In her last week, Insa realised that she had little time left. She made certain decisions. One was that she wished for her funeral ceremony to take place outdoors. Another was that she wished it to be conducted by Caer Clud. We were honoured to be asked to do this for her.
The funeral took place at Clydebank Crematorium. More than 100 people came to say farewell to Insa.
We began in the building, her coffin being laid on the pedestal along with floral arrangements. We then moved outside, crossing a small bridge to a large, tree-surrounded clearing where we formed a wide circle. Potia, taking the part of the Herald, was at the circle’s centre. Four of us calling the directions stood slightly within the circle.
The day had been overcast, but as Insa’s hearse arrived at the crematorium the Sun came out, brilliantly bright. It remained like this throughout the ceremony, the clouds only returning once the rites were done and we were on our way to the West Highway Hotel. We all felt that the Sun had come out for Insa.
Below is the ceremony we held for Insa under that hot Sun. At the end, back in the crematorium, the curtains drew across, hiding Insa’s coffin from view—and the Eurythmics’ There Must Be An Angel (Playing With My Heart) began to play; many felt close to laughing at this, a ‘very Insa’ moment.
Herald: On behalf of Stewart and his and Insa's family I would like to welcome you all here today and thank you for coming. Insa requested that as much as possible of her parting ceremony be done outside that is where she felt her spirit would be. In respect of her wishes would you all please gather outside in a circle and the ceremony will begin.
All form a circle outside.
Herald: Let us begin by giving peace.
North: May there be peace in the North.
East: May there be peace in the East.
South: May there be peace in the South.
West: May there be peace in the West.
All: May there be peace throughout the world.
Herald: Let the four directions be honoured that power and radiance may enter our circle for the good of beings.
North: With the blessing of the Great Bear of the starry heavens and the deep fruitful earth, we call upon powers of the North.
East: With the blessing of the Hawk of Dawn soaring in the pure clear air, we call upon the powers of the East.
South: With the blessing of the Great Stag in the heat of the chase and the inner fire of the sun, we call on the powers of the South.
West: With the blessing of the Salmon of Wisdom who dwells within the sacred waters of the pool, we I upon the powers of the West.
North: Let honour be given to the Spirit that brings us here today.
East: Let honour be given to our ancestors without whom we would not be standing here.
South: Let honour be given to the Spirit of this Place. May we all be richer for having, come here.
Herald: Insa fought courageously against an overwhelming cancer — I now ask Rowena to speak to us.
Reader: Rowena
Cancer's a queer fish:
anaemic amoeba endlessly mutating;
puffer-fish growths bloated with poison;
or shoals of cells
that prowl like piranhas
stripping my health in their feeding frenzy.
But I can attack back,
Till I'm the dolphin swimming free
from this sea
of sickness.
I'll trawl my system,
catching cancers and fears,
netting them to wriggle and squirm:
powerless
I'm the dolphin swimming free.
Modern medicine may have me filleted,
canned and processed,
pumped full of additives —
but the rest is up to me...
I'm the dolphin swimming free.
Dread might dorsal my spine,
tears flood my face with brine
but I... CAN... DO... THIS...
I am the dolphin swimming free.
Herald: Grant unto us, I ask, the power of the spirit to bring brilliance of the eternal splendour to one who as now entered the invisible. Wherever she may be, and on whatever plane, she may now pursue her ideal, let her be blessed with a divine rest and an utter cessation from strife.
We stand at a gateway now, a gateway that each of us must step through at some time in our lives. Insa as stepped through this gateway already. Her soul is immersed in the shining light that is the mother an father of us all. The sadness and pain that we feet now is in our knowledge and our experience of the fact hat we ourselves cannot yet cross that threshold to be with her until our time has come.
Insa loved life — all aspects of it — especially her work. It combined her love of books with her love of people. I will now ask Eleanor, Grainne & Natasha to speak to us.
Speaker: Eleanor
(Eleanor spoke of Insa’s individuality, her enthusiasm and zest for life)
Reader: Grainne
If I should go before you,
Break not a flower nor inscribe a stone,
Nor when I’m gone speak in a Sunday voice,
But be the usual selves I have known,
Weep if you must,
Parting is hell,
But life goes on,
So sing as well.
Reader: Natasha
Death is nothing at all,
I have only slipped away into the next room,
I am I and you are you;
Whatever we were to each other, That we still are.
Call me by my old familiar name,
Speak to me in the easy way which you always used,
Put no difference in your tone,
Wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrow.
Laugh as we always laughed at the little jokes we shared together.
Let my name ever be the household word that it always was.
Let it be spoken without effect, without the trace of a shadow on it.
Life means all that it ever meant,
It is the same as it ever was, there is unbroken continuity.
Why should I be out of mind because I am out of sight?
I am waiting for you, for an interval, somewhere very near, just around the corner.
All is well.
Herald: Physical death is for the person experiencing it a birth, a freeing of the self from the limitations of the body so that the soul can grow and learn and move in a brighter world. Insa is in this brighter world and it is time for us to give thanks for her time on earth, for the joy, laughter, love and wisdom which she experienced and which she gave.
Insa will be most missed by Stewart and her family — I would like to ask them now to talk to us.
Stewart spoke movingly of Insa, of how she touched all who came in contact with her. He then read the following poem by Insa:
I am on the wing of the falcon,
I am in the rustling of the leaves,
I am in the crackling of the fire,
I am in the rays of the sun,
I am in the whispering of the streamlet,
I am in the splashing of the sea,
I am in the hum of the stones,
I am in the heartbeat of Gaia,
I am in the air,
I am in the fire,
I am in the water,
I am in the earth,
I am spirit,
I am,
Watch and listen.
Herald: Let us have a moment of silence in which we each, in our own way, give thanks to Insa for all at she gave us.
Herald: Let us join hands and say together the prayer which unites all.
All:
We swear by peace and love to stand
Heart to heart and hand in hand.
Mark, 0 Spirit, and hear us now
Confirming this our sacred vow.
Herald: Let us join together singing Awens. The word Awen means “flowing spirit” or “inspiration” and Insa was, is, and will be an inspiration to many.
All: Awen… Awen… Awen…
North: Let all be thanked and honour given to those who have made this gathering possible.
East: Let us carry the Spirit of our Ancestors out with us and continue to give them honour.
South: Let thanks be given to the Spirit of this Place.
North: May the lands of Earth, her forests, rivers, seas and all creatures upon her be preserved and protected.
East: May the World be filled with Peace and Light
South: May the World be filled with Radiance, Joy and Harmony.
West: May Love pervade all those who seek to serve. May our souls be united thereby.
Herald: In silence now as we move back inside we send Insa our own blessings for a safe and joyous life in the Other World -filled with peace and clarity and love.
All return to the crematorium for the final stage.
Herald: As the Sun rises in the East and sets in the West, so too are each of us born and so too do each of us die. But as the Sun returns anew each day, so too do we return to Earth, refreshed and renewed. Now, Insa, go safely, go well, go surely. Our hearts are with you. And you remain in our hearts.