journey after death

What Happens After Death? Understanding Where Your Soul Goes

The present state is where you are now. You exist in this present state. From the moment of conception, you became a human being, that is, a “soul.” Your soul is eternal. Scripture teaches us that we exist from conception until death, from death until the Second Coming of Jesus Christ and the General Resurrection from the dead, and then, the New Heavens and the New Earth. This article will seek to answer what happens at death to both your body and soul. 

What Happens After Death?

It is important to admit that the word “soul” is not merely a disembodied entity. In the Bible, “soul” is who you are. Consider Genesis:

God “breathed the breath of life” into Adam, and he became a “living soul” ( Genesis 2:7 ; the New Revised Standard uses the word, “being”). Thus, in the biblical view, Adam does not have a soul; Adam is a soul (i.e., a person, a living being). The soul is, literally, “. . . that which breathes, the breathing substance or being. [1] In his article “Soul,” G.W. Moon says “In Christian theology the soul carries the further connotation of being that part of the individual that partakes of divinity and survives the death of the body.”

Augustine and Thomas Aquinas rejected Platonic dualism, which saw the soul as good and the body as corrupt. These two theological giants, separated by centuries, agreed the Bible teaches that the spirit is the eternal person, but will one day have an eternal body:

“According to Saint Thomas Aquinas, who follows Aristotle in his definition of the human soul, the soul is an individual spiritual substance, the ‘form’ of the body. Both, body and soul together, constitute the human unity, though the soul may be severed from the body and lead a separate existence, as happens after death. The separation, however, is not final, as the soul, in this differing from the angels, was made for the body. [2]

The Psalmist spoke of our soul as the very inmost being of our person: “Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name” ( Psalm 103:1 NIV).

Jesus spoke of the inestimable value of the human soul (and simultaneously taught that soul and body will be reunited for either eternal life with or, in that case, without God):

“Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell” ( Matthew 10:28 NIV).

Your body and soul, like all of Creation, are marred by the Fall and its consequences. Or, as John Milton titled the situation in his epic poem, Paradise Lost.  The fallen soul must be redeemed. This is the plan of God, the Covenant of Grace, that constitutes the single scarlet thread that binds the entire Bible together.

Therefore, we must admit:

Your Body and Soul Need Redeeming From the Fall

David wrote in Psalm 19 about the wonder of God’s world, His creation. But in verse seven David makes a turn. The “general revelation” gives evidence of Almighty God, but “special revelation,” God’s Word, is necessary to do this one thing: “revive” the human soul. Psalm 19:17 says “The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul” ( KJV ).

Indeed, we are to be born again, the soul undergoing a supernatural transition, making it “fit” for heaven. Our souls are “lost” without redemption.

The Bible teaches that there is no other redemption available except that “way” that Almighty God has provided through His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ: “And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” ( Acts 4:12 ESV).

Jesus Christ is the Redeemer According to the Covenant of Grace

When the Gospel is proclaimed and received by faith, the terms of the Covenant are imputed to you (the terms are expressed in “a great exchange:” the repentant and believing sinner receives Christ’s righteousness and His atoning sacrifice on the Cross; Christ received the sinner’s sin and punishment for sin). You pass from death and judgment to forgiveness and eternal life. “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment but has passed from death to life” ( John 5:24 ESV).Not so the unrepentant. The soul remains in a fallen state, responsible for the terms of the Covenant of Works (the soul that sins must die). It is for this reason that the Psalmist, speaking in the voice of the Messiah to come, declares that God will not leave his soul to perish. This truth is also picked up by Peter in his first sermon at Pentecost. The soul without God will undergo unimaginable loss that is described by Jesus with the most severe imagery (e.g., Matthew 25:46 : “And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”).

My dear reader: your soul and mine must be redeemed from the auction block of sin and the devil lest we — that is, our souls — face certain loss and punishment. And the only Redeemer of God’s elect is the Lord Jesus Christ. Repent. Trust in the resurrected and living Christ while you are still reading this article. Stop what you are doing and turn to Jesus Christ by faith.

Our study leads us, then, to the place of the soul between death and the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.

When we say, “the intermediate state ,” we are not speaking of “limbo” or “purgatory” or any such thing. We are speaking of that period in which the soul is in heaven and our remains await resurrection. That is the “intermediate state” in our personal eschatology.

Where Do Bodies Go After Death?

The redeemed are ushered into the eternal presence of the Lord, and those without an advocate (righteousness to meet God’s Law and sacrifice to atone for sin) are ushered into hell to await the New Heaven and New Earth.

The Bible teaches that the human spirit, upon departing the body, goes immediately into the presence of God for either His welcoming or His disapproval. Thus, our blessed Savior taught this truth when He gave the parable of the wicked in Hell crying out to Abraham for refreshment:

“There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus , covered with sores, who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man’s table. Moreover, even the dogs came and licked his sores. The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried, and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. And he called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame.’ But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish ( Luke 16:19-25 ESV).

There is no more concise and thoroughly Biblical expression of faith about the soul going immediately to be with God until the resurrection than the 38 th question in the Westminster Shorter Catechism:

Q. 38. What benefits do believers receive from Christ at the resurrection? A. At the resurrection, believers being raised up in glory ( 1 Cor. 15:42-43 ), shall be openly acknowledged and acquitted in the day of judgment ( Matt 25:33-34 ), and made perfectly blessed in the full enjoying of God ( Rom. 8:29 , 1 John 3:2 ) to all eternity ( Ps. 16:11 , 1 John 3:2 ).

At death, the body returns to the elements: “dust to dust . . .” But the soul resurrects with a new heavenly body. 

At the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, the General Resurrection commences. The redeemed bodies are renewed with the eternal soul and rise to meet Jesus Christ, joining Him in the air, taking their place with the glorious company of angels, archangels, prophets, apostles, martyrs and the whole company of heaven. The Great White Throne Judgement has been the subject of classical Christian teaching throughout Church history: “And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them” ( Revelation 20:11 ).

The unregenerate bodies are also resurrected. United with soul, each appears before the Great Final Judgment. Without the Advocate, our Lord Jesus Christ, these suffer the righteous sentence of God for unbelief. The redeemed also appear before the Lord. But Jesus Christ is their Advocate. His perfect life is accounted to theirs to meet the Divine requirement of perfect obedience (Christ fulfills the Covenant of Works). The Lord Jesus’ atoning death on Calvary’s Cross provides the blood sacrifice of the only Son of God applied to their lives. The punishment of their sins has been placed upon the Second Person of the One true and holy God.

The redeemed are fully acquitted, by God in Christ, their Savior. The unredeemed are cast into eternal hell with the devil and his angels (demons). Walter A. Elwell and Barry J. Beitzel summarized it in their article “Eschatology” with brilliant concision and brevity:

“All who have died will come to life. This will be a bodily resurrection, a resumption of bodily existence of each person. For believers this will take place in connection with the second coming of Christ and will involve the transformation of the body of this present flesh into a new, perfected body ( 1 Cor 15:35-56 ). The Bible also indicates a resurrection of unbelievers, unto eternal death ( Jn 5:28 , 29).

The great Dutch commentator, William Hendriksen, wrote with unsurpassed theological and Scriptural fidelity as he described this event in his book “ More Than Conquerors: An Interpretation of the Book of Revelation ”:

“Christ’s coming in judgment is vividly described. John sees a great white throne. Upon it is seated the Christ ( Matt. 25:31 ; Rev. 14:14 ). From His face the earth and the heaven flee away. Not the destruction or annihilation but the renovation of the universe is indicated here. It will be a dissolution of the elements with great heat ( 2 Pet. 3:10 ); a regeneration (Mt. 19:28); a restoration of all things ( Acts 3:21 ); and a deliverance from the bondage of corruption ( Rom. 8:21 ). No longer will this universe be subject to ‘vanity’. John sees the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne. All individuals who have ever lived on earth are seen before the throne. The books are opened and the records of the life of every person consulted (Dn. 7:10). Also, the book of life, containing the names of all believers is opened ( Rev. 3:5 ; 13:8). The dead are judged in accordance with their works (Mt. 25:31 ff.; Rom. 14:10 ; 2 Cor. 5:10 ). The sea gives up its dead; so do Death and Hades. Here is the one, general resurrection of all the dead. The entire Bible teaches but one, general resurrection (read Jn. 5:28 f.). This one and only and general resurrection takes place at the last day ( Jn. 6:39 f., 44, 54).”

