Familiar Farewell: A Pet Memorial Ceremony
For many Satanists, our familiars are family. They share in our joy, comfort us without words, and are companions on our journey. Losing a familiar, like losing any other family member, can be a devastating blow. When I first started sharing my rituals, a number of people asked if I had any recommendations for pet funerals or memorials. While you can adapt any of the existing mourning rituals to focus on the loss of a pet, I decided to create a special ceremony to memorialize our departed familiars. You can perform this ritual alone or with others who loved your familiar.
This ritual is an excerpt from my book, The Devil’s Death: Your Satanic Companion for Grief and Dying
TOOLS:
Your familiar’s toys and cherished objects
Book of Death and Discovery
Photos of your familiar
Familiar Farewell incense or candles
A music player and playlist
SACRED SPACE: Your Altar in Memoriam
PREPARATION: Create a playlist that will facilitate your grieving process and place your candles, incense, and Book of Death and Discovery at the space
you plan to create your altar.
RITUAL: As you begin the ritual, gather next to your soon-to-be altar. Say “I love and honor (insert your pet’s name) and today you are with me once again.”
Start your playlist.
Visit your familiar’s favorite places—this could be spaces within your home, places around your neighborhood, or favorite spots that are further away. As you revisit these places, fill your mind with memories of your familiar. Imagine them as they were and the good times you shared together. Allow emotions to rise and give yourself space to express them. As you are on this journey, collect items that remind you of them. This could be their trinkets or toys, favorite treats, their cherished objects, or items in nature that hold their memory. Let this process take as long as you need.
When you have finished your journey, bring the items you collected to your Altar in Memoriam and light your Familiar Farewell candles/incense. Say, “I love and honor (insert your pet’s name), and today I build a monument to your memory.”
Arrange your photos, trinkets, and the cherished objects you collected on your altar. Once you have finished arranging your altar, record memories of your departed companion in your Book of Death and Discovery, including those that rose on your journey today. Once you are finished, observe your altar once more, experiencing all the memories and emotions that rise within you.
When you are ready, say,
“I love and honor (insert your pet’s name), and you are with me always.”
Extinguish your incense/candle.
……….
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