I did follow that voice and resigned immediately and felt so elated afterwards.

It was only 2 days later I received the call about Dad, and I knew he was dying this time. 

There were numerous occasions in the past years where he survived when we thought he was at the end.

This meant calling work and taking bereavement leave! As it turned out, once that decision was made I did not have to go back. It was done! 

 

I did make it down to Melbourne in time to spend a few days with Dad before he passed.

I took a lot of essential oils down with me which came in very handy indeed. More about those to follow.

 

I was surprised to find out , that of all the oils I had, lavender kept calling to me. She really smoothed out the rough edges and helped me be present with the whole  experience.

 

When I was alone with Dad I massaged my relieve tension and stress lotion into his hands, feet and neck and shoulders.

I was surprised to hear his breathing become a deep letting go sigh. He had not been responsive or awake since I arrived, and stayed that way until his passing.

His sigh showed me he liked the relaxing lotion, and that he was experiencing some tension despite all the medications being pumped into him.

 

Mum was coping as best she could and allowed the tears to fall. However by the fourth day she was struggling and I made her a roll on blend with Rose for the heart, Melissa for anxiety and lavender to smooth the way.

She responded within a minute of putting it on and looked at me in bewilderment, and asked, what’s in this? It really helps. She had visibly taken a breath and calmed right down before my eyes. She told me the next day she put it on her hands so she could smell it as she went to sleep and she drifted off. When she told me that was the best thing I could have done for her I was so happy.

 

That same day I drove to my favourite essential oil supplier in Melbourne and low and behold, another dead bird was just to the right of the car where I parked. Ok, I said to the ethers, enough with the dead birds already! I don’t need anymore signs.

 

It was now Day 5 and Dad was hanging in there. I had a sudden urge to take the Melissa essential oil into him and anoint him. 

Why Melissa essential oil? Well it is the “oil of light” angelic in nature and connected him deeply to that realm so he could find his way. 

I placed a few drops on his crown, temples, back of head and heart and then placed my hand on his heart and told him “to let go and enjoy the ride”

I was going to stay but felt like leaving the room.

20 minutes later my brother came out of his room and said “I think Dad just died, I have never seen anything like it , he just breathed out a big sigh and was gone” 

I went in and he was right. My daughter came in too and we just sat and held Dads’ hands holding space for him.

I could feel his spirit soar and yell yippee I’m free. He was soaring and dancing so high! He was like an Eagle. The dead bird had risen.

I already knew his brother was waiting for him because they had been talking before he went unconscious. Somehow, knowing loved ones are there waiting is so comforting.

 

The following days were interesting as I observed my grieving process. 

It was stuck, it was deep, I was numb. 

I turned to my oils again and intuitively created a blend to help me. I can’t remember what was in it , except to say it worked and later that night when I was alone the process started.

I welcomed the sorrow and chose to be with it fully. Diving into it I could feel into the depths of my being as that was where the sorrow was.

It was a knife piercing the depths of my heart but I kept with it consciously choosing not to let this moment pass as I didn’t know if I could ever access it again and somehow I knew that it would fester in the dark recesses of my being. 

To my surprise I broke through into Joy, and knew that Joy and sorrow were on the same continuum, and if I had not chosen to fully experience this sorrow I would have missed out on its’ gift.

Since that day an energy of Joy has been ever present which I never felt before. I had always had a deep sadness lurking in my heart of unknown origin. I believe now that I had been carrying my Fathers sadness from a young age and it took his passing to access and release it, I had held it so deep. Empaths have a tendency to do this and from a very young age. I digress ,as that is a topic in itself. 

 

What did I learn from this whole experience?

Be present with whatever is presenting itself to you. Welcome the experience and open to its’ gifts.

A deeper connection and sense of awe with the power of plant spirit healing.

 

We are not alone and our being reaches far wider and deeper than we realise.

 

Ruth Carey

Plant whisperer and Wise Woman Navigator