Is a funeral for the mourners or the deceased? My opinion is that it's for the deceased. With or without historical evidence of our ancestors believing the same, that's just what I believe. In my mind I have perfectly logical reasons that satisfy my questions on the matter. What ticked me off with some folks arguing the oposite opinion on this matter (on an ADF list recently) was that some of them wrote as if everyone does and should believe that funerals are for the mourners. If that is someone's opinion, I have no problem with it, but if they act as if a different opinion is wrong, it pisses me off. Now, to be fair, this arguement did occur on an email list - wich means that he may not have meant it to come off that way. The only reason I bring it up in my blog is that I'm stubborn. :-P

   The other reason I brought this  up in my blog is to expand on the idea that funerals are for the deceased. I have mixed beliefs on the afterlife. I believe that when I die, I will go with the boatman across the river styx, just like in the Roman beliefs, but I also believe that the afterlife will just be a temporary resting place and that I will then re-incarnate. I also believe that I will need help finding my way to the river in the first place, and that is what a funeral is for. For my friends and loved ones to help me find my way.

   In other news, I finally found a suitable representation of the sacred tree for my alter, or in this case since I'm in the Roman hearth culture, a pillar/doorway. You can view a picture of it, and pictures of my indoor alter, at http://www.geocities.com/doyen_working/adfaltar.html I was looking for something that I could bring into the bathroom with me, since I meditate/pray in the shower. The candle on the countertop is the fire, the water in the shower is the "well" or mundus. What I found while getting cat food last week was in the fish section - ancient-looking Greek/Roman columns for fish tank decorations. That means that it's water proof. So I found one with two columns, and it had piece at the top that connected it so it looks kind of like a doorway at the same time. Now I need statues of my patrons - Apollo, Minerva, and I think I would like one of Brigid too, though she's not Roman I think she would get along all right with the others.