Even After Death - The New Heaven and the New Earth

The universe, earth, and all things are both burned and then renewed as the New Heavens and the New Earth is unveiled. While the souls (and bodies reunited) of the unrepentant are cast into eternal hell, believers are welcomed into the New Heaven and New Earth. One of the most remarkable passages among so many equally astounding passages is found in St. Paul’s first epistle to the Church at Corinth. In Chapter 15, the inspired Apostle makes the resurrection the centering point for “eternity past” and “eternity future.” Paul seeks to give words to what he sees at the farthest reaches of the future state: “When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things in subjection under him, that God may be all in all” ( 1 Corinthians 15:28 ).

Thus, the human soul. From the breath of life at conception to the inscrutable event in ages to come when, body and soul, we witness the climactic fulfillment of the ancient Covenant, this is the soul of a believer. The soul without Christ is in peril. The soul of any who calls upon the name of the Lord to be saved will be gloriously transformed.

Answering “What happens to my soul when I die?”

As a pastor and a teaching theologian, this is one of the most frequent questions I receive. However, the inquiry most often comes to me, not in the form of an abstract question, but in the context of crisis. Indeed, this is how the question was posed by Mrs. Henley: in a defining moment of her faith on trial.

I was a young pastor. I was on assignment as a pastoral care intern for a congregation not my own. I was a pastor “on loan,” one might say. My mission? I was dispatched by the church leadership to provide pastoral ministry to a family I didn’t know. I was told that the Henley family was gathered at a nearby nursing home and that they had requested a pastoral presence. The elder who telephoned me gave instructions that I would find Mr. Henley, a long-time member, in room 201. Mrs. Gladys Henley, his wife of sixty-some-odd years would be there to greet me. Mr. Henley’s forty-something-year-old son and his wife would also be there. They had flown in from the West Coast to be with the matriarch and patriarch in this difficult time.

I rehearsed the coming pastoral visit in my mind as I pulled into the covered parking garage. I guided my trusty old Buick sedan into that most appreciated of privileges — clergy parking. I put her in park. I killed the engine. I drew in a breath of hope as I exhaled a prayer for help: “Lord, guide me.”

Before departing for the brief stroll to the nursing home, I opened my Bible. I needed a passage that would serve as my “pastoral prescription” for the spiritual cure to the anticipated spiritual condition of this family. I keep a list of familiar Bible chapters and verses for hospital visits. The passages are arranged, in smeared fountain ink from my own hand, according to spiritual cure of common conditions — aging, bereavement, conflict, and so forth. I came to “vigil.” The family vigil is the gathering of family members (and close friends) in anticipation of a loved one’s passing. My eyes found the words of Luke’s Acts of the Apostles and Saint Peter’s quotation of 

Psalm 16:10 , “For you will not abandon my soul to Hades or let your Holy One see corruption. You have made known to me the paths of life; you will make me full of gladness with your presence” ( Acts 2:27 , 28 ESV).

The family greeted me at the lobby of this elegant elderly care facility. Formal introductions in hushed tones formed the introduction to the family. The Henley son, Robert, Jr., asked me to follow them to Mr. Henley’s room. Mr. Robert Henley, Sr., Esq., was nearly 100 years old. The wise old jurist was a long-time follower of Jesus Christ. Others recognized his gift of gentle leadership and patient wisdom. He was a well-beloved elder, a lay officer, in his home church. Robert Henley had been a prominent attorney in the community where I served. The phrase “city father” comes to mind. Mr. Henley was known as a godly, devoted family man, who also gave much of his life, and not a small amount of his fortune, to the service and needs of his neighbors.

He never had political aspirations. However, if you were a politician and wanted to increase your chances of election, you likely would pay a visit to Robert Henley before you even filed as a candidate. I guess one could say that Mr. Henley had gravitas. He was a big man, a great man, and a faithful man. His immediate family—Mrs. Henley and her adult son, Robert, Jr., and his wife, Katherine—were gathered in a family vigil. For, by then, Mr. Henley was a dying man.

It would be a familiar scene in my ministry for years to come. A grieving family gathered around a weakened figure. Prayers, hymns, silence, and memories converge to form a needed blanket of peace for the one about to depart if not more so for those remaining. Being with a family at such a tender time remains one of the greatest honors of my life. Ask any pastor. He will tell you the same.

I had been in Mr. Henley’s room at the nursing home — for all intents and purposes, it was a hospital room — for more than two hours. The family had been there much longer. I was thinking about the man before me, the man I didn’t know, but the man I was called to prepare for a journey home. My contemplations were pleasantly interrupted when a cheerful nurse came in to check for vital signs of her patient. As she finished her monitoring, she looked at Mrs. Henley and smiled. The kind woman leaned over and put her arm around Mrs. Henley and spoke softly: “Hon, why don’t you go to our café and get you some coffee and a sandwich? They have got some good sandwiches! And you sure need a break.” I certainly agreed. Poor Mrs. Henley looked so tired. The nurse encouraged Mrs. Henley with another whisper, as she helped her up, “Come on, now, Mrs. Henley. There we go . . .”

Reluctantly, Mrs. Henley agreed and stood erect in the room. Her son, Robert, Jr., and Katherine, his wife, the younger Mrs. Henley — a demure but smartly-dressed young lady with a pretty and seemingly permanent smile — guided the weakening wife away. I listened to the echoes of their steps in the hall. I heard the elevator ring its arrival. Then a sacred stillness seemed to descend on the scene like someone’s mother casting a cotton sheet on a bed in slow motion. Still. Slow. Silent. Holy.

I was alone in the hospital room with Mr. Henley. The various medical mechanisms mimicked the beating of his heart, inhaling, and exhaling of his lungs. I listened to the rhythmic beep-beep of a monitor, and the oscillating hiss of oxygen. I had taken a seat when the family had walked out. Yet, at that moment, I felt led to stand. I also felt led to speak, “Mr. Henley, I am not sure if you can hear me, Sir. Mr. Henley, I have a Scripture for you from God’s Word. It is a very simple and powerful truth. I am certain that you know it.” 

The blips, beeps, and hisses were unimpressed by my announcement. The background noises continued as a kind of technological witness. “Mr. Henley, this is the Word of the Lord: ‘We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord’ ( 2 Corinthians 5:8 KJV). Did you hear that Mr. Henley? Jesus will never leave you nor forsake you. And if He comes for you, your spirit — the real you! — will be with Jesus. The One you have loved throughout all of the days of your life will receive you.” He moved not. However, I was not deterred. I was convicted by early experience in my internship to read Scripture even if a patient was in a coma. I would follow for over three decades, occasionally with memorable results. This was one of them.  

I began to pray the Lord’s Prayer audibly: “Our Father . . .” Suddenly, and quite astonishingly, Mr. Henley’s lips began trying to move. I drew closer, still praying, “who art in heaven . . .” The old saint was seeking to pray with me. I continued. “Hallowed be Thy Name . . .” This dear man of God was giving the last measure of strength to do what he had done for nearly five thousand Sundays. He began to worship  God. It was as if the words to the Lord’s Prayer sparked an autonomic response of the soul. He opened his dry, cracking lips for just long enough to pray with me. He uttered the next phrase as if waiting to catch up with me. “Thy Kingdom come; Thy will be done . . .” As I continued, more confident in my own faith because of his, his voice went silent. The small motion of his lips ceased in mid-sentence. And as suddenly as he had begun, he stopped praying. Mr. Henley had stopped breathing. At just about “Thy Kingdom come . . .” Mr. Henley’s prayer was answered. Mr. Henley was in the presence of the Lord.

I stood without movement. I was transfixed by the sight. There was even a kind of beauty, though I was holding the hand of a dead man. I thought of the Psalmist’s words, “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints” ( Psalm 116:15 KJV). My fixed gaze of wonder was interrupted by the necessary practicality of nurses, residents, and orderlies hastening to the scene. In witnessing this miracle of the migration of the human soul, I didn't even notice the alarms. The mechanical sentries had sounded their call. The compassionate health care professionals answered in a second. But as I watched them, the scene was less of an emergency and more of, well, more of a tender moment of confirming what all were anticipating.

Soon enough, the family returned. Robert Jr. and Katherine both put their arms around Mrs. Henley. It was a holy moment. Soft sobs replaced the electronic sounds of the medical machinery. I knew the power of the ministry of presence as Mrs. Henley moved from her son to look at me. This new widow needed the promises of God, the assurance of the love of God, and the hope of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. For this reason, I was there. I embraced her — perhaps, better put, she embraced me — and she wept, ever so softly. This elderly woman of God, smaller than I, nestled her gray head on my chest. I was being inaugurated into the ministry by Mrs. Henley.

