| Death is out of the closet more these days than in the | | | | cousin; his son and his wife and her mother; my |
| past, but it's still not viewed as a natural process of life. | | | | husband Tom, and me. |
| The challenge lies in the understanding of what | | | | We told stories about her life and the part we all |
| changes and that which never changes. | | | | played, while she slipped deeper and deeper into |
| For instance, my body, my possessions, the people | | | | unconsciousness. |
| around me are all subject to a momentary | | | | My uncle was a bishop in the Episcopalian church. |
| disappearing act, and could be gone at any time. I may | | | | Episcopalian clergy visited our gathering every hour. |
| as well accept that. My life will be much easier if I do. | | | | They would say a prayer, then join in the discourse for |
| But the silence and peace that is of God/ess that I | | | | a few minutes, to return some sixty minutes later. |
| access during meditation is changeless and permanent. | | | | That three day period was an exercise in joyous |
| My body and possessions and all the people in my life | | | | comradery. |
| are impermanent. The more I access the peace, love | | | | The angels were there. |
| and forgiveness that IS god/ess, then when a loss | | | | Those who had gone before were also there. |
| occurs, which it will most assuredly, then I will be | | | | My aunt had lost a son and a grandson many years |
| equipped to stand with strength against this adversity. | | | | before. |
| I am one of those people who finds the passing of | | | | They were there. |
| people from this life to the next to be an enlightening | | | | Then, the time came, and my Aunt went on to join |
| experience. I was with my mother when she passed. | | | | those who were waiting. |
| WOW!! What power! The entire room filled with light, | | | | Those three days were over. We had to return to the |
| her spirit moved noticeably up and out from the top of | | | | world where death is not discussed. Or if it is, it's seen |
| her head, and the 73 year old body that remained lost | | | | as a calamity and disaster. |
| all its wrinkles. My dear mum looked like a fourteen | | | | Certainly, to tell the story as I experienced it: that those |
| year old princess. | | | | three days were probably the most meaningful and |
| Then for a day or two, I felt true unconditional love and | | | | beautiful three days of my life, was honest, but |
| compassion for everyone and everything that came | | | | censored information. |
| my way. I'll never forget that. Of course, ordinary | | | | But I saw first hand the following truth: |
| grieving took place around me for my mother. My | | | | That the body is a garment that we shed at the |
| father had much fear and doubt about true matters of | | | | moment of death. Conscious contact with God/ess is |
| the spirit so we comforted him the best we could. But | | | | a skill that when practiced, enriches our understanding |
| my mother had many spiritual women friends with | | | | of death, grief and life. |
| whom I could share my experience. | | | | There is no right or wrong way to deal with these |
| When the experience receded and I returned to | | | | issues. |
| ordinary, everyday consciousness, I never forgot what | | | | Sometimes the only way is through it, like when a |
| happened. I will draw upon it for insight when the time | | | | baby is born. |
| arises in the future for another major loss. The gifts of | | | | As a Labor and Delivery nurse, I've been around many |
| spiritual recovery make it possible to see the miracles | | | | birthing beds. The difference between the birth and |
| of life and death. | | | | death bed is negligible. |
| The same great feeling of eternal intimacy occurred | | | | The Angels and unseen forces are present both |
| around the death bed of my father's sister. | | | | places and times. |
| A group of us held a vigil around that bed: her son, my | | | | The healing that is possible is beyond understanding. |