Ars Moriendi: The Art of Dying (part 3)

Every time I go to a funeral it becomes painfully evident of how spiritually disconnected people are. People dispose of their dead in an atmosphere designed to slur over the solemn fact that once brought man into the presence of his God. It's tragic, our Godless culture. Aside from Love, Fear of God and the promise of eternal life or damnation has inspired the greatest works of Art/Music/Poetry throughout the ages!

No one does Death like Roman Catholics! Not since the Egyptians anyway! My Nana was 100% Italian and I went to a Catholic school...I was baptized Catholic, and as far as my Spiritual Quest has taken me off the beaten path...I will die Catholic, just in case! Haha! But seriously, I would like my funeral to be in a Catholic Church. The ceremony is a must for any Sensualist...bells ringing, the sound of choir, the scent of burning candles and frankincense and myhrr hanging in air, gilded gold ornamentation, larger than life sized statues of saints and angels, the Madonna and a bloody Christ! Visitors should reflect in dress the solemnity of the occasion...fancy mourning attire required...and weeping...oh yes, bottle those tears and bury me with them! Haaa! See how fun dying can be? My funeral should be followed by a "green" burial conducted by a WiseWoman (representitive of the Feminine Divine). And then followed by excessive feasting and drinking and laughing...



I don't think the Catholic church will support a formal canonization because I am a heretic! Haaa! (Although it would if the church was left to Mary Magdelene instead of Paul!) Never the less, I think my heart is worthy of preservation! I would like my heart cut out, placed in a lovely reliquary, and presented to my family. I'm thinking the next Witch in the family would cherish it. Julia DeVille of Disce Mori let me have a sneek peek at her newest creations recently. (I'll do a post when she updates her site) As most of you know she has a line of gorgeous gothic couture Mourning Jewelry and Art Objects. She has added these exquisite Reliquaries to her collection...to hold Creamation ashes...or the Heart of a dead Lady Lavona! As you can see, they can be personalized via engraving. So yes, I want one!



Many of you might already have plans to donate your organs to Science. If laws would permit, I'd donate my skull or something to art! I'd have to know the artist before my death and approve of the project! I've always been fascinated by the bone ossuaries and bone relics of saints!



Entire skulls or bone fragments of martyrs came to be honored as powerful supernatural objects. These devotional objects were understood to direct the prayers of the faithful to that saint in heaven for their intercession. Sometimes the actual bones are not displayed, but housed in figural sculptures or busts to represent the saints like the ones below.



I've also heard of people requesting their skulls to be donated to the prop department of their favorite Theatre or Opera House! To be used in productions of Shakespeare's Hamlet perhaps? That's a lovely idea too! If you're not familiar with Hamlet...there is a scene in which Yorick, a deceased court jester from Hamlet's childhood, whose skull is exhumed by a gravedigger. The sight of the skull envokes a monologue from Prince Hamlet on the effects of death.



This theme of Memento Mori ('Remember you shall die') is common in 16th and 17th century painting, appearing in art throughout Europe. Images of Mary Magdalene regularly showed her contemplating with her book and a skull.



This also brings to mind the magical works of John W. Waterhouse, his painting titled "The Crystal Ball" in particular. Again, a woman contemplates her Destiny with her Crystal Ball, and like the paintings of Mary Magdalene, a book and a skull is featured in the background.



Countless artworks of wizards, alchemists, sorcerers and so forth feature the quintessential, archetypical skull, usually resting on a book with a single candle burning atop it. The human skull is probably most archaic of oracles...I would like my descendants to have my skull so they can consult it as an oracle. Although I realize one doesn't need a skull to obtain ancestral guidance...it does provide a direct link. For example, if my great great granddaughter wants to know if the man she loves is worthy of her affections...I can offer guidance from beyond the grave! I wish I had my grandmother's skull to consult!