And then it happened. Right after I spoke these words, it happened: “Mrs. Henley, the Bible says that your dear husband is in the presence of our Lord Jesus at this very second. He passed from this life into the loving arms of Jesus. I was with him as his soul departed this room. He is more alive than ever.”

She confirmed my words by nodding her head as I held her. But something happened that I will never forget. The still, quiet sobs were broken by a rather stern word from her son. “Mother, I am sorry, but that is not right. Daddy is not here. And Daddy is not anywhere else. He is, well, for all practical purposes, just asleep.” He spoke the words for his mother, but he aimed his arrows at me. I was stunned, not by the theological error as much as the inappropriateness and even callousness of his words. “Mother, come out here and let me talk to you.” Mrs. Henley followed obediently. Scolded as her husband had died, she had, in the opinion of her son, succumbed to “nonsense.” She followed obediently. What else could she do? I stood motionless as both the family departed, and the medical professionals began procedures for removal of the body.

It could not have been more than about three minutes when Mrs. Henley returned. By this time, her late husband’s remains had been removed from the room. I extended my hands to welcome Mrs. Henley back. She took my hands without ever moving her eyes from mine. I smiled as if, perhaps, a warm gesture could erase the recent unpleasant words. Mrs. Henley broke down in heaving tears. I could barely hear her words: “Oh Pastor, my son says that my husband’s soul is just asleep! He is not with the Lord! Oh Pastor, everything I have ever known, ever believed, must be wrong!” I held Mrs. Henley and felt the deep grief rising through her sobs. “He is gone, Pastor. But where? Where is my husband?

I shared that intimate story with you because I believe that it illustrates the deep emotions that are involved with the question, “What happens to the soul at the time of death?” The question is not an esoteric inquiry into the unknowable. God has revealed to us in his word what happens to the human soul at the moment of death. In order to understand the answer to this question according to the Scriptures, we would do well to employ a systematic theological study  of the Christian faith concerning the question of the soul. To do so, let us arrange the biblical material according to the Bible’s explanation about the soul and the soul’s destiny. We will see that there is a present state, an intermediate state, and a final state . Theologians call this a personal eschatology. Eschatology speaks about the last things. We often think of eschatology in more cosmic terms, for example, what happens to the heavens and the earth in the future. That is a cosmic eschatology. But a personal eschatology is concerned with what happens to you. So let us begin.

As I opened my Bible and asked his grieving widow to read the Scriptures, she wiped her eyes, sought to compose herself, and adjusted her 1960s-framed-spectacle before leaning in to read: “We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord” ( 2 Corinthians 5:8 KJV). Mrs. Henley looked up again, her silver-haired, intelligent head raising, her eyes meeting mine. “Pastor, I read that according to the Bible my Robert — my husband, Mr. Henley — is with the Lord. As soon as his spirit left his body he went to be with Jesus. That is what I had always been taught. But my son . . . Oh, pastor, is this the truth?”

I put my right hand on her shoulder seeking to agree. “Yes, Mrs. Henley. I watched as the soul of your husband departed his body. According to the Word of the Lord, there is no doubt that he is in the presence of the Lord Jesus.” I gently placed my left hand to a shoulder, now looking at her intently, holding her shoulders, directing my gaze with the strongest possible position of attention: “My beloved Mrs. Henley,” I paused to prepare for an unequivocal declaration to this grieving woman: “Ma’am: According to the promises of our Lord Jesus Christ I say to you that in the name of God, you will  see your husband again.”  And she rested in the promises of God.

But have you? I say to anyone reading: God created you as a person: soul and body.  The soul lives forever in one of two places: with your Creator or without Him. The adjudication of your eternal life rests with the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. And He welcomes any and all who will turn from all other persons and plans and turn unto Him. For Jesus our Lord says, “Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Rest from the frantic search for answers. Trust in Christ Jesus the resurrected and living Lord of life. His Covenant of Grace — Christ’s righteousness accounted for what you lack, and Christ’s sacrifice applied for your sins — has secured your destiny. And you will never walk alone.

God’s promises are your destiny: when you die, your soul goes immediately to the Lord. Your earthly remains are precious to God. “If the farmer knows where the corn is in the barn, then our Father knows where His precious seed is in the earth.” And in Christ, God will raise those remains to eternal life. If you have received Jesus Christ as Lord, you will be acquitted of all sins by the righteousness and the sacrifice on the cross by your Savior. And safe in the arms of Jesus. Why not pray with me?

Lord, our Heavenly Father: I am in awe of Your mighty creative power demonstrated not only in the wonder of the stars above or in the microscopic invisible world, but, especially, in the coming of Your Son Jesus our Lord; and in Him, in His perfect life lived for me and His sacrificial death offered for me on the cross, I do repent — turn away from — my sin of unbelief, self-sufficiency, and trusting in anyone and thing other than Your Messiah, Jesus of Nazareth; I know that I am a soul and body, and I ask that You transform my soul according to Your promises and Your power; I ask that you forgive me and receive me as Your child; and I believe that when I depart from this life I will go immediately to You, O dear Lord; So, take me and use me for Your glory. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

[1] Richard Whitaker, Francis Brown, et al., The Abridged Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew-English Lexicon of the Old Testament: From A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament by Francis Brown, S.R. Driver and Charles Briggs, Based on the Lexicon of Wilhelm Gesenius (Boston; New York: Houghton, Mifflin and Company, 1906).

[2] F. L. Cross and Elizabeth A. Livingstone, eds., The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church (Oxford;  New York: Oxford University Press, 2005), 1531.

Photo credit: ©GettyImages/ipopba

Unconscious

What happens after death, three viewpoints expressed by my teenage patients..

Posted February 11, 2023 | Reviewed by Tyler Woods

• What Is the Unconscious
• Find a therapist near me
• A common view is that after death, the soul ascends to heaven.
• Some are certain about the lack of existence after death and believe this makes life all the more beautiful.
• A humble position is to accept that what happens after death is unknowable.

Children often bring up the subject of death in my counseling practice. Some children in their middle elementary school years report a fear of dying and sometimes express worry about falling asleep because they or their family members might die overnight. More frequently, teenagers bring up the topic of death in the context of coming to grips with having a finite life and asking about its meaning.

Many of my patients who bring up the topic deal with anxiety , but some deal with the loss or impending loss of a loved one, including a pet. Some patients have a serious or terminal medical illness that brings death closer to home.

Studies have shown that children develop views on death based on how it is presented to them. If death is presented as resulting from a cessation of biological function, young children are more apt to think of death in biological terms than when death is explained in an afterlife context, e.g., “Your grandmother is now with God.” However, as they age, children and adults often adopt two parallel stances about death involving a biological and an afterlife or religious stance (Harris, 2018).

In this post, I present the views of representative teenagers from my practice, including brief excerpts of the discussions I have had with them.

A common view expressed by many of my patients is that after death, their souls will go to heaven. These patients also mostly believe that their pets will go to heaven. However, very few say they can explain what happens in heaven. They are of split opinion regarding whether they can interact with the souls of loved ones in heaven.

For grieving patients who believe in the afterlife, I offer the opportunity to use hypnosis to interact with their loved ones. Most patients take up this opportunity, including those who say they are unsure whether interactions are possible with the deceased. After they imagine such an interaction, most patients report that it felt real and that they feel better about the loss of their loved one.

Some patients wonder how heaven can be real if different religions view the afterlife differently. We discuss that religions represent mankind’s attempts to make sense of the world and define principles we should live. I suggest that since people have promulgated religions, the guidance they offer may be imperfect and inconsistent within each religion or in comparison with other religions, even if God originally inspired it.

There Is Nothing After Death

A view expressed by a minority of my patients is that existence ceases at death. They explain that they believe there is no ability to feel, think, or perceive anything after death. Some express that life is pointless as it has no inherent meaning.

I share that a few of my patients believe that the lack of existence after death makes life all the more beautiful. They suggest that the fragility of life can serve as an impetus to make the most out of it.

We discuss that our perception of reality is limited by what our brains have been geared to handle. For example, we know a lot that we cannot perceive, such as light or sound, that is out of range of our brain’s ability to register. It also is reasonable to assume that there are many things we cannot perceive, of which we are unaware. Thus, rather than a position of certainty about the lack of existence after death, it may be more humble to hold an agnostic position: It is unknowable what happens after death.

