Even in the Midst of Death, We are In Life

 When a person has died, it is also said they have passed away, passed on, or expired. Physiological death is now viewed as a process, more than an event. Other definitions for death focus on the character of cessation of something. In this context “death” describes merely the state where something has ceased, for example, life. Thus, the definition of “life” simultaneously defines death. So the dearly departed have gone from us physically. But is that it?

When I was thirteen or fourteen, one of our close school friends, Susan Lewis died. She was an excellent horse rider but on an unfortunate night, she was riding along a road and the horse spooked. She fell off and hit her head and subsequently died. My friend and I, who had been close to Sue, were devastated. She really was a lovely girl and I can honestly say that I never heard her say a bad word about anyone. I was so worried about her after her death. Some questions roamed round and round in my head. Where was she? Was she scared? Was she alright?

It could have been wish fulfilment or I could have fallen asleep for a second and awoken but one night in bed, I “saw” Sue, well to be honest, only the top half of her, enveloped in blue, rather like water. She said “Just to let you know. I am alright” and then she vanished. Was that my mind creating something that I needed to heal me and to stop my incessant worrying? I know all of the arguments that various people would put forward. I have been those various people at different phases of my life. But, it felt “authentic” to me and it “convinced” me that Sue was alright. It also served as a catalyst for my lifelong interest in survival of the soul after physical cessation.

Kevin Cole was my boyfriend. He was an artistic, gentle soul who used to do design work for local companies. He used to love a book called “Captain Slaughterhouse” because of the illustrations. (mervynpeake.blogspot.com/2007/05/captain-slaughterboard.html  ) He sadly passed away on 15^th December 1986 after an operation on his pancreas. His heart stopped, he went into a coma and never revived.  I still had Kevin’s “Captain Slaughterhouse” book.

He and his ex-wife encouraged their son, Adrian to call them by their first names, Kevin and Tina. One day, on no particular anniversary I got the book out and felt that it was urgent to give it to Adrian. I also felt that I should go to Kevin’s grave. I was wide awake at the time, possibly in a day dreamy state doing the household chores on autopilot.

I visualised being at Kevin’s grave and a white car drawing up and his dad arriving. This thought prompted me to take a walk to the cemetery as it was a pleasant day and I was not doing anything in particular. I know I was thinking of Kevin but it felt as though he was with me and I “heard” his voice say “There is something that you have forgotten about the day of my burial but you will remember”

About 10 minutes later I looked down and saw a single red rose on the pavement. I suddenly recalled that Kevin’s mother had given me a red rose from the grave at his funeral. I had forgotten that and here was a physical red rose lying in my path. I picked it up and carried it.

I got to the grave and knelt down to put the rose there. I had the book and was wondering if it would be safe to leave there and whether it would get to Adrian.  I looked up and just as I had imagined earlier, a white car drew up and Kevin’s dad got out. He looked as stunned as I was, as I said, it was not a significant day. I told him that I was glad that he was there as I had suddenly felt that it was important to get “Captain Slaughterhouse” to Adrian. I opened it and showed what was written in it “To Adrian, with Love from Kevin and Tina” I said that I felt strongly that he should have it as it had a dedication from both of his parents in it. Kevin’s father looked thoughtful and said “You don’t know what has happened do you. Adrian would find that book comforting as his mother, Tina died recently of bone cancer”

I left there with lots of wonder and I have been convinced of survival since although I had always “known” it at some level.

Training as a Medium

I eventually met some people who were involved in the spiritualist church and I trained as a medium. I remember once, being in a training circle and I was giving a lady a description of a gentleman in spirit. I could “see” a photograph of him in military uniform in a hot desert. In my mind I was thinking he looks like Clark Gable. The lady finished off my description as she knew who he was by saying “He looked like Clark Gable” It was a significant moment for me because it was so accurate.

But had I made contact with someone’s soul or could I just be drawing information from the other persons mind? Bearing in mind, that this happened after meeting Kevin’s dad and handing over the book to him, I thought it could be validation.

Samhain. The day that The Veil between the Worlds is Thinnest

Samhain is the time when the veil is thin but what exactly does that mean?

Historically it was believed that this is the night that our ancestors would return to see us to give us advice. So people put out lights in hollowed-out turnips to guide the spirits of the dead. This custom evolved to using the modern Jack-o-lanterns. They also put out food offerings. This developed into the modern tradition of trick-or-treating.

Samhain is the time to honour what has come before, what brought us here and through advice from ancestor spirits we can also get a glimpse into the future.

Ancestor Spirits

The memories a person holds of family members they interacted with in the past help us to create stories that can be shared with a family. These stories are retold again and again. This keeps the memories alive and helps people to feel part of something larger than being a mere individual. It solidifies people from the past and we feel connected and that we know our ancestor spirits.

