Prev: I've never gotten over losing you
Next: A Meeting at the Bridge (from www.petloss.com/)
From: Noon Cat Nick on 6 Apr 2008 19:26
The Candle Ceremony began on the Prodigy Service, the Dogs Bulletin
Board, All pets to Heaven subject.

By coincidence...or fate, a small group of newcomers was drawn to that
board during the first months of 1993 to share their grief and fear, and
to offer comfort and advice to one another.

Lisa Singer, one of that group, said she lit candles on Monday nights
for the "Bridge Babies," and offered to add the names of our pets to her
list. Others said they'd like to light candles at the same time. A time
was set, a format and non-sectarian prayer were written, and the first
Bridge List went up on March 15, 1993.

By the start of Spring, the Candle Ceremony had spread to other online
services. In just two weeks, the candle memorial was international.
Notes came in from as far away as Japan! The continuing legacy of our
pets' unconditional love had united people worldwide. It was a miracle.

The light of the candles still attracts others, the newly bereaved or
those remembering beloved pets of long ago. They come to place the names
of their furchildren, and many stay, healing themselves as they comfort
others. Others return to the board from time to time with stories and
memories of happier times with their pets, and remark how much the
Candle Ceremony eased their grieving process.

When a human loved one dies a prescribed ritual provides a cushion
between the loss and the return to "normal" life. When the loved one is
a furbeing society provides no means of closure. For many of us the
Candle Ceremony has brought peace, acceptance and the hope of eternal
reunion someday in that place "just this side of Heaven" we call Rainbow
Bridge.

� Marion Hale, _Best Friends_ Magazine

* * * * * * * * *

On Monday evenings all across the globe we light candles in memory of
our pets. It is a very healing ritual with no adherence to any religion
or creed, just a simple lighting of candles to bring us all together.
While there is an on-line Ceremony in our Chat Room every Monday, the
Candle Ceremony does not have to be done on-line. Each of us can light
our candles in our own way, and privately, but since we share a common
love and since most of us do light them at the same time, we are joined
in love and in spirit.

The candle ceremony may be found on http://www.petloss.com/

Candle lighting times are...

In USA: 10 PM Eastern
9 PM Central
8 PM Mountain
7 PM Pacific
6 PM Alaska
5 PM Hawaii

In Europe:
Central Europe - 10:00 PM GMT
UK - 9:00 PM GMT

Australia (West Coast) 6 PM
Australia (East Coast) 8 PM
New Zealand 9 PM

petloss.com also has online lists of the pets we honor in the Monday
Candle Ceremony:
The Bridgelist for those pets who have passed on to the Rainbow bridge
and the Special Needs list for those pets who are ill or have special
physical needs.

You are invited to add your pets to these lists.

In addition to the Bridgelist, you may also request that your special
thoughts about your beloved pet be included in a Tribute.

* * * * * * * * *

THE MONDAY CANDLE CEREMONY
WE GATHER TOGETHER TO HONOR AND REMEMBER OUR PETS

Tonight, Monday, we join hands, hearts and souls across the land as one
large extended family to pray for our sick and dying pets and to pay
tribute to our furbabies who have gone ahead to Rainbow Bridge.

Someday, we will meet them again, with hugs, tears and kisses, as we
walk together, in eternity, to our new home.

Until that blessed day, we honor these precious souls and remember them
with the warm glow of flickering candles, sending a message of love,
light and healing, and the faith to believe in miracles.

PRAYER: God, Creator of all living things, we ask that as we light our
candles, the healing warmth of love will flow into the brokenhearted who
are tending their ailing pets.

Give to them Your strength and comfort.

We also pray that the soft glow of light will part the clouds of grief
and sorrow to surround our furbabies at the Bridge.

May excitement REIGN SUPREME as wagging tails, ecstatic purrs and
flapping feathers feel our gentle touch once again.

May they know the gratitude we hold in our hearts for their faithfulness
and gift of unconditional love as they are forever remembered.

We are temporarily separated for only a short while.

The silver cord that connects us through time and space can never be broken.

AMEN.

CANDLE 1: PERSONAL FURBABY. Anything you wish to say.

I will not look back for there is sorrow.

I will not look for today for there is longing.

I will look forward for there is OUR tomorrow.

CANDLE 2: FURBABIES OF FRIENDS AND FAMILY

Read the names of those who are ill or have gone on before us as a
tribute to them and their loving parents.

As we all meet here, our Bridgekids will be meeting all newcomers,
easing their way.

CANDLE 3: FOR ACKNOWLEDGMENT AND PEACE

In honor of all the homeless, forgotten, abandoned, abused animals.

For the nameless furchildren who gave their lives for others, for
research and as a result of humankind's inhumanity.

May the Higher Powers that be forgive the cruelty.

We light this candle for them.

As our lights shine brightly through the galaxy, may the angels smile
upon us, and know that for a brief moment, we have put aside worldly
differences to bond as ONE.

CLOSING:
I have sent you on a journey to a land free from pain, not because I did
not love you, but because I loved you too much to force you to stay.

MOMENT OF SILENCE.

"Blessed are they that mourn, for they will be comforted."

Love, light and healing to all. Amen.

The candles being lit tonight
Cast a soft and welcome flame,
And draw our loved ones to the light,
As we call to them by name.
Imagine spirits taking flight;
For a moment our souls entwine.
Say not Good Night, but in some
Brighter Time
Bid them all -
Good Morning.
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Next: A Meeting at the Bridge (from www.petloss.com/)