Uncertainty

My remaining patients state they do not know what happens after death, and many are bothered by this ambiguity.

I ask my patients if they want to find out whether they can develop a different understanding of what happens after death. If they are interested, I offer to interview their subconscious and typically ask the following questions:

Did you exist before the patient was born? The majority of my patients’ subconscious responds affirmatively.

Will you exist after the patient dies? Nearly all of the subconscious responds affirmatively.

If patients have questions for their subconscious, we pose them. Whether the subconscious responses to these questions represent a reality regarding existence after death or the patients’ wishful thinking, from a clinical standpoint, it is apparent that this exercise is useful as patients report feeling better.

Finally, I often share a story I wrote as an 18-year-old when I grappled with the same questions.

The Potion-Maker

The main character of this story is the potion-maker who has a shop that contains all the potions that might exist. He offers a potion of everlasting life for free to a young man who has come into the shop. The young man inquired whether the potion-maker knew if there is life after death.

“Why yes, I do,” answered the potion-maker, gesturing toward a massive book on his shelf. “I have determined that there is definitely no life after death.”

In response to the young man’s question, the potion-maker stated that he has not taken the potion.

“But why not?”

“The reason is quite simple,” explained the potion-maker. “Life is just too long if it lasts an eternity. I would see everything, do everything, gain everything, lose everything, and then I would still need to exist for an eternity with nothing new to do.”

The young man thanked the potion-maker for his honesty but declined to take the potion.

Sometime later, a young lady entered the shop and inquired about the potion or everlasting life. She, too, wanted to know if there is life after death.

“I have looked at that question long and hard, “replied the potion-maker. “And I have reached the conclusion that it is impossible to reach a conclusion regarding this question.”

The young lady mused, “There are so many things I want to do. It would simply be marvelous to live forever.”

The potion-maker interjected, “But what if there is a heaven? Would you not be missing your chance to go there if you lived forever on this Earth?”

The young lady decided to pass on the opportunity to live forever.

Finally, an old man rushed into the store and demanded the potion of everlasting life.

“But wait,” said the potion-maker. “Don’t be hasty. Should you not consider that I have proven that there is life after death? I’ve even proven there is a heaven.”

“Yes,” said the old man irritably. “I already know that heaven exists. And I also know that there is a hell. And that’s where I’ll be going if I do not live forever. For you see, I have committed a terrible crime .”

“I see,” said the potion-maker. “You wish to live forever so that you can escape eternal damnation?”

“Yeah,” replied the old man. “Can I have the potion now?”

“Certainly.” The potion-maker gave the old man a bottle of black bubbling liquid.

The old man turned away from the counter and looked out the door of the shop as he greedily drank the potion. He started feeling better within a few moments.

“Am I going to live forever now?” he asked.

“Yes,” replied the devil.

The potion-maker story often serves as a platform for my patients to further discuss their ideas.

I share with my patients that I believe the mystery of death is one of the gifts we have been given by virtue of being sentient beings. This mystery can prompt us to carefully consider what we want to achieve in our limited existence on this Earth and gives us a better perspective regarding what is truly important in our lives.

Harris, Paul, L. 2018. Children’s understanding of death: from biology to religion. Phil Trans R Soc B , 373: 20170266.

More information about how patients deal with questions relating to death can be found in the 2021 book, "Changing Children’s Lives with Hypnosis: A Journey to the Center," by Ran D. Anbar, Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield.

Ran D. Anbar, M.D., FAAP, is board-certified in both pediatric pulmonology and general pediatrics. He is the author of the new book Changing Children’s Lives with Hypnosis: A Journey to the Center .

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End-of-Life Stages Timeline

What to Expect as Someone Nears Death

• 40 to 90 Days Before
• 1 to 2 Weeks Before
• Days to Hours Before

The dying process usually begins well before death takes place. There are often signs 40 days (or more) before death where people move through end-of-life stages that follow a general timeline.

Being tuned in to the physical, mental, and emotional changes of your loved one can help you recognize the signs that they're dying. Knowing more about the end-of-life process may help you better prepare for what's to come.

This article explains a typical end-of-life timeline and what happens to someone mentally, behaviorally, and physically. While some people may follow this closely, not everyone experiences all stages and some may cycle through the stages far faster (even within days) or for months.

Signs: 40 to 90 Days Before Death

The dying process often comes into view about 40 to 90 days before death. Many of the experiences that take place at this first end-of-life stage are broadly common but the specifics can differ for each individual. A healthcare provider may be able to give you a sense of your loved one's expected timeline as they move through these stages.

Physical Changes

As the body starts to slow down, a dying person may have the following physical signs:

• Reduced appetite
• Reduced thirst
• Increased sleeping
• Weight loss
• Mild sense of happiness and well-being ( euphoria ) due to natural changes in body chemistry

The reduced appetite and weight loss can be alarming, but it helps to know your loved one isn't suffering in any way by not eating. Their energy needs decrease when they stop regular activities and start sleeping more.

As the body slows down to prepare for death, the metabolism slows down and requires less food. The digestive tract is also less active, which means a dying person won't feel hungry or thirsty.

Mental and Behavioral Changes

Social and cultural factors help shape a person's dying experience. For example, gender roles can be a factor.

Talking Openly About Death

Research suggests men are less likely than women to talk openly about their mortality and end-of-life wishes. One reason might be that men find it more difficult to ask for help and don't want to come across as "needy."

These differences aren't necessarily unique to one gender identity, though. Plenty of women struggle to talk about their deaths and don't want anyone to feel "burdened" by caring for them.

Religious and cultural backgrounds can influence how someone feels about the dying process. Depending on their beliefs, certain practices, rituals, and customs can be steps along the end-of-life timeline.

Withdrawal and Reflection

As they start to accept their mortality and realize death is approaching , they may start to withdraw. They're beginning the process of separating from the world and the people in it.

During this stage, your loved one may say no to visits from friends, neighbors, and even family. When they do accept visitors, it might be hard for them to interact. That may make you feel rejected, which is especially hard when you know your time with the person is limited.

This stage is also one of reflection. The dying person often thinks back over their life and revisits old memories. They might also be going over the things they regret.

Signs: 1 to 2 Weeks Before Death

Verywell / Cindy Chung

The dying process starts to move faster in the last week or two of life. The acceleration can be frightening for loved ones.

As death approaches, you may want to "correct" them if they say things that don't make sense—but it's better not to. At this stage, it's better to listen to and support your loved one rather than to risk upsetting them or starting an argument.

For example, your loved one might say that they see or hear a person who died before them. In those moments, just let your loved one tell you about it.

You might feel frustrated because you can't know for sure whether they're hallucinating, having a spiritual experience, or just getting confused. The uncertainty can be unsettling, but it's part of the process.

At this point in the end-of-life timeline, a dying person's body has a hard time maintaining itself. Your loved one may need help with just about any form of activity.

For example, they may have trouble swallowing medications or refuse to take them. If they have been taking pain medications, they may need liquid morphine now to manage pain.

During this end-of-life stage, signs that death is near include:

• Body temperature that's one or more degrees lower than normal
• Cold hands and feet 
• Lower blood pressure
• An irregular pulse that may slow down or speed up
• Increased sweating
• Skin color changes, with lips and nail beds that are pale, bluish, or, in people of color, purplish
• Breathing changes (e.g., a rattling sound and cough)
• Less or no talking
• Sudden arm or leg motions
• Constipation
• Incontinence

During this stage of the end-of-life timeline, people tend to:

• Sleep most of the time
• Become confused
• Have altered senses
• Experience delusions (fearing hidden enemies, feeling invincible)
• Continue or begin having hallucinations (seeing or speaking to people who aren't present or who have died)
• Become restless (pick at bedsheets or clothing, have aimless or senseless movements)

It can be hard for you to witness these changes, but it's important that you remain supportive.

Signs: Days to Hours Before Death

In their last days or hours, the dying person may go through several possible stages.

Surge of Energy

The last few days before death can surprise family members. At this stage, your loved one may have a sudden surge of energy. They may want to get out of bed, talk to loved ones, or eat after having no appetite for days or weeks.

You may take these actions as signs that a dying person is getting better, but the energy will soon go away. It can be painful to watch this happen but know that this is a common step within the end-of-life timeline. These energy bursts are a dying person's final physical acts before moving on.

The surges of activity are usually short. The previous signs of being close to death return more strongly once the energy has been spent.

