--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If it’s ever within your power to do so…" description: "\"“If it’s ever within your power to do so, she considered saying aloud to Brian (but didn’t), you have to bear witness to your dead. You simply have to...." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/243/dennis-lehane-1503_quote_if-it-s-ever-within-your-power-to-do-so_1692854.jpg" --- # If it’s ever within your power to do so, she considered… ![“If it’s ever within your power to do so, she considered saying aloud to Brian (but didn’t), you have to bear witness to your dead. You simply have to. You have to step into the energy field of whatever remains of their spirit, their soul, their essence and let it pass through your body. And in the…” quote by Dennis Lehane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/243/dennis-lehane-1503_quote_if-it-s-ever-within-your-power-to-do-so_1692854.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/243/dennis-lehane-1503_quote_if-it-s-ever-within-your-power-to-do-so_1692854.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/243/dennis-lehane-1503_quote_if-it-s-ever-within-your-power-to-do-so_1692854.jpg) > ““If it’s ever within your power to do so, she considered saying aloud to Brian (but didn’t), you have to bear witness to your dead. You simply have to. You have to step into the energy field of whatever remains of their spirit, their soul, their essence and let it pass through your body. And in the passing, maybe a wisp of it adheres to”” [Dennis Lehane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-lehane/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. We must confront and honor the memory of those who have passed, allowing their essence to touch us for healing. **In simple terms:** Honor the dead by feeling their presence. Key Takeaway Allow yourself to be touched by their memory. Themes grief healing spirituality Mood reflective somber Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - funeral rites - personal loss - therapy - spiritual practice Key Concepts memorial energy field presence Questions to Reflect On - How do you honor those who have died? - Can feeling their presence aid healing? A Different Perspective May be emotionally overwhelming; not everyone believes in spiritual energy. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet ## Related quotes > [“...you have to bear witness to your dead. You simply have to. You have to step into their energy field of whatever remains of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-lehane/you-have-to-bear-witness-to-your-dead-you-simply-have-to-you-have-to/) [Dennis Lehane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-lehane/) > [“If it’s ever within your power to do so, she considered saying aloud to Brian (but didn’t), you have to bear witness to your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-lehane/if-it-s-ever-within-your-power-to-do-so-she-considered-saying-aloud/) [Dennis Lehane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-lehane/) > [Inspiration has to be natural for me, not so considered, I am not saying that is right or wrong, it's simply what works for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-broadrick/inspiration-has-to-be-natural-for-me-not-so-considered-i-am-not/) [Justin Broadrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-broadrick/) > [“The silent bear no witness against themselves.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/the-silent-bear-no-witness-against-themselves/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [And the truth shall bear witness of itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmond-bordeaux-szekely/and-the-truth-shall-bear-witness-of-itself/) [Edmond Bordeaux Szekely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmond-bordeaux-szekely/) > [“And bring her around to bear witness to my beautiful exploded cow and the villainy it represents.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-koontz/and-bring-her-around-to-bear-witness-to-my-beautiful-exploded-cow-and/) [Dean Koontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-koontz/) > [“When you rewire your consciousness to see things for what they really are, rather than seeing them through false lens influenced by outside factors,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-leigh-mercree/when-you-rewire-your-consciousness-to-see-things-for-what-they-really/) [Amy Leigh Mercree](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-leigh-mercree/) > [If you and I have not seen God, we cannot bear witness to God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lyman-abbott/if-you-and-i-have-not-seen-god-we-cannot-bear-witness-to-god/) [Lyman Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lyman-abbott/) > [Compassion allows us to bear witness to suffering, whether it is in ourselves or others, without fear; it allows us to name injustice without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-salzberg/compassion-allows-us-to-bear-witness-to-suffering-whether-it-is-in/) [Sharon Salzberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-salzberg/) > [“You're just going to bear witness to his life. I think sometimes that's the greatest gift we can give one another.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeanne-ray/you-re-just-going-to-bear-witness-to-his-life-i-think-sometimes-that/) [Jeanne Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeanne-ray/) > [Ye moon and stars, bear witness to the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/ye-moon-and-stars-bear-witness-to-the-truth/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [“We bear witness, and in doing so, we acept responsibility for making change in the world.