Update on yesterday’s gathering for Schandua Reneé, September 27th, 2021.
We had a beautiful gathering in Tryon Creek yesterday, honoring our beloved friend, Schandua Reneé. Expecting rain, we instead found a beautiful day with light filtering through the abundant forest that Schandua cherished. We met at the Jackson Shelter and set up a table adorned with photographs of Schandua and (battery-powered) candles, a book for people to write messages to Schandua and her family, and other sacred tokens such as feathers and offerings of chocolates, as well as photos of Schandua for her friends to take home.
We gathered, a loose collection of people who were all touched by Schandua, long-time friends and new friends, yoga students and spiritual friends, people of all ages and from all facets of Schandua’s life in Portland. Around 40 of us stood in a circle and were invited to share a memory of her, an inspiration, to read a poem, or to bring forward whatever moved them. I opened our ceremony and we created our circle. A dear friend read a poem as the wind gently caressed the trees and Schandua’s essence was evoked as the crisp sunlight blinked through the foliage of our surroundings. We took our time, allowing space for anyone to step forward to share. And so many people shared their love for her, told stories about how much Schandua supported them, about how funny she was, what a calm and gentle way she had. One wondered if she was a dancer, and it was confirmed. Another friend mentioned what a pure singing voice she had, with an expansive and effortless range. This same friend and her partner played a beautiful song of voice and recorder set to the Mary Elizabeth Frye poem, “Do Not Stand by My Grave and Weep.” Friends shared, what a “gentle listener” she was and how much she supported them during the pandemic through her online yoga classes and before. We stood in a circle and took deep breaths and chanted OM three times. We stood in a circle, imagined sending her love radiating from our hearts to hers. We stood in a circle and put our arms on each others shoulders and backs and imagined that we were in a loving, healing circle surrounding Schandua, wishing her peace, sending her our support. Many reflected that they continue to feel her presence in their lives and felt her presence yesterday. More people stepped forward to share their touching sentiments, to read a letter written to Schandua, and other poems were shared including Mary Oliver’s White Owl Flies Into and Out of the Field and John O’Donnohue’s generous words (see sidebar).
Hugs and tears were shared, as were smiles as we remembered Schandua’s beautiful and radiant smile. Some made lovely, jewel-like mandalas of flowers in our shelter and left them there in the sunlight for all to enjoy. One brought a Tarot card, the card of Healing, meant for Schandua. At the end of our gathering, everyone was invited to take a flower, walk along one of the many paths in the forest, and leave it as an offering to Schandua. It was a beautiful and peaceful way to move from our shaded circle to under the cathedral of trees that Schandua loved to walk under. She is very loved and held in love by many.
After the gathering was dispersed and folks took to the forest paths on their own or ventured home, Anne and I talked and decided to take the remaining flowers and make a mandala. 2.5 hours after we began at 11 am, a car stopped next to us, rolled down the window and asked about the gathering for Schandua. Three people inside who wanted to join the gathering long after it ended. I offered them some flowers but the gathering was over. They parked their car and we walked up to them, and offered them to join us in making a mandala in the woods for Shandua and they gladly came with us. They felt that the unlikeliness of our meeting was guided by Schandua, it was such an improbable meeting in a large forest and park that we happened upon each other. A dear friend and his parents, just arrived from Los Angeles. The five of us placed our flowers and talked about Schandua, another healing circle under the trees made of love and memories. Each of us were so happy to have had this precious time together to share and commune and be present.
Words from a favorite author of Schandua, from Paulo Coelho, “Love always triumphs over what we call death. That’s why there’s no need to grieve for our loved ones, because they continue to be loved and remain by our side.”
Deep thanks and gratitude for everyone who joined us yesterday and special thanks to Anne who was with me all the way. I didn’t take very many photos, so just have these to share. Thank you to Sunray for sharing some of these beauties. If you have photos to add to this page, email me. A good friend took several videos and we will find a way to share them with you soon.
There was so much love yesterday, and it is exponentially expanding ever outward. Thank you, Schandua for your immense grace.
With love and gratitude,
Laela
Though we need to weep your loss,
You dwell in that safe place in our hearts
Where no storm on night or pain can reach you.Your love was like the dawn
Brightening over our lives,
Awakening beneath the dark
A further adventure of color.The sound of your voice
Found for us
A new music
That brightened everything.Whatever you enfolded in your gaze
Quickened in the joy of its being;
You placed smiles like flowers
On the alter of the heart,
Your mind always sparkled
With the wonder at things.Though your days here were brief,
Your spirit was alive, awake, complete.We look toward each other no longer
From the old distance of our names;
Now you dwell inside the rhythm of breath,
As close to us as we are to ourselves.Though we cannot see you with outward eyes,
We know our souls gaze is upon your face,
Smiling back at us from within everything
To which we bring our best refinement.Let us not look for you only in memory,
Where we would grow lonely without you.
You would want us to find you in presence,
Besides us when beauty brightens,
When kindness glows
And music echoes eternal tones.When orchids brighten the earth,
Darkest winter has turned to spring;
May this dark grief flower with hope
In every heart that loves you.May you continue to inspire us:
To enter each day with a generous heart.
To serve the call of courage and love
Until we see your beautiful face again
In that land where there is no more separation,
Where all tears will be wiped from our mind,
And where we will never lose you again.– John O’Donnohue