Death-This Witch’s Perspective

Death when it visits is traumatic regardless of one’s chosen religion, however the way it resonates within the life of individuals is very much influenced by their faith and beliefs therein. Hence to venture comment with any degree of empathy is as difficult as commenting about pain, for one person simply cannot fathom anothers suffering. Therefore with respect I merely offer for your contemplation my personal understanding, ethos and experiences of death, born of the ‘gifts of the spirits’ given unto me.

The spirit world made itself known to me from the very beginning, my earliest childhood memories are of being ‘visited’. They came often and I soon learned to keep quiet about it, as people get upset about things they don’t understand, my father especially. Schooled by nuns, from the age of four until I was seventeen taught me the Christian concepts of death, and though on one hand there was a beautiful trust in the redemption , on the other hand there was the fear of eternal damnation.

The dead visited often in those days; most of my nights were busy talking and reassuring them that all they had to do was believe in a heaven and that their relatives and families already there would come for them. Together we would walk and talk then gradually I would feel a great light drawing them and I would remain as they walked into it. The terrain or countryside we walked through would vary greatly, sometimes it was a dark frightening forest with noises and ‘things’ lurking, other times it was a wonderful garden, or a great wild grassy meadow. In the dark places even though I was mortally afraid I would think ‘I am the way, the truth and the light’ , the words of Jesus I had heard so many times, and I would feel the light from the moon connecting with the light from my forehead and I knew that as long as I ‘held the light’ we would always be safe, just like the Yellow Brick Road.

There was also a regular visits by a group of women who I recognized but didn’t actually know (in this lifetime), whom I just inherently knew were witches. Now as a small child this had freaked me, as story book witches are evil, combined with the added fact that one of the nuns had said “No-one gets visited by spirits unless the devil is trying to steal their soul”. So I dreaded these visits, trying to hide beneath bedclothes; I would will them to leave and knowing my fears they dutifully went.

Over the years wisdom came with age and gradually removed the blinkers from me eyes and I was able to accept their visits, speak with them and learn my heritage. I came to realize that each lifetime is merely a chapter in the great journey, and that within each lifespan, be it short or long, there are lessons that must be learned. Finally after we have learned well we are rewarded with the harmony of returning home unto the spirit realm, back to the wellpool of love that has many names in many cultures but for most is conceived as heaven.

So what about ghosts and spirits visitation? I think from Pagan perspective that the spirits of the deceased go to the Summerland, and if they desire or feel the need for continued earthly interaction it will continue until the lesson is learned, or the deed accomplished. Thus those who die often finish the lesson as a spirit assisting or guiding others still upon this earth.

So for me death is not an ending, just a parting of ways, a change of vehicle, another phase. I have no fear of it, merely an acceptance that this parting causes great sorrow. For all who live in fear of death, brought up upon a Christian diet of ‘hell fire and brimstone’ please do not let this fear cripple you, it is wrongly conceived and has been wickedly used to manipulate and control. Be under no illusion we are indeed held accountable for our actions within each lifetime, and certainly there are horrors awaiting those who rightly deserve them but they will be part and parcel of the whole learning journey.

So I pray the love of the Goddess fill you and strengthen you, that you may shine now and evermore, not only to light your own way home but those of others still stumbling in the shadows. Blessings all.

Eve.