple juice on the other hand does though, eh Peps ! That would've been nice, maybe next time sweetheart.

After Beith had rung, I sat with the owls wing and wolfs tooth you sent me Pepper. Gifted to you from one you greatly loved and admired, one full of magic and wisdom, one in tune with the earth and the old ones. I was lucky enough to have them gifted to me from you, someone to whom I feel exactly the same; I can only hope that I can somehow live up to it. They sang in my hands Peps, and I knew you were well.

I'll always be perching my dear, though you already know that. You'll be sadly missed, but happily remembered. Sleep well sweetheart, sweet dreams.

As always, much love,

Your Craiggy x

[Michael C. Page]

I had the pleasure of her company both in email and on the message board. She told me about her son, who is in the US Navy and how she missed him. I had the opportunity to help her out when she moved from Alaska to Ohio, but unfortunately we were unable to meet up. Still I happy to have made her aquaintence.
May your journey to the blessed Ilse be swift and true my Friend and may the Peace, Joy and Love which you gave in this life, be reflected three hundred fold in your next incarnation. AWEN