Breathing Changes

At this stage, a dying person's breathing becomes slower and less regular. Rapid breaths followed by periods of no breathing at all ( Cheyne-Stokes breathing) may occur. You may also hear a " rattling " sound when they breathe.

These changes can be unpleasant to witness but you should try to remember that these are not signs your loved one is uncomfortable.

Change in Appearance

Your loved one's hands and feet may start looking blotchy, purplish, or mottled. The changes in skin appearance may slowly move up their arms and legs.

Also, their lips and nail beds may turn bluish or purple, and their lips may droop.

Unresponsiveness

At this end-of-life stage, a dying person usually becomes unresponsive. They may have their eyes open but not be able to see their surroundings.

It's widely believed that hearing is the last sense to stop working. Knowing this can remind you that it's still valuable to sit with and talk to your dying loved one during this time.

Reaching the End

When your loved one stops breathing and their heart stops beating, death has occurred. Other signs of death include:

• No muscle tension
• Eyes remain fixed
• Bowel or bladder releasing

Supporting a loved one at the end of their life can be difficult, but you don't have to go through it alone. Reach out to a hospice , social worker, or clergy member to help you navigate the process. They can help you recognize and understand some of the changes that are happening as your loved one moves through the process of death.

People deal with grief in different ways. After your loved one has died, bereavement support groups may be useful. There are some common feelings and experiences that some people may want to share with others.

Signs can be evident one to three months before someone's death. Physical, mental, and behavioral changes are common.

In the week or two before death, the dying process speeds up. They may become more confused and periodically not make sense. Their bodily process may slow down or become erratic, but the person may also appear restless.

In the final days or hours of life, many people have a brief surge of energy and seem like they're doing better. However, once the surge passes, they may appear worse. You may notice breathing changes and skin discoloration.

Knowing these signs may help you prepare for the end of a loved one's life and bring you comfort as you face the physical and mental changes that happen along the end-of-life timeline.

Frequently Asked Questions

The pre-active stage of dying can last around two to three weeks. That said, there are many factors that contribute to how long the entire process of dying takes for each person, such as their illness and medications.

When a person near the end of life stops eating entirely, it is a sign that death is near. It can be as quick as a few days or up to 10 days. However, some people survive for a few weeks after they stop eating.

A dying person will become unconscious, but that does not always mean they are completely unaware of their surroundings. It may bring you (and perhaps, them) some comfort to stay if you'd like to, but that's a personal choice.

Hospice Foundation of America. Signs of Approaching Death .

Hospice Foundation of America. A Caregiver's Guide to the Dying Process .

Skulason B, Hauksdottir A, Ahcic K, Helgason AR. Death talk: gender differences in talking about one’s own impending death .  BMC Palliative Care . 2014;13(1). doi:10.1186/1472-684x-13-8

Hartogh GD. Suffering and dying well: on the proper aim of palliative care . Med Health Care Philos . 2017;20(3):413-424. doi:10.1007/s11019-017-9764-3

Department of Health, Victoria Government. Managing Physical Symptoms During Palliative Care ,

Wholihan D. Seeing the light: End-of-life experiences-visions, energy surges, and other death bed phenomena . Nurs Clin North Am . 2016;51(3):489-500. doi:10.1016/j.cnur.2016.05.005

Marie Curie Foundation. Final Moments of Life .

Blundon EG, Gallagher RE, Ward LM. Electrophysiological evidence of preserved hearing at the end of life . Sci Rep . 2020;10(1):10336. doi:10.1038/s41598-020-67234-9

Hospice Foundation of America. Signs of approaching death .

By Angela Morrow, RN Angela Morrow, RN, BSN, CHPN, is a certified hospice and palliative care nurse.

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Commentary on the Bhagavadgita by Swami Krishnananda

Links for this book.

Table of Contents

• List of Abbreviations
• The Colophon of the Bhagavadgita
• The First Chapter: Visada Yoga, The Yoga of the Dejection of the Spirit
• The Second Chapter Begins: Sankhya Yoga, The Distinction between Purusha and Prakriti
• The Second Chapter Continues: How to Live in the World
• The Second Chapter Concludes: The Establishment of the Soul in Universality
• The Third Chapter Begins: The Relation Between Sankhya and Yoga
• The Third Chapter Concludes: The Knower of Reality
• The Fourth Chapter Begins: The Avataras of God
• The Fourth Chapter Continues: The Performance of Action as a Sacrifice
• The Fourth Chapter Concludes: Methods of Worship and of Self-Control
• The Fifth Chapter Begins: Knowledge and Action are One
• The Fifth Chapter Continues: The Characteristics of a Perfected Person
• The Fifth Chapter Concludes: The Characteristics of the Sage Who is Established in Brahman
• The Sixth Chapter Begins: The Characteristics of a Sannyasi and a Yogi
• The Sixth Chapter Continues: Requirements for the Practice of Meditation
• The Sixth Chapter Continues: Meditation on the Ishta Devata
• The Sixth Chapter Concludes: God's Great Promise to Us
• A Summary of the First Six Chapters
• The Seventh Chapter Begins: Transcending the Sankhya
• The Seventh Chapter Continues: The Glory of God and His Creation
• The Seventh Chapter Continues: The Gospel of Universal Religion
• The Seventh Chapter Concludes: Worshipping Deities
• The Eighth Chapter Begins: The Different Facets of the Supreme Being
• The Eighth Chapter Continues: The Thought at the Time of Death
• The Eighth Chapter Continues: Types of Liberation
• The Eighth Chapter Concludes: The Journey of the Soul After Death
• The Ninth Chapter Begins: The Kingly Knowledge and the Greatness of God
• The Ninth Chapter Concludes: Undivided Devotion to God
• A Summary of the First Nine Chapters
• The Tenth Chapter Begins: The Glories of God
• The Tenth Chapter Concludes: God's Special Manifestations
• The Eleventh Chapter Begins: Introduction to the Visvarupa Darshana
• The Eleventh Chapter Continues: The Visvarupa Darshana
• The Eleventh Chapter Continues: The Visvarupa Darshana Continues
• The Eleventh Chapter Concludes: Whole-souled Devotion to God
• The Twelfth Chapter Begins: The Best of Yogins
• The Twelfth Chapter Concludes: The Supreme Devotee of God
• The Thirteenth Chapter Begins: Consciousness and Matter
• The Thirteenth Chapter Continues: The Field and the Knower of the Field
• The Thirteenth Chapter Concludes: Understanding Purusha and Prakriti
• The Fourteenth Chapter: Rising Above the Three Gunas
• The Fifteenth Chapter Begins: The World as an Inverted Tree
• The Fifteenth Chapter Concludes: The Greatest Secret Revealed
• The Sixteenth Chapter Begins: Divine and Undivine Qualities
• The Sixteenth Chapter Concludes: What is Proper and What is Improper in Our Life
• The Seventeenth Chapter Begins: The Threefold Character of Faith
• The Seventeenth Chapter Concludes: The Meaning of Om Tat Sat
• The Eighteenth Chapter Begins: Renunciation, and Types of Action
• The Eighteenth Chapter Continues: Types of Understanding, Determination and Happiness
• The Eighteenth Chapter Continues: Knowing One's Duty
• The Eighteenth Chapter Concludes: The Bhagavadgita Concludes
• Appendix: Sri Krishna—The Guru of All Gurus

Discourse 26: The Eighth Chapter Concludes – The Journey of the Soul After Death

The Eighth Chapter of the Bhagavadgita deals with the subject of life after death. The Puranas, the Upanishads, the Yoga Vasishtha and the Bhagavadgita contain many varieties of descriptions of the condition of the soul after it leaves this body. The Puranas, especially, go into a detailed, lurid description of the condition in which the soul finds itself—particularly if it has not done any merit, or if the merit it has done is so negligible that the wrongs it has committed outweigh the good or are on an equal footing with it.

The stories in the Garuda Purana and such other scriptures, even in the Bhagavata, are really frightening. When the soul departs from the body in the case of these lower, unpurified and negligibly religious souls, it is taken away by the messengers of Yama and placed before the Lord of Death for judgment.

It is said that Yama asks the soul, “What have you done?”

Ordinarily, it cannot remember anything. It will say, “I don't know.”

The shock of separation from the body removes all memory, and it cannot remember what it has done in the previous life. It is said that then a hot rod, called a yamadanda, is kept on its head, and immediately it remembers its entire past. It knows every detail of the actions that it did, both good and bad.

The soul says, “I have done a little good, but have also made many mistakes and performed so many erroneous actions.”