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulette-regan/we-bear-witness-and-in-doing-so-we-acept-responsibility-for-making/) [Paulette Regan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulette-regan/) > [“A dog’s life is a speeded-up version of your own. After a while, you can hardly bear to be a witness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-carol-oates/a-dog-s-life-is-a-speeded-up-version-of-your-own-after-a-while-you/) [Joyce Carol Oates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-carol-oates/) > [“There's a darkness in the world, and that sometimes we know that our only real purpose is just to bear witness to it so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyler-dilts/there-s-a-darkness-in-the-world-and-that-sometimes-we-know-that-our/) [Tyler Dilts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyler-dilts/) > [“I've been thinking about what it means to bear witness. The past ten years I've been bearing witness to death, bearing witness to women…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-tempest-williams/i-ve-been-thinking-about-what-it-means-to-bear-witness-the-past-ten/) [Terry Tempest Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-tempest-williams/) ## More by Dennis Lehane > [He wondered if this was what clinical depression felt like, a total numbness, a weary lack of hope.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-lehane/he-wondered-if-this-was-what-clinical-depression-felt-like-a-total/) [Dennis Lehane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-lehane/) > [I held her, he wanted to say, and if I knew for certain that all it would take to hold her again would be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-lehane/i-held-her-he-wanted-to-say-and-if-i-knew-for-certain-that-all-it/) [Dennis Lehane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-lehane/) > [“Everyone I know lies, breaks their word, and has perfectly legitimate excuses for why they do. Except you. Haven't you ever noticed that? Two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-lehane/everyone-i-know-lies-breaks-their-word-and-has-perfectly-legitimate/) [Dennis Lehane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-lehane/) > [“If a man was lucky, he was moving toward something his whole life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-lehane/if-a-man-was-lucky-he-was-moving-toward-something-his-whole-life/) [dennis lehane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-lehane/) > [“After my daughter was born, I'd considered buying a shotgun to ward off potention suitors fourteen or so years up the road. Now, as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-lehane/after-my-daughter-was-born-i-d-considered-buying-a-shotgun-to-ward/) [Dennis Lehane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-lehane/) > [“I once again felt an odd flush of admiration for my partner's faith in a religion I had long ago abandoned. She doesn't advertise…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-lehane/i-once-again-felt-an-odd-flush-of-admiration-for-my-partner-s-faith/) [Dennis Lehane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-lehane/) > [“And she was-definitely-a woman who did not shrink from gauntlets, but stepped up to them, and said, Okay, bring it. Bring your worst. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-lehane/and-she-was-definitely-a-woman-who-did-not-shrink-from-gauntlets-but/) [Dennis Lehane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-lehane/) > [“Jimmy looked back over at his wife, and Celeste could feel the tenderest of aches in the look. She could feel another teardrop piece…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-lehane/jimmy-looked-back-over-at-his-wife-and-celeste-could-feel-the/) [Dennis Lehane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-lehane/) > [“She told him that he had the most beautiful voice she'd ever heard, that it sounded like whiskey and wood smoke.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-lehane/she-told-him-that-he-had-the-most-beautiful-voice-she-d-ever-heard/) [Dennis Lehane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-lehane/) > [My daughter squealed again and both Bubba and I winced. It’s not an attractive sound, that. It’s high-pitched and it enters your ear canals…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-lehane/my-daughter-squealed-again-and-both-bubba-and-i-winced-it-s-not-an/) [Dennis Lehane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-lehane/) > [“It’s been a complicated decade for me.” She”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-lehane/it-s-been-a-complicated-decade-for-me-she/) [Dennis Lehane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-lehane/) > [“The only people who ask questions like ‘Did he want to be something besides a bartender?’ are people who can become whatever they want.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-lehane/the-only-people-who-ask-questions-like-did-he-want-to-be-something/) [Dennis Lehane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-lehane/) > [“Love, impossible, yet there was no mistaking it”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-lehane/love-impossible-yet-there-was-no-mistaking-it/) [Dennis Lehane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-lehane/) > [“She blew a stream of smoke up at the empty clotheslines. 