As ridiculous as this sounds, I found a moth in my house and I captured her to release her in the morning. I put her in a tiny bottle with a cork lid, it open enough for her to breathe but not enough for her to escape. I put a few drops of water and a couple grains of salt in case she got hungry/thirsty. She got stuck in the water, and thus stuck to the glass. It was a struggle to get her off the glass (she flew into it multiple times) and all the powder on her wings fell off. In the process of trying to get her unstuck, I also accidentally broke part of her wings but eventually I transferred her to a new glass to dry off. She stopped moving. I took her out and she still wasn't moving; only her antennae which were stuck together. Soon enough she stopped moving all together and died... I feel so bad about killing her I want to hold somewhat of a funeral. I cut out a bubble from some spare bubble wrap and put her inside as a sort of casket I suppose. I'm going to find some tiny flowers and I might even set up a headstone... I feel like she deserves it. Is there any blessing or spell or anything I could perform (A simple one preferably) to help with her moving on? Perhaps making it easier on her soul or.. Something?
And just so you know, as much as I sound crazy I'm very serious. I feel very bad for taking something's life away even if it was an accident or I had good intentions. Creatures are creatures no matter how small.
For a person to take such care and to give such attention and remorse for such a thing as a moth brought to harm is indeed unusual. but it is the sort of unusual that brings a sense of heart to the world that is sorely lacking. It is the sort of unusual that the world really could use more of. If you take such care and put so much concern for something so small in concept, then I can only imagine what sorts of care and concern you put towards everything else.
That said, my personal idea would to keep it natural, for lack of a better term. As an insect it is a part of nature, and a part of the cycles of life and death. So I wouldn't want to isolate her from nature with a coffin myself. Instead I would leave the moth as-is, and perhaps bury her near a favorite flower if you have a garden outside. Somewhere that she can continue to be a part of that cycle by feeding the earth and plants as she normally would if she died naturally.
As for honoring the death, that can take many forms because it is mostly about how you remember her, and what you do to turn the passing into a positive thing. You could commemorate her in a drawing of a moth in flight if you like to sketch. or you could craft a little doll or fabric likeness to set aside or on your altar, or to give to someone as a gift. Or you could plant a flower seed with the moth to grow and look after. The simple act of care and laying to rest itself is an attention to remembrance and honoring as well.
For a blessing, I would suggest a simple statement or one-sentence prayer. Anything that feels simple, eloquent, and fitting. As long as it is from the heart, then it will do. It could be as simple as saying "Fly free." or it could be as poetic as "May the light of the moon guide you to your rest." if you have a pinch of sage or tobacco, or a small stick or cone of sandalwood incense, you could place that on the grave as well and give it a light as a mini funeral pyre.
i know how bad you must feel [while i've never considered a funeral for a bug, i try my best to shoo them outside, and when it come to moths/butterflies, if i have to grab their wings i run to the door/window yelling 'sorry-sorry-sorry' as i go] a funeral sounds like a nice thing to do, i would write a little something from your heart, say sorry, but wish the moth well and to have a safe journey into it's next life cycle. you might consider offering a sugar cube or something on it's spiritual journey into summerland.
This is an interesting thing to write in your Book of Shadows. Record what happened, how you felt, what you did and your funeral ceremony. These are every day magickal moments which are all about the magick of life. and how we feel.
If it makes you feel any better I bury geckos in my front garden whenever I find them dead in the house (usually one of my dogs has gotten to them) and I try to chase flies out of the house instead of spraying them. You're not crazy :)
I know exactly what you are saying and feeling. I've had a similar experience with a mouse, pest control put down sticky pads. One got stuck and wax still alive so I tried to get him unstuck. I tried acetone and it was working but it dripped down to its mouth which had gotten stuck from the struggle. I hadn't noticed its mouth was stuck and it inhaled the acetone. I never got the poor thing off and ended up taking it outside. I stuck paper towels to any exposed sticky areas so no other creatures could get stuck. It may seem silly to others but all life is precious and I hurts us when we hurt them unintentionally. Just tell yourself it wasn't purposeful and you will know better in the future.
I actually don't think it is that wierd. I would do the exact same thing in that situation. And you're right, it is still a life.
As for a blessing, I would probably ask a deity associated with the Moon to guide her on her journey to the afterlife.(The Moon because moths are nocturnal creatures and thus always watched over by the Moon.)
