Does anyone know of any rituals I can do to honor the dead?

Live your life to the fullest and enjoy the time you have on this earth

that is the greatest honor you can give the dead, especially your parents if they are no longer alive

join them?

LOL just kidding

pray

sacrifice a small pig

I hit a deer and I am not able to use what it left behind in it's passing. It's life will have been meaningless and the bounty it offers will go to waste. I feel a need to pay homage to it's spirit, it's the least I could do.

A deer? Well my friend the coyotes, racoons, ravens, birds of prey will all be fed by your munificent act. All carrion eaters will celebrate you and speak well of you in the fields and forests. You will be known as the great provider by many animals.

You are incorrect.

It's bounty will not be wasted.

It will return to the Earth and it will be given to the things that dwell within the Earth and that groweth upon the Earth.

Know now man that nothing is a straight line and ye are not essential to the Earth.


If you believe killing the animal with your car was somehow interfereing in the intended pattern of nature... then replace what you took.


You can dig can't you?
Plant a tree then if it makes you feel better.

The Earth has gained twice then.

:)

I forget about all the other lifeforms that would benefit from this, from the lowly insects and bacteria to the magnificent birds and beasts that roam the earth, how selfish of me.

Thanks so much for your insight. <3
Much appreciated, many more thanks, and endless love to you.
I will still venerate the dead.

Sit in silence and offer it peace. You'll know when to get up - you'll feel the closure.

Placing an offering bowl, of a favorite food, drink, or some flowers, (or some of each) on the grave site or altar (along with a photograph or statue of the person, animal or god, is the correct way to honor the dead. On the departure of a loved one I read a passage in the Book of the Dead that is about helping the dead loved ones in passing over. It may be found in the book of Respirations, I'm fairly certain. If your geared more towards Buddhism, you could look up specific rituals for that. I am sure it's not so much what you Do, as much as, your love or devotion for that person, or animal, or deity that matters.

Oh, I see you hit a deer, sorry I didn't see that sooner in the thread. Often a simple prayer, lifted towards the heaven's is sufficient, a wish to bring it home, to his own kind.
"May you return to your own kind. May your soul depart in peace."
Do not blame yourself.

Yes, there's this ritual people partake in called a funeral...

Anything Spanish will do.

Mexico.

Spain.

Just pick spanish capitols and honnor them all!

Oh and don't forget Barios!

Yes we honor the dead now.

wish us well!!!

Thank you for your kind words.

I hit a deer today, after acknowledging one passing deer, I had failed to spot the other that jumped in front of my car. I was instantly put into a state of near shock and I am still shaken by this. Despite slamming on the breaks, the collision ended up killing the poor thing.

In some ways I feel that the car and myself represents our violent and overbearing society while the deer represents the innocent and peaceful spirit of nature that we encroach upon. I sat there stunned; in shock and in awe. I stood before a bounty of beast.... this gift of Gaia, but not as a hunter or a gatherer, no. I stood before the vestige of this creature as a destroyer.. a ruiner of nature.

I had hit and killed a deer and this left me mortified. What made it worse was the thought that I was not able to use what it left behind in its passing. Many ancient cultures understood the importance of these animals and utilized every part of them with little to no waste. I was scared that this meant its life will have been meaningless and the bounty it offers will go to waste.

I felt a need to pay homage to its spirit, its the least I could do. I couldn't do anything for the poor thing when it was alive, but like many cultures throughout history, I believe I can offer prayers and libations to venerate the dead.

I read about ancestor worship in order to find peace as I sought the advice of strangers on how to properly honor the dead. As I read about the beautiful ways people pay reverence to the deceased, my heart started to lighten.

I decided to offer a simple prayer for Cernunnos to help the deer's spirit return to it's own kind, an offering of fruit to appease deer's spirit, and the burning of a candle to help light its way home.

I read about the symbolism and importance behind the deer from many cultures around the world in order to better understand the profound effects that these animals have had on ancient religion and social beliefs.

I found out that these creatures universally embody the same traits world wide which most notably is their representation of renewal, symbolized by the molting of their antlers and the ensuing regrowth thereof and their prevalence around the world.

Deer are considered as the incarnate of peace, grace, and innocence in many parts of the world, but there are also a few cultures that see the deer as spiritual guides and beasts of great strength and nobility. Their antlers were often considered conduits for God.

Some cultures believe that Cernunnos comforts the dead by singing songs as the spirits travel towards their destinations.
He wears antlers from a stag, which are directly associated with Cernunnos. The stags also embody Mabon, a Pagan celebration that focuses on the balance of day and night, the second harvest before winter, and the start of the hunting season.

Cernunnos embodies the passing of seasons. His prominent trait of renewal is actually an analogy for the astrological events.
In Autumn the world starts to slowly fall dormant and lifeless, only to awaken in full bloom come spring.

The death and rebirth of nature theme represents the Autumnal and Spring equinoxes which were often celebrated in ancient times in civilizations throughout the world.




"Hoof and horn, hoof and horn
All that dies shall be reborn
Corn and grain, corn and grain
All that falls shall rise again"

- Hoof and Horn

join them

AKAL

your honor matters more than any ritual, just make it up and say what you need to say

I came very close to hitting a magnificent buck last night myself...fortunately it did not end badly though...
I took out a couple raccoons while driving, a few months back though..it does kind of suck, I felt a bit guilty afterwards. Not much you can do in those situations...

living

THIS

Sounds like you have gathered enough information on the deer spirit for a foundation from which to choose what feels most appropriate. Light a candle in a quiet place and make peace with yourself and the spirit of the animal.

I was sitting here slowly absorbing the words found here. I closed my eyes and envisioned the deer's spirit in full majesty and I cried hard as I apologized for my transgressions against it.

In the silence that followed, with eyes still moist with tears, I tried to imagine what that deer's life consisted of up until the point of our crossing of paths.



Deer

Nature's swift bounty,
Dance amongst the Autumn leaves,
Drifts to become free.

Fallen leaves turn brown,
Returning to the ash tree,
Bundled within mounds.

????? WHY There is no death. passing of bodies yes, but no death, not even of the animals. If you mean a best friend animal, just honor the life shared with you.

Then just do that OP mentally. Its life continues, it will be a deer again, it will build a new body. Only its body is dead, not its spirit. If this was an accident, forgive yourself. It is your pain you are looking at. I take it, it too late to see if any meat processor could take its body.

I've heard it said that "Rum is the drink the dead like best." I've also heard in other cultures that mead is giving. It seems that alcohol is a running theme, so what would be a native alcohol in your area?

first world problems...sheesh

Respect them as beings, care for what they need to survive, admire their beauty.