For those of you who believe in reincarnation

[[Obsidian]]

Would you think of death as something happy because you get to go to the summerland or as something sad? Related to that, is the feeling of sadness upon someone passing appropriate?

Harry

[juliaki]

For me, in a physical body...not in a physical body...either/or is fine with me, so I'm not happy about death nor sad about death. It's just like changing a pair of socks.

Now it is perfectly understandable to be sad when someone you knew crosses, because you're going to miss the direct company of their presence. It may be selfish, but it's a good kind of selfish.

[The Judge]

It's common for people to miss those who cross over when those people die. Just hope that you meet them agian in the next life.

I don't have a preferance either way from what i've learned of myself "it happens".

[The Mystic Pilgrim]

I completely agree. Grief has nothing to do with the person who's passed on; but it's all about our missing their direct, physical presence. What most people don't realize is that they never truely leave it... We are never truth disconnected, because we're all interconnected throught the great web of life...

(Hopefully this made sense... after a 20 hour work day, my mind tends to be a little muddy.)

[Blazewind]

I don't think i will be too sad tofind myself "dead" one day. I know it will indeed happen, after all no one can ever live in the physical world forever. I think that I will find myself int he next world one day, and be happy to be reunited with all those who have gone before me. I know however that I will also miss the one i have had to leave behind here, and even greater, I will feel bad because they are left missing me. In any case I won't resent no longer having a physical body. I think that I will still be me. I beleve that nothing really changes about who we are in the next world. We are jsut free of physical limits and our limited minds.

[[Obsidian]]

That's interesting. When I was in my catholic life (a long time ago) I was sad about someone dieing not so much because they were gone but because I didn't know what happened to them. They could have been in heaven or in hell or (if a friend of mine is right) just disappeared. To me, for some reason, the Wiccan idea of what happens after death sounds most plausible. It is almost like I have some kind of vague feeling that I can't explain that it is right.

Harry

[brokenxdreams]

As it has been posted before, it's common for people to grieve over someone's death. I think, though, that when I pass on, I will feel some sadness. Leaving family behind, wishing I had done something before dying, etc.

[Blazewind]

That's interesting. When I was in my catholic life (a long time ago) I was sad about someone dieing not so much because they were gone but because I didn't know what happened to them. They could have been in heaven or in hell or (if a friend of mine is right) just disappeared. To me, for some reason, the Wiccan idea of what happens after death sounds most plausible. It is almost like I have some kind of vague feeling that I can't explain that it is right.

Harry

I've had that same kind of feeling for several years. I used to be christian, and was always taught that we go to either heaven or hell, depending on what we've done in life. It never made any sence to me. in fact, I thought it was also very unfair. I was told once that if a usually good person went out and did something not so great, as all people do at some times in our lives, and then he died sudenly right after that, the good person would likely go to hell. That somehow just never sat right with me. It seemed somehow that people were wrong to beleive that as well, for some reason. It made no logical sence. When I began to study paganism and wicca, I began to understand that we all have hope of a peaceful time in the next world, and also a chance for every one to comeback and contine learning lessons here on Earth. I am so much more saticfied that this idea of life after death is much more logical.

[amunptah777]

(I'm assuming you mean real reincarnation, right? Not the metaphorical kind)

I believe that because different "parts" go different places, it's both.

I mean the life we have right now, in this moment is stellar by any measure, so losing that is a little sad. However, moving forward is also marvelous and beautiful!

As far as mourning, that's a human thing. If someone moves on, we mourn for ourselves, but that's appropriate too.

[jcrowfoot]

I have to agree. Don't be sad for the person who passed, but for yourself and those who loved them.

[[Obsidian]]

Thanks y'all. That makes a lot of sense.

H

[magiqboi]

I believe in Reincarnation in certain sense. But my perspective of it is totally different than what it actually means.

[Heka]

i think that when a person dies it is sad. you dont get to sit there and laugh with them anymore. but their not completely gone.

and on the thing of dying, i dont wanna die just yet, but im not scared of it. if this life (implying that theres more than one) is over for me, then its over. theres nothing i can do to change that. and its all part of the great circle of life (did anyone else just think of they lion king haha)

Blesings

heka

[AkanaAnash]

For me, death (again) is a small part of life...things die all the time...the universe keeps growing out.

The Ancient Kemetans believed in many parts to the Individual Spirit...5, 7 or 9...depending on what county you were in. (or, if you were a pharaoh...perhaps many more more)

I don't believe in the word "happy", 1st of all,
but what part of you would "go to the summer lands?"
What part flys eternal, what part gets high and hangs out with the NtJr, what part ceases to be, what part moves into another body?

This is rhetoric, mind you, not meant to bait.

I'm not into the whole "just one state of things for eternity" anyway...regardless of belief system...that just boring as hell
(was going to say fuqu....with respect to Hedge, i won't)
I don't want to spend any after-life, anywhere doing just one thing...forever...if the t'tian concept of "heaven" taught me anything,
it was that...
"to hell with heaven"


In terms of mourning...we mourn for ourselves. There is no doubt. There is no argument. We cry because we are a little more alone when our friends move through. But mourning is still important, grieving is still acceptable and relevant.
How many of us have said to ourselves "who will mourn me?"

And do you want to attend your own funeral? And would you desire others to cry because you are gone?

Many people would say yes.

I am not one of them...I would want the biggest damned party ever...everybody, everywhere celebrating the beauty of life and change and the Goddess...and about an hour into into it, pretty much everyone there is so involved in having a good time, they forget they're at a funeral..with loud music, and lot's of mind-altering substances, and incense offerings to the Ancestors (of which I've now become) and living, and dancing and shouting and fireworks and a live band and open bar and everyone is dressed to the 9's for one single moment...no one feels harmed or betrayed or lied and a harmonious feelings there...and non-violence, and no one is trying to hurt anyone else there, and everyone is just having a d-mn good time...
(and maybe at the end...they say..."that was the best d-mn party....Ever")
And they go back to their lives the next morning...but everybody remembers and wants a funeral like that for themselves.

(it's not a wake...it's more like a road trip...to Burning Man...except it's by a lake...and there ARE NO COPS...but everyone is cool with everyone else and no one has to "be controlled" because everyone who went there could control themselves to the point that NO COPS WOULD BE NECESSARY and then everyone has these awesome ecstatic visions and they forget clear...and turn off the lights...and turn up the music...and watch the stars..and are benevolent to each other...and don't violate each others privacy or try to force anyone to do anything they don't want to ...)

yah...that would be great.

[Makbawehuh]

Thank you, Thet!


I thought I was the only on who wanted people to have fun and enjoy the fact that they are alive at one's own funeral. I've told my family repeatedly that, really, for my body, a shoebox is fine, I won't care... All I want is for them to have a huge party with good music and lots of laughter, and it has nothing to do with me.

Life goes on, and when mine is over, I'd rather people remember that I lived my life happy, and that I only want for them to do the same. Finding joy in life is probably the only thing I could think of that comes close to a "sacred calling", because I consider that joy to be the only real end worth working for.

Of course, I'll be dead and probably won't care. I have no idea where I'm going or what's going to happen when I die, but I seriously doubt I'm going to have much of an opinion on anything, once I don't have to eat.