Death: The Specter

[The Hammer]

A specter that has followed me throughout the majority of my life. From my near death at birth thanks to being premature. My grandfather (mother's side), my closest friend, passing when I was 7. Then the loss of another grandfather on my mom's side (grandmother married twice) several years later. To the loss of several pets throught my early 20s. And the deaths of both my stepdad's parents within 3 years of each other. And finally this past week, my Mom's mom has passed through the Veil to the Otherworld.

But death is not always a bad thing. With it's anguish and pain, it also brings change and growth for the positive. It is the most primal and powerful of forces we all deal with, and one that many of us spend our lives trying to avoid and not think about, but it's specter is always there just in the periphery, waiting to make it's appearance. Death is to be treated with respect and reverance, but it should never be shunned or ignored. It is a facet of life, bittersweet, whether we want it to be or not.

 

[Orbit]

A specter that has followed me throughout the majority of my life. From my near death at birth thanks to being premature. My grandfather (mother's side), my closest friend, passing when I was 7. Then the loss of another grandfather on my mom's side (grandmother married twice) several years later. To the loss of several pets throught my early 20s. And the deaths of both my stepdad's parents within 3 years of each other. And finally this past week, my Mom's mom has passed through the Veil to the Otherworld.

But death is not always a bad thing. With it's solace and pain, it also brings change and growth for the positive. It is the most primal and powerful of forces we all deal with, and one that many of us spend our lives trying to avoid and not think about, but it's specter is always there just in the periphery, waiting to make it's appearance. Death is to be treated with respect and reverance, but it should never be shunned or ignored. It is a facet of life, bittersweet, whether we want it to be or not.

My condolences on your loss. Hang in there.

 

[ChristineM]

A specter that has followed me throughout the majority of my life. From my near death at birth thanks to being premature. My grandfather (mother's side), my closest friend, passing when I was 7. Then the loss of another grandfather on my mom's side (grandmother married twice) several years later. To the loss of several pets throught my early 20s. And the deaths of both my stepdad's parents within 3 years of each other. And finally this past week, my Mom's mom has passed through the Veil to the Otherworld.

But death is not always a bad thing. With it's solace and pain, it also brings change and growth for the positive. It is the most primal and powerful of forces we all deal with, and one that many of us spend our lives trying to avoid and not think about, but it's specter is always there just in the periphery, waiting to make it's appearance. Death is to be treated with respect and reverance, but it should never be shunned or ignored. It is a facet of life, bittersweet, whether we want it to be or not.

My condolences.

 

[The Hammer]

My condolences on your loss. Hang in there.

My condolences.

I appreciate the condolences, thank you, but this thread was meant more as a discussion on that important aspect of life, that we call Death. For there can be no Creation without Destruction.

 

[Regiomontanus]

A specter that has followed me throughout the majority of my life. From my near death at birth thanks to being premature. My grandfather (mother's side), my closest friend, passing when I was 7. Then the loss of another grandfather on my mom's side (grandmother married twice) several years later. To the loss of several pets throught my early 20s. And the deaths of both my stepdad's parents within 3 years of each other. And finally this past week, my Mom's mom has passed through the Veil to the Otherworld.

But death is not always a bad thing. With it's anguish and pain, it also brings change and growth for the positive. It is the most primal and powerful of forces we all deal with, and one that many of us spend our lives trying to avoid and not think about, but it's specter is always there just in the periphery, waiting to make it's appearance. Death is to be treated with respect and reverance, but it should never be shunned or ignored. It is a facet of life, bittersweet, whether we want it to be or not.

I am curious about how death is viewed in druidry? Any notion of afterlife? Soul?

I should probably know more about it. From reading some history of the Roman empire I know druids were not viewed favorably, to put it mildly.

The Roman attack on the British Druids on Ynys Môn

 

[The Hammer]

I am curious about how death is viewed in druidry? Any notion of afterlife? Soul?

I should probably know more about it. From reading some history of the Roman empire I know druids were not viewed favorably, to put it mildly.

The Roman attack on the British Druids on Ynys Môn

It varies depending on the Pagan you talk to, as it's often an individual thing.

But in my branch of Druidry, reincarnation and soul transmigration play a part, with the Soul being able to return as Animal, Human or inanimate object. There is also great respect given to the Ancestors, as they influence the lives of the living.

The Afterlife, The Heroes, and The Dead | ADF: Ár nDraíocht Féin: A Druid Fellowship

 

[Bear Wild]

A specter that has followed me throughout the majority of my life. From my near death at birth thanks to being premature. My grandfather (mother's side), my closest friend, passing when I was 7. Then the loss of another grandfather on my mom's side (grandmother married twice) several years later. To the loss of several pets throught my early 20s. And the deaths of both my stepdad's parents within 3 years of each other. And finally this past week, my Mom's mom has passed through the Veil to the Otherworld.

But death is not always a bad thing. With it's anguish and pain, it also brings change and growth for the positive. It is the most primal and powerful of forces we all deal with, and one that many of us spend our lives trying to avoid and not think about, but it's specter is always there just in the periphery, waiting to make it's appearance. Death is to be treated with respect and reverance, but it should never be shunned or ignored. It is a facet of life, bittersweet, whether we want it to be or not.

Death makes us live and it is the remarkable gift to let others live. It took me a long time to understand this. It is bittersweet. I have always liked the concept of the sidhe/annwn/avalon. Instead of those who have died going to some separated heaven it made me feel they are always there next to me. I cannot say what happens when I die but I am grateful to have lived and felt intimately connected to our wonderous natural world.

 

[Aupmanyav]

I cannot say what happens when I die but I am grateful to have lived and felt intimately connected to our wonderous natural world.

It is quite simple, Wild Fox, unless you want to make it in to a mystery. Decomposition and dispersal; and what constituted us being present in millions/billions of living and non-living things. The connection is never lost.

 

[The Hammer]

It is quite simple, Wild Fox, unless you want to make it in to a mystery. Decomposition and dispersal; and what constituted us being present in millions/billions of living and non-living things. The connection is never lost.

That is what happens to the physical body, I'm not convinced there isn't more to life/death than just the physical. And that is the mystery IMO.

 

[Aupmanyav]

That is what happens to the physical body, I'm not convinced there isn't more to life/death than just the physical. And that is the mystery IMO.

It is quite funny. IMHO, we ourselves create the mysteries and then get lost in getting the answers. It is a game we play with ourselves. What makes you think that there is more to it - your ego, your fears?