topic Re: The bird's eye. in Community Spirit

The bird's eye.

ecar3483 — Thu, 24 Sep 2015 11:16:36 GMT

A part of the ritual for the dead is the scattering of glass marbles on the grave.

Sometimes I'll find a marble that is perfect for making into a pendant, and I'll keep it aside to make a bird's eye.

Re: The bird's eye.

imastawka — Thu, 24 Sep 2015 11:21:19 GMT

Nice work ecar.

But this ritual for the dead involving glass marbles -

Whose ritual exactly?

Re: The bird's eye.

ecar3483 — Thu, 24 Sep 2015 12:09:44 GMT

It's a ritual I perform for, mostly, cockatoos. I do lose the occasional goldfish, and once in a while other birds such as galahs, and they are subject to the same burial ritual; here is a hole in the ground into which you are gently laid, then as the earth is placed over you I talk to you, recalling events from the time when our lives overlapped. Once this is done then marbles are placed on the grave.

It's all very simple, dignified, like a conversation with an old friend. Sometimes a tear is shed, sometimes not. Sometimes I will sing to them, sometimes not.

If a cockatoo dies in the garden then I leave it for half the day so that the other cockatoos can see that it is gone, and they can mourn it according to their custom. In the second half of the day the deceased becomes my responsibility, and is treated according to my custom; burial, and the brief ritual of the dead.

I take it as a great honour when the birds die in the garden - they have chosen not to be with their people, but to be with me, when the end came.

But by now I've probably said too much and you're shaking your head and saying "This guy really is weird...".

Re: The bird's eye.

imastawka — Thu, 24 Sep 2015 12:13:16 GMT

Not at all. I think it is a lovely ritual

Re: The bird's eye.

ecar3483 — Thu, 24 Sep 2015 12:42:21 GMT

I treat the old cockatoos as friends, as welcome guests.

They're the ones who are sneaked extra treats when the other birds aren't looking.

They are special, and they are treated so.

They represent the past and the present, in one. All that which has made this place possible has come through them.

It would not be right to treat them with anything but the respect which they are, naturally, due.

Re: The bird's eye.

amber-eyed-girl — Thu, 24 Sep 2015 16:39:43 GMT

Birds for you. They are special.

in a pair

and all in a row

Re: The bird's eye.

ecar3483 — Fri, 25 Sep 2015 01:35:53 GMT

Wow! and then Wow! and then Wow! again.

They are fantastic.

Thank you, Amber

Re: The bird's eye.

moonflyte — Sat, 26 Sep 2015 07:01:24 GMT

@ecar3483 wrote:
It's a ritual I perform for, mostly, cockatoos. I do lose the occasional goldfish, and once in a while other birds such as galahs, and they are subject to the same burial ritual; here is a hole in the ground into which you are gently laid, then as the earth is placed over you I talk to you, recalling events from the time when our lives overlapped. Once this is done then marbles are placed on the grave.
It's all very simple, dignified, like a conversation with an old friend. Sometimes a tear is shed, sometimes not. Sometimes I will sing to them, sometimes not.
If a cockatoo dies in the garden then I leave it for half the day so that the other cockatoos can see that it is gone, and they can mourn it according to their custom. In the second half of the day the deceased becomes my responsibility, and is treated according to my custom; burial, and the brief ritual of the dead.
I take it as a great honour when the birds die in the garden - they have chosen not to be with their people, but to be with me, when the end came.

But by now I've probably said too much and you're shaking your head and saying "This guy really is weird...".

Not al all in fact I think I love you and your rituals.

Re: The bird's eye.

lloydslights — Sat, 26 Sep 2015 08:44:17 GMT

Ecar, is it sort of a sanctuary that you have there, for abandoned, diseased or injured birds and or other animals?

I rather like the sound of your respectful ritual.

DEB

Re: The bird's eye.

ecar3483 — Sat, 26 Sep 2015 09:16:44 GMT

No, it's a suburban back yard.They come because they come, they stay because find the company agreeable.

It's a good ritual, it's a good way to say goodbye to a friend.

Re: The bird's eye.

ecar3483 — Sat, 26 Sep 2015 14:31:44 GMT

It's much the same with the possum. She turned up one day, decided she liked the place and stayed on.

I don't mind the company, neither does she.

Re: The bird's eye.

moonflyte — Sat, 26 Sep 2015 23:58:43 GMT

@ecar3483 wrote:
It's much the same with the possum. She turned up one day, decided she liked the place and stayed on.
I don't mind the company, neither does she.

Possums are cute but not when they take up residence in your ceiling and pee everywhere, it can't be removed.

Re: The bird's eye.

ecar3483 — Sun, 27 Sep 2015 04:53:51 GMT

I used to live in a house with possums in the roof, that's why I make roomy, comfortable, sturdy and attractive possum boxes.

Playing on top of the roof is fine, playing inside the roof is not.