Yama asks, “What do you have to say about it now?”

The soul replies, “I have got relatives. They will expiate them for me. They will conduct yajnas , charities, worship, sankirtans , bhajans and meditations in my name, and I shall be free from the consequence of the sins that I have committed or the mistakes that I have made.”

“Go then!” says Yama, “And see what they do.”

Apparently, it takes ten days for the soul to be brought back, so some ceremony is usually done on the tenth, eleventh, twelfth and thirteenth days. The soul hovers around, observing what the relatives are doing, and Yama's messengers stand behind like policemen to see what is done. If an expiatory ceremony is done in the name of the soul, such as the Bhagavata Saptaham, the Rudra Yaga, the Narayana Bali and the Vishnu Yajna, and varieties of charities are done, and all those things that were dear to the soul are also given in gift, the effect of these good deeds is credited to the account of the soul and it is exonerated to that extent.

But suppose this is not done and, like modern boys, the relatives do not believe in these observances: “If our father died, let it go, that's all. We won't bother about it,” and there is no charity, no goodwill, and they behave as if nothing has happened; or, they do not even believe that something happens after death because they think that there is no life after death. If that is the case, the soul is dragged back. When the policemen know that someone is a culprit, and it is confirmed, they deal with him very severely. If they know that he is going to be released and nothing is going to happen to him, they do not bother much about it. But if his relatives have done nothing, it is certain that he is going to be punished, so for one year they drag the soul to the kingdom of the Lord of Death. At first they brought it within ten days because they wanted to know what was happening. When it is certain that it is going to be punished, they drag it, pull it, scratch and beat it, and it will be hungry and thirsty and bleeding. That is why another ceremony is done after one year; it takes one year for the soul to return to the abode of Yama. The varshika (annual) ceremony is very important. If nothing has been done on the tenth to thirteenth days after the passing of the soul, at least something should be done on the anniversary so that some mercy may be granted by Lord Yama before the sentence is passed.

If the soul has no merit at all, it will be sent to the land of punishment, whatever the punishment be. In the Srimad Bhagavata Mahapurana, the Garuda Purana, etc., the type of punishment and difficulties that the soul has to undergo are described in such gory language that we would not like to be born into this world again.

When the soul is expunged of all its sins by suffering in the prison of Yama's hell, it is released. It is said that then it is sent to Rudraloka, and will not be allowed to leave. To release the soul from Rudra's clutches, Rudra Yajna is done. Then it is sent to Vaikuntha, so Vishnu Yajna is done; and after many, many years, the soul attains moksha. This is how a bad person gets purified in a very painful way, and then finally attains blessedness.

Or, if the soul has a tremendous attachment to relations and to wealth, it can be reborn into this world. A Muslim gentleman lived near a house in which a Hindu family had a little baby. The baby was very beautiful. The Muslim wanted to fondle it, sit it on his lap, but the Hindus would not allow the Muslim to touch the baby, which greatly disturbed him. The child grew up, and then the Muslim died. This child, which had grown up, started talking in Persian.

They asked, “What is this matter? Who are you?”

He replied, “I am that Muslim gentleman who wanted to caress this child, and you didn't allow it; and now I am possessing it!”

This is the effect of attachments. And very intense attachments, which do not even give the soul time to take birth in this world, convert it into a ghost. Preta yoni is the outcome and, as described in the Bhagavata Purana, it hovers around in space, hungry and thirsty.

Here the Bhagavadgita describes the more glorious paths to the higher realms. Those who are not spiritually awakened but have done immensely good deeds reach a lower kingdom called Chandraloka, the realm of the moon, where they stay invisibly and enjoy the fruit of their good deeds. When the momentum of their good deeds, charitable deeds, etc., is exhausted, they come back into this world. But if a person is spiritually awakened and is not merely a good man—not merely a charitable or a philanthropic person—then the path is different. These two paths are called the northern path and the southern path.

Yatra kāle tvanāvṛttim āvṛttiṁ caiva yoginaḥ, prayātā yānti taṁ kālaṁ vakṣyāmi bharatarṣabha (8.23): “I shall now tell you,” says Bhagavan Sri Krishna, “about that path treading which one returns, and that path treading which one does not return. These two paths I shall describe to you now— uttaramarga or jyotirmarga, and dakshinamarga or dhumamarga , as they are called.”

Agnir jotir ahaḥ śuklaḥ ṣaṇmāsā uttarāyaṇam, tatra prayātā gacchanti brahma brahmavido janāḥ (8.24): Everything is filled with light, everything is filled with divinity, and everything is superintended over by a divinity. The fire of cremation—that is the agni , the physical fire, which has a divinity of its own—assumes a divine form in the case of a person who is to rise up to the celestial realms. Then there is a divinity superintending over the daytime, in contrast with the night. If a person passes away during the daytime, and during the bright half of the lunar month, and during the northern movement of the sun, he shall reach the solar orb—Suryaloka. From there, he will be taken up further.

The Upanishads describe many more stages than the ones mentioned here. And at a particular stage beyond the sun, a superhuman entity is supposed to come and take the soul by the hand. Up to the solar orb, or even a little beyond, is called the realm of lightning. That is, beyond the sun, the lightning of Brahmaloka flashes forth. The individuality consciousness of the soul slowly gets diminished at that time, and it is not aware of any self-effort. It does not know that it is moving at all, inasmuch as the ego is almost gone. It is said that at that time an amanava purusha deputed by Brahma himself comes down in a luminous form, and leads the soul to the abode of Brahma, the Creator. This is the path of krama mukti , or gradual liberation, in which the soul is supposed to be glorying in Brahmaloka until Brahma himself is dissolved at the end of time—at the end of a hundred years of his life—and then the Absolute Brahman is reached.

But there is a possibility of immediate salvation without passing through all these stages—a hundredfold promotion, as it were. It is the dissolution of the soul in the supreme Brahman at this very spot. The soul need not have to travel in space and time because it is a jivanmukta purusha , one who has attained to a consciousness where there is no distance to be travelled. For him, there is no solar orb or anything else. He has spread his consciousness everywhere, in all beings: sarvabhūtahite ratāḥ (12.4). He is the soul of all beings, like Suka Maharishi, Vyasa, Vasishtha, etc. When his soul spreads itself everywhere in the cosmos, where is the question of moving? Na tasya prāṇā utkrāmanti (B.U. 4.4.6): His pranas do not depart, as is the case of other people. Brahmaiva san brahmāpyeti : They dissolve here, just now. That is, the moment the soul departs the body, it enters the supreme Brahman, the Absolute, then and there, without having to pass through all these stages. But in the case of krama mukti , the graduated steps mentioned in the Bhagavadgita, it is different.

The divinity of fire, the divinity of daytime, the divinity of the lunar month's bright half, and the divinity ruling over the northern movement of the sun will take care of the soul and bring it up. In the Moksha Parva of the Mahabharata there is the story of a great ascetic who rose up from his body, and a little flame rising up through the sky could be seen. It rose higher and higher until it reached the orb of the sun, where a divine being emerged from the solar orb and received it. According to our tradition, the sun is not a material substance. It is a divinity— hiranmaya purusha —in which a golden-coloured Narayana is seated. Just as a human being is not a body, the sun is also not a body; and just as we see only the body of a person and do not see what the person is on the inside, we do not see divinity of the sun. We see only its outer appearance, which we call helium, atomic energy, etc., in just the same way as we call a person bone and flesh, nerves, blood, etc.—which is not a correct description. So there is something beyond the human concept here. Divinities are everywhere in the cosmos, in every atom, which is also controlled and enveloped by the universal God. If God is everywhere, why should He not be in every atom and in everything? In the case of such a realisation, there is immediate dissolution.

Dhūmo rātris tathā kṛṣṇaḥ ṣaṇmāsā dakṣiṇāyanam, tatra cāndramasaṁ jyotir yogī prāpya nivartate (8.25). There are those who have not spiritually awakened themselves, have not done spiritual meditation, and have an insufficient devotion to God. Even if they are very good people, highly charitable and humanistic in their approach, they will not be allowed to move along this northern path to the sun. They will not go to Brahmaloka. They will go to a lower realm, called Chandraloka. The smoke which rises from the fire during cremation will be their guiding principle. The dark half of the lunar month, and the southern movement of the sun, signify a deficiency in divine powers and a lesser chance of the soul going up along the path of brightness. It will reach Chandraloka, where it will enjoy the fruits of the good deeds it has done. Whatever good deeds were done will have their effect. Every action produces a reaction. Any good, charitable deed will bring the soul an abundance of joy in Chandraloka; but the soul will come back, because anyone who has not realised the universality of God will come back. Only a soul who is totally devoted to God will gradually pass through these stages of divine ordinances to the Ultimate Being. But if we are united with God here itself, we will immediately merge into God.

