I worked at a shelter and one night an indigenous man had a heart attack. An elder came in later that day, lit some sage and smudged the place. At one point she stopped, and ushered something unseen out the back door.
The guy wasn’t dead. He was stabilized at the hospital. He returned to the shelter that night.
I generally enjoy and appreciate these rituals for bringing the community together and collectively processing grief and reminding us we are all important to each other. I am even giving her the benefit that she maybe performed this extra bit only to bring peace to those experiencing loss. But, oof. I needed a post-cringe shower after that.
I worked at a shelter and one night an indigenous man had a heart attack. An elder came in later that day, lit some sage and smudged the place. At one point she stopped, and ushered something unseen out the back door.
The guy wasn’t dead. He was stabilized at the hospital. He returned to the shelter that night.
I generally enjoy and appreciate these rituals for bringing the community together and collectively processing grief and reminding us we are all important to each other. I am even giving her the benefit that she maybe performed this extra bit only to bring peace to those experiencing loss. But, oof. I needed a post-cringe shower after that.