The last stop on life’s journey is a topic that isn’t discussed much in our society.  Dying is an unspoken part of life and as I grow older it is becoming a more frequent event.  I am learning more about dying and have been at the bedside as Death came to call, helping in-laws and my own parents pass over.  I joined the Twilight Brigade Hospice for Veterans training to learn more.  Life and death are sacred and beautiful.  Not understanding dying feeds fear of it.

Do you ever wonder where we go when we die?  I do.  The options offered to me as I grew up seemed horrible, neutral, or heavenly  with white robes, harp music and sitting on clouds.

What if “heaven” is exactly what we make it up to be?  If that’s possible I’d like trees, warm springs, books, and magic.  I’m an optimist and expect good things to happen.  If I die feeling good, then I may land in the oasis.  If I die suddenly while angry, upset or in fear, it would be very different.  I may get stuck in that unpleasant space for a while.

Warriors, our military, first responders, all give their life for us.  Sadly they may take memories of their tragedies and Post Traumatic Stress with them when they die.  It may cycle over and over, making them unable to move to another level in the afterlife.

I recently read a book called People Who Don't Know They're Dead.  A therapist found a way to communicate with dead people whopossessing live people’s bodies.  He helped the dead people realize they were dead and choose to go to the light with their loved ones that were already there.  The live client felt instantly better.

If we don’t talk about what happens when we die how will we know what to do? This book says we get to the next level and still see our body, the person now in another dimension doesn’t realize he or she is dead because you can still see your body.  They may become ghosts frustrated that they can’t open doors any more.

The study of near death experiences has a common theme that people go to the light and there are familiar people or angels greeting the person passing over.  The NDE person gets sent back, to complete a purpose here.  Dannion Brinkley was the first to reveal his story of a near death (he died 3 times) and he has helped the world understand more about death with Dr. Raymond Moody studies of him.

A cord has been struck within me to understand more about what happens.  It removes fear and enables me to accept death as a normal part of life allowing the soul to go home.  It offers me a choice that resonates more with my spirit.  Dannion talks about the life review.  He said that we experience what we did to others and feel what they felt when we did it.  If my life is continued in my death, then that possibility is enough to influence me to be more thoughtful in my words and actions towards others and myself.

I think we need to talk more openly about birth and death.  Spiritual Psychology addresses our soul’s journey in a way that makes life experiences more understandable.  It helps explain the cause and effect of our actions and can help a person make beneficial insights and experience a more rewarding life.

I encourage you to consider areas in your life that could be more fulfilling.  Take the risk to reach out to someone and patch up any disagreements, rekindle your dreams and let go of situations that rob your happiness.  If what we live here is a blueprint for what happens when we die, then make this the best it can be.  Find the way to have more peace and less stress in your life so we can have it globally.

This Memorial Day when you remember the men, women and children that died helping to preserve our freedoms, send an extra loving intention that they find the light and that their soul may know peace.  They chose a hard job and deserve respect and honor for their bravery and sacrifice.  Too many died for our countries “sins” of greed and control over others.  Many of the living saw death often and they have struggled making peace with what they lived through in the military.

 My father was a corpsman and nurse for twenty years in the Navy.  He was patriotic, conservative, fair, religious and non-violent.   He was against war even though he was doing his part to secure peace for our country.   My older brothers lived all over the country on or near the base and worried when he was overseas.  It’s a difficult life in many ways. 

Consciously send thanks and appreciation to military families, they live with the fear of war and death daily.  Most veterans that I know want peace more than anything.   I intend to do my part.  Will you remember Memorial Day is about the freedom to choose how you believe?

MaryAine Curtis MRET Spiritual Psychology Facilitator www.return2joy.com