Isaac's Public Memorial

[sabrinamari]

Last night I supported mage_imbroglio in helping prepare for Isaac's public memorial. Many others were more helpful than I: ludditeauthor was indispensable, as were siha_chan and padmaclynne. Looking around, I noticed people from many communities working together to make sure that Phaedra had the support that she needed while everything was made ready.

The memorial was well attended, with perhaps 125+ people present. I didn't count, but the room was full.

Phaedra asked mage_imbroglio to read this remarkable poem, written for Isaac just before his death:



The Magician is Dying

The pulse slows, the eyes dim. The ancestors gather
To take him into their arms and take him back
For a nice long rest. If we incur time off between incarnations --
Time to walk the Elysian Fields and just rest --
Based on our efforts and the good we do
Then he shall be gone a while.

But he won't be. I met him once. He was
A white-silver flame, woven jokes and wisdom,
Gracious, well-spoken, and smiling gently
As I stammered some tumbled greeting.
This man had tilled the field
That I worked a small corner of. The soil that I planted
Had first seen the light of a new sun
Because of him, and others.
But he won't be long. You can't keep a good mage down, so to speak,
And Elysium, while lovely,
Holds few intellectual challenges.

It seemed he had little patience for fools. And I concur.
He was a proud member of a fraternity of voices
Who spoke their truth, sans varnish.
Unfettered voices are blessings; the only way
That our tribe will not follow the same path
So many other faiths have stumbled down
Is if we call our shadows shadows. So mote it be.
The Magician Names, and in Naming he creates.
And in creation gives to us a light.

The magician is dying. But in his words,
I found a gem of truth.
We are all magicians. The magician
Shall never die as long as we remember.
There will be tears. He will be mourned, and missed, his name
Called out into the Samhain darkness.

But he can never truly die, as long
As other mages walk the verdant breast
Of Mother Earth. Go in peace, magician.
Because we all are promised
That we shall meet again in other lives,
And in that mercy I shall not fear death.
I hope, my teacher, to see you again.

Dagonet Dewr
8/15/10



Watching my community mourn evoked a tremendous range of feelings and images for me. It was a wistful combination of sorrow and pleasure. Most of all, I felt proud to be part of such a deliciously vibrant, loving community.

Afterwards, Phaedra graciously opened her home to anyone who wanted to come and visit. crytolos ran out and bought munchies and drinks for everyone, and I am sure others also contributed. Many people came together to remember Isaac and talk about him and all the things they loved about life.

Later in the evening, I found myself among a small group of folks talking about "True Blood," vampire novels and the deeper currents beneath them. We also geeked extensively about the Buffy/Angel TV series and some new-to-me shows I had never directly encountered. It gave me intense pleasure, and I learned a great deal from everyone in it (V., J., crytolos, Michael and M.).

On the whole, it was beautiful.