Śuklakṛṣṇe gatī hyete jagataḥ śāśvate mate (8.26). Broadly speaking, these are two paths of the soul after death. Either we go that way or we go this way, according to our karma and our spiritual status. Śuklakṛṣṇe gatī hyete jagataḥ śāśvate mate, ekayā yāty anāvṛttim anyayāvartate punaḥ : By the one path, one does not come back to this world; by the other path, one returns.

Naite sṛtī pārtha jānan yogī muhyati kaścana, tasmāt sarveṣu kāleṣu yogayukto bhavārjuna (8.27). Having known clearly that these are the two paths, who would like to tread the lesser path? “Therefore, be a yogi, O Arjuna, and try to tread the upper path.” Whoever knows the merits and demerits of these two paths will certainly pursue the path of merit rather than the path of demerit. It is the lack of knowledge that prevents us from working for our own salvation. But if we know that such a thing exists, and that even after death our karmas will pursue us wherever we go—that even if we go to the nether regions, we will be caught by the nemesis of our actions, the results of what we have done, because there is a law which punishes us—we will obey the law. And if we know that there are these two paths, and there is a chance of our entering into the lower one, we will certainly work to attain the higher one. Knowing this, we will certainly become wiser and, therefore, work for a state of establishment in yoga—union with the divinities in the various graduated scales of development, or with the Supreme Absolute itself, whatever the case may be. Either way, one will be a supreme yogi who is united with the Absolute now, or one will be a graduated yogi who will move systematically through the stages mentioned. Anyway, knowing this, one will not come to grief. Tasmāt sarveṣu kāleṣu yogayukto bhavārjuna : “Therefore, become a yogi, Arjuna!”

Vedeṣu yajñeṣu tapaḥsu caiva dāneṣu yat puṇyaphalaṁ pradiṣṭam, atyeti tat sarvam idaṁ viditvā yogī paraṁ sthānam upaiti cādyam (8.28). These discourses that you are hearing now as satsanga —the knowledge of these wonderful things beyond this world that you are gaining—is greater than all the good deeds that you do by way of charity, and all the sacrifices that you perform. All the merits that you will accrue by doing charity, good deeds and even the study of scriptures like the Vedas, and by doing austerity and living an abstemious life will bring you some good results. But this phala of satsanga , the blessing of this highly purifying training that your soul is undergoing by listening to these glorious eternal realities, certainly has a greater capacity to produce an effect than all the charities, studies and scriptures, etc. It transcends even the Vedas, and you attain to that place, that abode, which is the Ancient One. With this, we conclude the Eighth Chapter.

41 Life After Death Quotes to Inspire & Enlighten

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Life after death quotes offer hope of what awaits you beyond. A quote about life after death may ease your fears and prepare you for a new journey.

Life After Death Quotes for Everyone

You may find life after death quotes inspiring and enlightening. When facing death, it is comforting to know your soul will continue in a new plane of existence.

• Life after death is real.
• After death, you travel to another world where loved ones greet you.
• The soul is eternal and lives on after physical death.
• Life after death means you can become whatever you wish in a new life.
• After death, you travel through a tunnel of light to another world.
• Life after death is spent in a vibrant and colorful world.
• After death, you understand the things you thought were important, actually weren't.
• Life after death is full of light and love.
• When you die, you travel to the stars and beyond.
• After death, you rest and then decide where you wish to go next.
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Perfect Quote Life After Death

A quote about life after death can make you contemplate the hereafter. You may view life after death with a different perspective once you consider a few quotes.

• Life after death is a bigger adventure than life on Earth.
• After death, I want to sit on a cloud for a while and just watch to world go by.
• Life after death is unknown and mysterious.
• Where you go after death is determined by where you went in life.
• Death is not the end, your soul continues.
• There is life after death, and everyone eventually discovers this truth.
• After I die, I want to travel to the moon and just sit there looking at the Earth spin.
• It is true that there is life after death.
• After death, your soul rejoins loved ones who died before you.
• Life after death means you continue to exist.

Finding Inspiration With Life After Death Quotations

Life after death quotations are ways you can view life that are inspiring and offer possible enlightenment. You may discover a quote about life after death that offers hope and comfort.

• I want to spend my life after death just chillin' on a beach basking under the sun.
• When I die, I plan to be that spirit who mediums contact, so I can mess with them.
• Life after death is more colorful and dimensional than life on Earth.
• Life after death is not what everyone thinks; it's better!
• A new adventure begins your life after death.
• Life after death is like stepping through a door into another world.
• Life after death has many worlds for you to explore.
• There is a joyful life after death for those who spent a joyful life.
• When you die, loved ones greet you in the next life.
• When you die, you review your life and judge your actions.

What Happens After Death Quote?

Many people of faith believe they go to heaven after death. Other religions believe in reincarnation and that after death, you return to another life on Earth.

• After death, you fly to heaven to be with God, the father.
• When you die, you get to see the face of God.
• After death, you go back home to heaven.
• When you die, you're escorted home by angels.
• Life after death is the beginning of your next life.
• After death, you must decide to be reborn or continue on your journey.
• Your life after death is determined by the karma you created in life.
• When you die, you prepare to be reincarnated into a new life.
• Many religions talk about a beautiful life waiting beyond this life.
• For Christians , through Christ, there is life eternal after death.
• After you die, you can do anything and go anywhere.

Discovering and Using Life After Death Quotes

You can browse life after death quotes for inspiration. A few life after death quotes are a great way to encourage your journey toward enlightenment.

Through the Twelve Chambers of Hell: The Afterlife in Ancient Egypt

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Death, the ancient Egyptians believed, was not the end of our struggles. They believed in an afterlife and that the worthy would go on to paradise, but their dead didn’t simply pass over to the other side. If they wanted eternal life, they would have to fight for it.

The souls of dead Egyptians had to battle their way through the twelve chambers of hell, overcoming demons and monsters, crossing over lakes of fire, and finding their way past gates guarded by fire-breathing serpents. The path through the afterlife was violent, brutal, and dangerous. They could be killed in hell, and a death there meant an eternity in oblivion.

If they made it through unscathed, they would meet their judgement day. They would stand trial before the gods, who weigh their hearts against the weight of a feather. The worthy might go on to paradise, or even become a god – but the unworthy would have their hearts cast to the demons, torn to shreds, and devoured.

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The Weighing of the Heart from the Book of the Dead of Ani. At left, Ani and his wife Tutu enter the assemblage of gods. At center, Anubis weighs Ani's heart against the feather of Maat. At right, the monster Ammut, who will devour Ani's soul if he is unworthy, awaits the verdict, while the god Thoth prepares to record it. On top, gods are acting as judges. ( Public Domain )

The Egyptian vision of the afterlife was incredibly complex. We’ve seen the decaying remains of their fixation on death: the massive pyramid tombs that dwarfed their cities and the mummified bodies buried inside. But these were more than just monuments to the vanity of kings – they were gateways that got them ready for the afterlife, where priests prepared their souls for an incredible journey unlike anything they’d experienced in life.

A Soul Split in Two

When the body died, the Egyptians believed, two parts of the soul would split apart. The life essence that made up a man’s spark and energy would get up and move, free to roam around its tomb and to make its journey up into the afterlife. But the other part of the soul, the part that carried the personality, was left behind, trapped in the lifeless and motionless body that stayed on the earth.

The dead’s only hope for eternal life and a reunited soul was to travel through hell and face judgement. If the essence of their soul could make its way through Duat, the Egyptian netherworld, and pass judgement before the gods, their souls would be reunited – but this was no simple journey, and the clock was ticking. If the body crumbled into decay before their essence made it through the netherworld, the part of the soul trapped inside would die. It would all be for nothing.

Mummy of an upper-class Egyptian male from the Saite period. (Keith Schengili-Roberts / CC BY SA 2.5 )

Preserving A Dying Soul

Egyptians were mummified to keep their souls alive. Their bodies needed to stay preserved or else their chance at eternal life would be lost. And so Egyptian embalmers would pull out their vital organs and their brains, leaving only the heart, the home of the soul, inside. They would drain their liquids until their bodies were completely dry, leaving them in a state that could be preserved for thousands of years.