What is an ancestor spirit? An ancestor spirit is an identifiable collection of energy patterns attributed to a specific personality soul. If a ‘soul’ is remembered or called upon repeatedly over generations of time, this energy may remain available to members of a clan or extended family group.

So what is an energy pattern? Energy is at the basis of everything. The thing about energy is that it cannot be destroyed. It can change into different states and this is what happens to the energy states of ourselves when we pass over.

An ancestor spirit, energy pattern may choose to be a Guardian or Protector for an individual throughout the lifetime. A being long since passed out of the physical body can be elevated in the collective mind of a group and invoked for direction and strength for generations. Traditionally these Beings are called Ancestor Spirits. In some cultures these ancestors are remembered as heroic role models, spiritual leaders and even ‘gods/goddesses.

Ancestry is in your blood. Two quotes from my family members that stay in my mind and reaffriem my connection to ancestors and descendants of the future.

I was in my cousin, Linda’s chalet (unfortunately she has passed over from her physical body now on Feb 6th 2012). We were sitting on her settee snuggled under a blanket talking about the family. Really that was a storytelling session, the centuries old strategy that keeps the family alive. When we tell stories of our family, we are linking with all of the ancestors as they also did the same thing. Anyway, back to my dear Linda. She said to me “I can feel we are family. I can feel you in my blood. I feel the connection. It is there” At that point we both felt the deep connection and knew that we would always be connected. If you want to, you could prick your finger and look at/connect with a spot of blood, to commune with your ancestors. Know that they are in that spot of blood and that you will be present in the blood of future generations.

After my mother’s passing over in December 2011, my daughter said, “I can still feel my nan. When I look at my arm, I can feel that she is in there, is part of me” She is right.

Permanent Atom

If you are like me I am hyper curious and like to break things down as much as possible to work out the mechanics of everything. We have a physical body. We lose it after death yet a part of us remains that can recall people and events from our physical experience. Is any part of the physical entity involved?  Is there any location within us that assists this process?  It is alleged that although our physical body disintegrates at death and the particles scatter, all carrying with them the result of the experience through which they have passed, the physical permanent atom remains.

I went to a talk given by Douglas Baker on the permanent atom at The Theosophical Society in London. He is a scientist who writes on esotericism and argues that our memories continue to exist in what is called the permanent atom which resides in the hippocampus. The hippocampus is a part of the forebrain, located in the medial temporal lobe. It is critical for the formation of those kinds of memories, which can be consciously declared. There we are. The hippocampus. I am not going to say more about this at the moment. I am looking into the subject as I intend to programme my hippocampus with as much as I can. I will write about it in the future.

Quantum Physics

Quantum Physics says that participants or observers affect how material collapses in and out of matter state. Things are here because we say that they are.

Samhain/Halloween is a powerful day as mainstream and pagan society have built an agreement that what is not usually there is there. We agree that reality is not what we thought it was. So on this day we are not saying that our ancestors are not there, we are saying that they are there and we are saying that the future is there too.  Nothing can actually happen to us unless we accept it.  So at this time:

Agree that you can commune with your ancestors.

Agree that matter and time is immaterial.

My thoughts on frequencies/Attunement

I tend to look at everything not only in terms of energy but also in terms of frequency. This, to me explains how the law of attraction, synchronicities work etc.  Every potential and everything is always there but whether we come into contact with it or are conscious of it, depends on whether we are on the same frequency as it.  This is what people mean by group minds, why, when you are in a circle for healing or another kind of practice, that you relax, clear your mind, recite an opening prayer or go through a guided meditation, so that you shift people on to the same frequency.

Advertising and the media use this all of the time although they might not use the word “frequency” but it is that.  To get you to agree that something is a certain way.

I maintain that you can contact your ancestors on any day but because the whole society has an agreement that Samhain/Halloween is a night when the veil is thin then it is. Nothing has really changed but people are more open to it. There are symbols everywhere to act on the subconscious.  Everyone is attuned to the frequency because society, the media, advertising is in agreement.

Afterthoughts

People have always looked at the Moon. The Moon has guided menstrual cycles and ensured that you were conceived.  Once, I was sitting in my garden gazing at the Full Moon and I mentally took a snapshot of it and said “Sometime in the future, I will be looking up at the Moon and I will remember this time, this place. I will remember me.” This could be me in a different incarnation in the future or it could be a future descendant who, one Samhain night connects with me. I add a clause now that I make all information and guidance available to them that they need, not necessarily want but that they need.

I wish you all a thought provoking, comforting, soul healing and inspiring Samhain. Celebrate and commune with your ancestors. Celebrate and commune with yourself as you will be celebrated and communed with on this night in the future. What will they be saying about you? What would you like them to say about you? How can you make it happen?

Rose Dixon