Chloe
(Dec. 1, 1999–Jan. 3, 2014)
Since the passing of our beloved Chloe, I have visited her grave every morning, after first selecting the perfect small stone for the day. This I place on one of the rocks that serve as her headstone, greeting Chloe as I do and telling her I miss her or sharing whatever I am moved to say to her at that moment. It is a comforting ritual that I have practiced with other departed ones. For me, the comfort of placing the stone comes partly from my connection to the Stone People, as nurtured by Native American sweat lodge teachings, and partly, I think, from the archetypal power of the ritual to offer comfort, as it has long done in the Jewish tradition and now it seems is doing so for non-Jews as well (U.S. cemeteries report a growing trend of visitors leaving stones on graves regardless of religious affiliation).
Why leave a stone? Explanations for the ritual vary: The stone signals that someone remembers the one who died. The stone tells us that love lasts forever, like stone. It symbolizes the eternal nature of divine love, which sustains and blesses both the mourner and the soul of the departed one. It symbolizes the building of a monument to the deceased. I like to think of the stone as representing the soul-to-soul connection between the departed one and the one who places the stone.
Stephanie and Chloe (photo by Karen Lester)
Chloe, you are dearly remembered and I feel your glowing queenly soul touching mine. Thank you for gracing us with your presence. Love from Stephanie and the flock.
© 2014, by Stephanie Marohn, All rights reserved