'These silly dreams you have when you're young. I mean, what, Katie and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-lehane/she-blew-a-stream-of-smoke-up-at-the-empty-clotheslines-these-silly/) [Dennis Lehane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-lehane/) > [“He looked back at the page, got one last glimpse before the match blew itself out. Going to find you today, Andrew. If I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-lehane/he-looked-back-at-the-page-got-one-last-glimpse-before-the-match-blew/) [Dennis Lehane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-lehane/) [Explore all 231 Dennis Lehane quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-lehane/) ## More Witness quotes > [I wonder: when a Jehovah's Witness dies and goes to Heaven, does God hide behind the door and pretend He's not home?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-celio/i-wonder-when-a-jehovah-s-witness-dies-and-goes-to-heaven-does-god/) [Brian Celio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-celio/) > [We witness anti-Semitic attacks in the heart of Europe. We hear anti-Semitic slanders in European media. We feel anti-Semitic hatred in the continent that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayelet-shaked/we-witness-anti-semitic-attacks-in-the-heart-of-europe-we-hear-anti/) [Ayelet Shaked](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayelet-shaked/) > [We were put here as witnesses to the miracle of life. We see the stars, and we want them. We are beholden to give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/we-were-put-here-as-witnesses-to-the-miracle-of-life-we-see-the-stars/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [Witness for the defense, Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/witness-for-the-defense-albus-percival-wulfric-brian-dumbledore/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Intellectual methods-study and reason-are essential to our progress toward eternal life, but they are not sufficient. They can prepare the way. They can get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallin-h-oaks/intellectual-methods-study-and-reason-are-essential-to-our-progress/) [Dallin H. Oaks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallin-h-oaks/) > [Standing as a witness in all things means being kind in all things, being the first to say hello, being the first to smile,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-d-nadauld/standing-as-a-witness-in-all-things-means-being-kind-in-all-things/) [Margaret D. Nadauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-d-nadauld/) > [The end of foreign occupation is one of the pre-requisites if we are to witness any progress in our efforts to help Iraq go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amr-moussa/the-end-of-foreign-occupation-is-one-of-the-pre-requisites-if-we-are/) [Amr Moussa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amr-moussa/) > [When the lives and the rights of children are at stake, there must be no silent witnesses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-bellamy/when-the-lives-and-the-rights-of-children-are-at-stake-there-must-be/) [Carol Bellamy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-bellamy/) > [The amount of money coming into Washington is not a factor when the Democrats start spending it. Witness Obama. National debt doubled in eight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/the-amount-of-money-coming-into-washington-is-not-a-factor-when-the/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [The violence perpetrated by men against women must stop - and it's up to men to stop it. It is up to men to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-violence-perpetrated-by-men-against-women-must-stop-and-it-s-up/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boyd-k-packer/dispute-not-because-ye-see-not-for-ye-receive-no-witness-until-after/) [Boyd K. Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boyd-k-packer/) > [I tell you, guilt dwells nowhere but in the eyes of the accuser. This men know even as they deny it, which is why…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-scott-bakker/i-tell-you-guilt-dwells-nowhere-but-in-the-eyes-of-the-accuser-this/) [R. Scott Bakker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-scott-bakker/) > [No one likes to admit they are racist or bear prejudices. Nor do they even like to be open and honest when they witness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-jacques/no-one-likes-to-admit-they-are-racist-or-bear-prejudices-nor-do-they/) [Martin Jacques](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-jacques/) > [When we go... to bear witness to life on the streets, we're offering ourselves. Not blankets, not food, not clothes, just ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-glassman/when-we-go-to-bear-witness-to-life-on-the-streets-we-re-offering/) [Bernie Glassman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-glassman/) > [Redtail was a brave warrior. His loyalty to ThunderClan could never be doubted. I always relied on his judgment, for it bore witness to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-hunter/redtail-was-a-brave-warrior-his-loyalty-to-thunderclan-could-never-be/) [Erin Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-hunter/) Browse all 1,757 Witness quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“If it’s ever within your power to do so, she considered saying aloud to Brian (but didn’t), you have to bear witness to your dead. You simply have to. You have to step into the energy field of whatever remains of their spirit, their soul, their essence and let it pass through your body. 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