This holiday is huge in my neighborhood, and I was just asking someone about all the different things you’re supposed to put on your altar. I love this.
Thank you for sharing your loved ones with us. I loved seeing your altar and reading your process with it. I keep a toonie (a Canadian $2 coin) on my altar in remembrance of my late Great Grandma who used to give us a toonie and a fruit roll-up every time we visited when she was living. I've lost a few people since then, and this piece has inspired me to go print out some photos and breathe new life into my altar. Thank you!
This is beautiful, Allison. Late October is always difficult on my husband because this is when he lost his father. I think we have a new family tradition that will offer reverence, gratitude, and healing. Thank you! ❤️
Sending love and light to your family, Priscilla. I do think attending to our grief, talking about death and the departed often heals. And I find when I do it with my kids, they are so receptive to it. Thinking of your family - anniversaries are hard.
As I just shared in Notes, I loved this essay: You write so movingly about why she has introduced alongside Halloween for her family a new ritual of honoring the Day of the Dead, also known as the Dia de los Muertos.
I am inspired to do the same—and Dia de los Muertos will in fact be the custom of my new home when I make my move to Spain next year. Good to get some practice in now!
Allison, I particularly loved this: “The circle of life rings true. One life in physical form leaves and another is birthed. We lose love. We get love. We cry. We rejoice. Love and sorrow hold hands forever. They are companions, holding each other up in a continuous circle.”
Thanks, Amy. I love the idea of you stepping into this rich tradition in anticipation of your big move next year! I would love to see your altar when/if you decide to set one.
thank you, A, for your sensitivity and depth. traveling today to visit a friend, dear friend, our age-ish, handing her world over to hospice. appreciating your words greatly.
What an honoring, thoughtful tradition to start for your family. I’m often curious which of the many rituals and traditions I shared with my children they will carry into their own adult lives and families.
I love how you see the weaving of spiritual synchronicities in the past lives of your treasured loved ones and the new lives of your children. Beautiful.
I love this article Allison! I have been thinking about N alot lately and how he will soon leave the nest. It's weighing on me so I can imagine what it must feel like for you and B.
And tomorrow is All Souls Day. I submitted our dads' names and Joe's dad to my church. I will add Pat and Ava too. So take comfort in knowing St. John's is praying for all of them.
Thank you. My altar holds my best friend, my dad. His name is Jim/James and he died when I was 25. It also holds my best friend, my mom. Her name is Betty and she died 7 years ago. It also holds my grandpa, who I never met, Roy and my grandma, Bernice. And of course, momentos of every animal we've had of which there are many! Happy Dia de los Muertos Allison XO
What a beautiful altar, Allison. And I love this line so much: "I have found that when I let my grief get closer to me, it is life giving."
While I don’t have an altar, I keep little reminders around - including a bracelet that my grandmother wore. Keeping it near, I feel her presence and like to imagine she’s watching over me.
This holiday is huge in my neighborhood, and I was just asking someone about all the different things you’re supposed to put on your altar. I love this.
Yes, I’m learning more about it too. I especially like the idea of placing departed loved ones’ favorite foods on the altar. We might do that 🫶
Mounds bars were my dad's favorite
Brian said the same thing last night while picking through all the Halloween candy! Must go on the altar.
This was a beautiful read, Allison.
Thank you for sharing your loved ones with us. I loved seeing your altar and reading your process with it. I keep a toonie (a Canadian $2 coin) on my altar in remembrance of my late Great Grandma who used to give us a toonie and a fruit roll-up every time we visited when she was living. I've lost a few people since then, and this piece has inspired me to go print out some photos and breathe new life into my altar. Thank you!
Oh reading this made me miss my Nana (who was a proud Canadian!) Thanks for sharing a bit of your grandma with us here, Kaitlyn.
Breathe new life into your altar - I love that! 💕
This is beautiful, Allison. Late October is always difficult on my husband because this is when he lost his father. I think we have a new family tradition that will offer reverence, gratitude, and healing. Thank you! ❤️
Sending love and light to your family, Priscilla. I do think attending to our grief, talking about death and the departed often heals. And I find when I do it with my kids, they are so receptive to it. Thinking of your family - anniversaries are hard.
As I just shared in Notes, I loved this essay: You write so movingly about why she has introduced alongside Halloween for her family a new ritual of honoring the Day of the Dead, also known as the Dia de los Muertos.
I am inspired to do the same—and Dia de los Muertos will in fact be the custom of my new home when I make my move to Spain next year. Good to get some practice in now!
Allison, I particularly loved this: “The circle of life rings true. One life in physical form leaves and another is birthed. We lose love. We get love. We cry. We rejoice. Love and sorrow hold hands forever. They are companions, holding each other up in a continuous circle.”
Thanks, Amy. I love the idea of you stepping into this rich tradition in anticipation of your big move next year! I would love to see your altar when/if you decide to set one.
thank you, A, for your sensitivity and depth. traveling today to visit a friend, dear friend, our age-ish, handing her world over to hospice. appreciating your words greatly.
Oh Elena. I feel that deeply. What an honor to be by her side through and into that space. Your presence will blanket her, I’m sure. Sending love ❤️
What an honoring, thoughtful tradition to start for your family. I’m often curious which of the many rituals and traditions I shared with my children they will carry into their own adult lives and families.
I love how you see the weaving of spiritual synchronicities in the past lives of your treasured loved ones and the new lives of your children. Beautiful.
Thanks Rosemary. I bet your children hold many of your family’s traditions close to their hearts.
I do feel deep connections - spirits still linking with us here. So it feels right to honor that.
Holding deliberate intention in this season for the soul of my daughter, Amanda, who would have been 35 on Oct. 25th. Thank you for your writing. 😇
Thank you for sharing Amanda with us here, Tricia. May remembrance of her hold you this season. I’ll add her to our altar.
Thank you. With love. 🌱💞
I love this article Allison! I have been thinking about N alot lately and how he will soon leave the nest. It's weighing on me so I can imagine what it must feel like for you and B.
And tomorrow is All Souls Day. I submitted our dads' names and Joe's dad to my church. I will add Pat and Ava too. So take comfort in knowing St. John's is praying for all of them.
Thank you Sha. That means a lot. 🙏🏼love you.
♥️
You have Pat’s warmth, too cuz ❤️ xoxoxo
Thank you. My altar holds my best friend, my dad. His name is Jim/James and he died when I was 25. It also holds my best friend, my mom. Her name is Betty and she died 7 years ago. It also holds my grandpa, who I never met, Roy and my grandma, Bernice. And of course, momentos of every animal we've had of which there are many! Happy Dia de los Muertos Allison XO
What a beautiful altar, Allison. And I love this line so much: "I have found that when I let my grief get closer to me, it is life giving."
While I don’t have an altar, I keep little reminders around - including a bracelet that my grandmother wore. Keeping it near, I feel her presence and like to imagine she’s watching over me.