Funeral rite for burials
This ritual is a basic framework which you can either use as is, or use the ideas to create your own ritual.

COFFIN BEARERS ENTER Celtic music or drum beat.

The Funeral Rite for <NAME>

<DATE>

INTRO

Many here today are practicing Pagans who will understand the significance of the ceremony that we are about to perform, but for others who have different beliefs I will explain what we are about to do. There should be nothing in what we are about to do that can cause offence to anyone, but if you would prefer to wait outside, then I am sure that <NAME> will understand.

You will see that there are four people standing at strategic points in the room, each one at a cardinal compass point. Their job is to call on the elements that supported <NAME> throughout his/her Life. We traditionally begin in the East, which represents Air. In the South is the element of Fire. Then we move to the West and the element of Water, then finally to North and the elemental spirit of Earth. It is of the Earth we are born and upon our death it is to the Earth that we return.

At the end of the Ceremony we will again return to the quarters and relieve them of the responsibilities of supporting <NAME>. As we believe in Life after life we look forward to meeting with him/her again.

THE RITUAL

Let us take a few deep slow breathes so as to prepare ourselves. Breathe deeply and remember the love you have for <NAME> and the joy he/she brought you. And so we begin.

Let us call for Peace, that in Peace the voice of the Spirit may be heard.

May there be Peace in the East!
May there be Peace in the South!
May there be Peace in the West!
May there be Peace in the North!

ALL: May there be Peace throughout the whole world.

EAST: Spirits of the East, Powers of Air, we call you. Bring us bright memories of our beloved <NAME> and of the <MUSIC OR SIMILAR IF APPROPRIATE> that surrounded him/her. Blessed Be!

SOUTH: Spirits of the South, Powers of Fire, we call you. Keep the fire of our love for <NAME> alive – in the memory of this lover of the sun and of Helios. Blessed be!

WEST: Spirits of the West, Powers of Water, we call you. Open our hearts, let our tears and love flow. Bring us healing and renewal. Remember <NAME> who loved life, loved his/her friends and his/her magical family. Blessed be!

NORTH: Spirits of the North, Powers of the Earth, we call you. From you we come; to you we return. Bring us Strength. Remember <NAME> to whom you gave strength and wisdom and embraced in his/her passing. Blessed be!

EULOGY

We meet here today in both sadness and joy to say a fond farewell to <NAME>, a much loved <BROTHER/SISTER, WIFE/HUSBAND, AUNT/UNCLE>. We are sad because a chapter has closed yet we should be joyful by the closing that a new chapter can begin. We meet to commend <NAME> to the blessing of the God and Goddess, that he/she may rest, free from illusion or regret, until the time shall come for his/her rebirth to this world. And knowing that this shall be so, we know too, that the sadness is nothing and that the joy is all.

PRAYER

O Great Spirit,Mother and Father of us all, we ask for your Blessings on this our Ceremony of thanksgiving, and honouring and blessing of <NAME>.We stand at a Gateway now.  A Gateway that each of us must step through at some time in our lives. <NAME> has stepped through this gateway already.  

His/Her soul is immersed in the shining light of the Unity that is the Mother and Father of us all.

The sadness and pain that we feel now is in our knowledge and our experience of the fact that we ourselves cannot yet cross that threshold to be with <NAME> until our time has come.

SPEAKER

Let´s spend some time in silence to remember < name>, to call her/him up in our minds and to speak to her/him in the private places of our heart, saying to her/him those things that we always wanted to say to her/him.

(2 mins silence with some favourite music of the deceased, that will evoke happy memories of life with her/him).

MEMORIES OF <NAME>´s LIFE

This is for personal memories.Who they were. Their interests etc. People can speak of them here.

PRAYER

The Blessings of the Ancesters and of Family and Friends are with you, as you travel beyond.

There is a reason for leaving, to pause, to rest, and to wait for those that are loved.For the world beyond is a land of Eternal Summer, and of Joy, far from the cares of this world, with happiness and youth renewed.

So Mote it Be!

CHANT BY ALL

Earth my body
Water my blood
Air my breath
Fire my spirit.

(Repeat 3 times)

FRIEND

Did you know it was time to fly?
I didn´t want to say Goodbye.
e all know this is not the End,
Farewell for now, my dear, dear, Friend.

RESPONSE

Do not weep for me for I have not gone.
I am the wind that shakes the mighty Oak.
I am the gentle rain that falls upon your face.
I am the spring flower that pushes through the dark earth.
I am the chuckling laughter of the mountain stream.
Do not weep for me for I have not gone.

I am the memory that dwells in the heart of those that knew me.
I am the shadow that dances on the edge of your vision.
I am the wild goose that flies south at Autumns call and I shall return at Summer rising.
I am the stag on the wild hills way.
I am just around the corner.

Therefore, the wise weep not.
But rejoice at the transformation of my Being.

So Mote it Be!

ALL SAY

(As this is being said, petals to be sprinkled over the coffin.)

Celtic Devotional by Caitlin Matthews

You have been called from the place of your dwelling,
May blessed soul-friends guide you,
May helping spirits lead you,
May the Gatherer of Souls call you,
May the homeward path rise up under your feet
And lead you gladly home.

NORTH: Spirits of the North, Powers of the Earth. Thank you for the land that <NAME> walked upon, for the beauty in the plants and trees that gave him/her so much pleasure. Thank you for sustaining him/her.

Hail and Farewell!

WEST: Spirits of the West, Powers of Water.Thank you for quenching <NAME>´s thirst, inspiring and washing him/her.

Hail and Farewell!

SOUTH: Spirits of the South, Powers of Fire.Thank you for the warmth of the summers <NAME> enjoyed and for the warmth of his/her heart.

Hail and Farewell!

EAST: Spirits of the East, Powers of Air.Thank you for supporting <NAME> with every breath that he/she took, and may the last breath that he/she took in this life become the first that he took in the next.

Hail and Farewell!

SPEAKER

We will now leave the chapel and follow the hearse to the woodland burial site.

(At the burial site, children or other participants hold bowls of petals so that mourners can throw handfuls of petals on to coffin.)

As the coffin is lowered:

SPEAKER

Deep Peace of the Blazing Sun to You.
Deep Peace of the Radiant Moon to You.
Deep Peace of the Shining Stars to You.
Deep Peace of the Flowing Wind to You.
Deep Peace of the Running Wave to You.
Deep Peace of the Quiet Earth to You.
And the Blessing of the God and Goddess be with You and remain with You this today and forever.

Hail and Farewell!

A moment of silence for all to reflect and remember.