I present to you the lyrics and a recording of a song I wrote many moons ago. On family feast days, it is hard not to feel a twinge of loss for those loved ones who are no longer at table with us. This pagan funeral song was written about my joy at seeing that Mom lived on through me and my sister, and through my children and all that we would accomplish, thanks to her loving endeavors.

We sang the Christian version at her funeral that I wrote about in the Death Toll series, and I’ll admit to you that those Christian rituals did very little to help me…as a mourner, and especially as a pagan mourner…to help me process my grief over time. Funerals and rites of release are ceremonies that we pagans need to develop and explore more fully together.

Except for the well-known chorus, the old “Will the Circle be Unbroken” verses are woefully depressing without any redemption or hope worth singing about, in my opinion. So, I rewrote it to reflect my own pagan views of death, burial, and after-life–my own hope and gratitude and the promise of an eternal life found through the cycles of reincarnation.

When I die, cremate me, release my ashes to the four elements, release my Spirit completely, and with each ritual, let the burdens of grief be lifted. Let my memorials be found in the good works I left behind, and through my progeny. Blessed be.

This is sung to the tune of Will the Circle be Unbroken, Written by: A.P. CARTER, Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC,



Unbroken Circle

Lyrics by Heron Michelle

We were gathered in a meadow

on a cold and mournful day

There to watch those flames a burning,

flames to carry my mother away.

Chorus: Oh will the circle be unbroken?

By and by, oh, by and by

For this fire’s been a’ burning

burning since the dawn of time.

I took some ashes to the river

my soul burdened and in pain.

As those sweet waters cleansed my sorrow

the river carried her ashes away.

Chorus: Oh will the circle be unbroken?

by and by, oh, by and by

For this water’s been a’ flowing,

flowing since the dawn of time.

I gave some ashes to the east wind

as the sun sent down His rays

I felt the heartache, slip from my body

as that wind carried her ashes away.

Chorus: Oh will the circle be unbroken?

by and by, oh, by and by

For this wind has been a’ blowing

blowing since the dawn of time.

I buried the rest ‘neath an old oak tree

as the moon beamed down Her light.

and Mother Earth then did receive her

with her blessings joyous and bright.

Chorus: Oh will the circle be unbroken?

by and by, oh, by and by

for this old earth has been a’ turning,

turning since the dawn of time.

I watch my daughter as she’s playing

her hair shining in the sun

and in her smile I see my mother

and I know that she lives on.

Chorus: I know the circle is unbroken

by and by, oh, by and by

that wheel of life just keeps a turning,

turning since the dawn of time.

Here is a recording of me singing this song, made long ago by my ex-husband, who now has his own recording studio, SoundBenderStudio.com. I give it back out to the Universe as an offering of gratitude this Thanksgiving day.