Dear friends,
As many of you know, I am currently writing a comprehensive guide to death, grief and the afterlife; a work born of both deep personal experience and a heartfelt desire to help others prepare for death with less fear and more peace.
And why? Because death is not a failure. It is not the enemy. It is a sacred transition that each of us will make. And I believe that with the right understanding and preparation, death can become a gateway to deeper meaning, healing and — even in the face of suffering — hope.
In light of the terrible suffering currently taking place in the world, these reflections seem more urgent to me than ever. The rising death toll in the Middle East and the heartbreaking violence endured by both Palestinians and Israelis is a wound in the heart of humanity. My heart breaks especially for the innocent civilians — mothers, children, the elderly — caught in the devastation of wars they did not choose.
It's easy to feel helpless. But we can ensure that our own relationship with death becomes clearer, softer and more sacred. That we do not turn away from death, but consciously approach it before our time has come.
One gentle exercise I recommend in my book is the exploration of near-death experiences (NDEs). These remarkable accounts— - from people of all backgrounds — reveal recurring themes of light, love, expanded consciousness and the presence of loved ones beyond the veil. I’ve read hundreds of these stories over the years. They reaffirm again and again that death is not the end, but a continuation. A homecoming.
If you’ve never read a near-death experience story, I encourage you to find one today. Start with just one. Let it sink in and reflection upon your ideal death.
'Dianne Morrissey’s Near-Death Experience' by Kevin Williams at this link is well worth reading.
We live in a time of immense change and collective suffering. But we are also called — gently but insistently — to realise the preciousness of life and to look at death not with fear but with reverence.
We can prepare ourselves. We can help others to prepare. And we can make room for the dignity of every life, even in the midst of the suffering of war.
Peace be with all who suffer. May we become more courageous as we face death, and more loving in the way we live.
Cedar
As many of you know, I am currently writing a comprehensive guide to death, grief and the afterlife; a work born of both deep personal experience and a heartfelt desire to help others prepare for death with less fear and more peace.
And why? Because death is not a failure. It is not the enemy. It is a sacred transition that each of us will make. And I believe that with the right understanding and preparation, death can become a gateway to deeper meaning, healing and — even in the face of suffering — hope.
In light of the terrible suffering currently taking place in the world, these reflections seem more urgent to me than ever. The rising death toll in the Middle East and the heartbreaking violence endured by both Palestinians and Israelis is a wound in the heart of humanity. My heart breaks especially for the innocent civilians — mothers, children, the elderly — caught in the devastation of wars they did not choose.
It's easy to feel helpless. But we can ensure that our own relationship with death becomes clearer, softer and more sacred. That we do not turn away from death, but consciously approach it before our time has come.
One gentle exercise I recommend in my book is the exploration of near-death experiences (NDEs). These remarkable accounts— - from people of all backgrounds — reveal recurring themes of light, love, expanded consciousness and the presence of loved ones beyond the veil. I’ve read hundreds of these stories over the years. They reaffirm again and again that death is not the end, but a continuation. A homecoming.
If you’ve never read a near-death experience story, I encourage you to find one today. Start with just one. Let it sink in and reflection upon your ideal death.
'Dianne Morrissey’s Near-Death Experience' by Kevin Williams at this link is well worth reading.
We live in a time of immense change and collective suffering. But we are also called — gently but insistently — to realise the preciousness of life and to look at death not with fear but with reverence.
We can prepare ourselves. We can help others to prepare. And we can make room for the dignity of every life, even in the midst of the suffering of war.
Peace be with all who suffer. May we become more courageous as we face death, and more loving in the way we live.
Cedar
