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vale Joan Campbell

In the early hours of this morning my Wise Old Rosicrucian Friend, artist and spiritual mentor Joan May Cambell died. I am so sad - not for her, for myself - Joan was 85 and lived a rich and fruitful life. She became ill a few months ago and her passing was testament to the way she lived that life. Like her husband and fellow Rosicrucian Allan Campbell, she left without a fuss, as nature intended – the body had had enough and she went quietly. I spoke to her recently about how she had worn out her old body and needed a new one:

I’m sure I will be back - there is much work to do and this is where the work is.

I know I’ll see you again Joan - I will keep an eye out.

Yes, we recognised each other this time around didn’t we?

Yes, we did.

I saw Joan in the hospice 3 days before she died. She was drugged up and a bit vague, but still very keen to join in the conversation – about art of course. When I left I knew it was the last time I would see her – in this life anyway. I had a hell of a night, I couldn’t sleep and at some point had a waking vision of a black bird whose large wings fluttered around my head. I actually felt it and heard the rustling. I knew then that Joan was leaving soon.

There is too much to tell of Joan’s life here. In the months leading up to her illness I helped her a bit with her memoir – mainly to get it formatted to e-mail out. It tells the story in her own words far better than I could.

If I had to encapsulate what Joan gifted me it is this:

‘there is a virtue greater than Truth, which can be relative and even hurtful, and it is COMPASSION’. 

As a lover of truth above all else, I realised I had to change my thinking and I did. I will never forget this piece of wisdom and I will never forget Joan.