Even after death, though, the soul trapped inside the body needed to eat. It could still starve – and so a sorcerer would have to call on the gods to open its own mouth. After the body was buried, priests would perform a long and complicated ritual, pulling open the mouth on the statue made in the image of the dead, begging the gods to let them eat, and leaving sacrificed animals at its foot so that the soul could feed.

The mummy of Hunefer is shown supported by the god Anubis (or a priest wearing a jackal mask). Hunefer's wife and daughter mourn and three priests perform rituals including the Opening of the Mouth ritual. The lower scene has a table bearing the various implements needed for the ritual and animals being led to sacrifice. ( Public Domain )

The rituals gave them a fighting chance at eternal life, but this procedure was expensive. The pharaohs and the wealthy could get a tomb and an embalmer to help them earn their second life, but there was no protection offered to the souls of the poor. Their only option was to carry their dead out into the desert and bury them in a shallow grave in the hopes that the dry air would dehydrate their bodies long enough to reach paradise.

Crossing the River in the Sky

While one part of the soul stayed behind in the decaying body, the essence of the soul had to make its journey through the netherworld. But this wouldn’t be an easy trip.

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Between earth and the netherworld, the Egyptians believed, there was a great river in the sky that even the gods couldn’t pass . The only person who could pass it was the ferryman of the gods, a creature with eyes on the back of his head. The ferryman, though, wouldn’t always help. Sometimes, he had to be persuaded. And sometimes, he had to be threatened.

When a pharaoh died, sorcerers would spend days casting magic spells to help his soul make it into the netherworld. These would be please to the divine – and sometimes threats. When the Pharaoh Unas died, his sorcerers ordered the ferryman to take him across, threatening, “If you fail to ferry Unas , he will leap and sit on the wing of Thoth,” warning him that, if he did no obey, he would face the wrath of a god.

Ra traveling through the underworld in his barque, from the copy of the Book of Gates in the tomb of Ramses I (KV16). ( Public Domain )

Passing Through the Twelve Chambers

The ferry, though, would take them through Duat, a land full of gods, demons, and monsters, many of which were out to kill the soul that tried to pass through. These creatures would prey on the souls of the dead, who had to fight them off with magic and weapons, and so the dead Egyptians were often buried with spells and amulets to help them stay in the netherworlds.

To make their way through Duat, they would pass through twelve impenetrable gates lined with sharp spears and guarded by snakes who breathed venom and fire. The only way to pass through was to say the names of the guardians. Many kings would be buried with these names, lest they forget.

Book of the Dead spell 17 from the Papyrus of Ani. ( Public Domain )

Some were even buried with a map of hell. It would show a world not unlike Egypt, but dotted with supernatural wonders. Alongside caverns and deserts, a voyager travelling through Duat was promised to see forests of turquoise trees and lakes of fire.

Threatening the Gods

For all the terrors of Duat, though, the pharaohs themselves were often the most horrifying things there. During the Old Kingdom of Egypt, many kings would threaten the gods before their deaths, warning them that they were coming into their domain – and promising to butcher them and cannibalize their bodies.

Some pharaohs left messages in their tombs, warning the gods that a king is coming who “feeds on gods.” One promised that three Egyptian gods were going to tie their brothers down and tear out their entrails so the pharaoh could cook them and eat them.

Guardian demons of Spell 145 of the Book of the Dead. ( Rita Lucarelli/UCLA )

Eating a god would give the pharaohs the strength to make it through the netherworld. They could steal a gods’ divine powers and knowledge by taking a bite out of a minor deity – or, as one pharaoh promised, by devouring their heart, smashing their bones and sucking out their marrow.

The Judgment

If souls could make it through the twelve gates, they would arrive at the Kingdom of Osiris, the god the dead. Here they would have to plead that they had lived good and just lives by denying having committed a set of 42 sins. Then their hearts would be weighed against the feather of Ma’at, a symbol of goodness, to see if they were truly pure.

The innocent were reunited with the part of the soul left behind in the body. They would be granted eternal life and passage into paradise, where they would live with the gods in a land where the fields grew in an endless abundance.

Even here, though, a soul could meet its end. If the gods ruled you were wicked, your heart would be thrown to The Devourer, a creature that was part lion, part hippo and part crocodile. Then their souls would be cast into a pit of fire and they would be erased into oblivion.

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The scribe Hunefer is conducted to the balance by jackal-headed Anubis, who also weighs the heart against the feather of truth. The ibis-headed Thoth records the result. Ammit, which is composed of the deadly crocodile, lion, and hippopotamus watches. In the next panel, showing the scene after the weighing, a triumphant Hunefer is presented by falcon-headed Horus to the shrine of the green-skinned Osiris accompanied by Isis and Nephthys. 14 gods are shown above as judges. ( Public Domain )

An Eternity of Servitude

The journey to paradise, for the Egyptians, was no easy path, but it was far easier for a pharaoh than a common man. There was no equality in the afterlife. Even in paradise, a king would become a god, while a servant’s only reward would be to till a slightly higher grade of wheat.

This was actually a step up, though. In the early days of the Old Kingdom, Egyptian priests taught that only the pharaoh could enter paradise, while the rest had to stay in Duat forever, struggling to survive.

Even for the pharaoh, though, the path was never easy. Theirs was one of the most terrifying and challenging afterlives a culture could face. It was something a man might spend his whole life preparing to face. And, as the massive pyramids they left behind make clear, it was a fate the Egyptians truly believed awaited them on the other side.

Sphinx and Pyramids at The Giza Plateau ( CC BY 2.0 ) , the moon, and clockworks ( CC BY-SA 2.0 )

Top Image: Detail of two ancient Egyptian 'gate spells'. On the top register, Ani and his wife face the ‘gates of the House of Osiris'. Below, they encounter the 'mysterious portals of the House of Osiris in the Field of Reeds'. All are guarded by unpleasant underworld protectors. Source: Public Domain

By  Mark Oliver

 “Apophis in the Duat”. Egyptian Legends. Web. 03 June 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20060507182219/http://www.legends.egyptholiday.com/apophis_duat.htm

Budge, E. A. Wallis. The Book of the Dead . Arkana, 1895. Sacred Texts . Web. http://www.sacred-texts.com/egy/ebod/

Budge, E. A. Wallis. The Book of Gates. 1905. Sacred Texts . Web. http://www.sacred-texts.com/egy/gate/

David, Rosalie. Religion and Magic in Ancient Egypt . London: Penguin, 2002. Print.

Lichtheim, Miriam. Ancient Egyptian Literature: A Book of Readings . Berkeley: U of California, 1973. Print.

Murray, Margaret Alice . Ancient Egyptian Legends . London: Murray, 1920. Sacred Texts . Web. http://www.sacred-texts.com/egy/ael/

"The ‘Opening of the Mouth’ Ritual." Digital Egypt for Universities. University College London. Web. 03 June 2017. http://www.ucl.ac.uk/museums-static/digitalegypt//religion/wpr.html

Hello Everyone,

Such and exciting topic to discuss.

Okay, I'm beginning to think the number 12 is a very significant number that our Ancestors thought rather highly of little wonder.

Twelve Tribes of Israel Twelve Disciples How about Twelve Olympians In Ancient Egypt 12 Gates/ 12 Portals& 12 Realms in the Underworld? I can't believe I'm saying this but, I think we just found purgatory.

If the journey for the dead was so arduous then that partially explains Enoch 1 The Book of The Watchers. The murderous rampage of the Fallen Angel's and their children resulted in an severity of loss Life thousands of innocence died as a result of the War's and the vying for power among the Angel's Children.

So in chapter 1 of Enoch, the voices of the murdered victims were so numerous that The Archangels Gabriel, Michael, Phanuel, Rafael, and Uriel took pity on those Victims crying to God for Justice and brought their pleas before The Holy Trinity.

To which The Trinity Sanctioned Judgements against those Angels the 200 Watchers were to be bound in chains within Tartarus till The Judgement; and Their families were then punished beyond redemption.

One may find this intriguing as I have but, Hades rules not the Underworld or Tartarus those duties God Appointed the Arch Angels either Gabriel or Rafael, over Hell which is Tartarus it is possible you may be interested in knowing God Appointed Gabriel over Serpents and Reptiles.

I've only read about Tartarus and wicked Angels imprisoned there in The Epistles of Peter and Jude. Then when did the Greeks learn of Tartarus?

Or how about learning about the Titans imprisoned in Tartarus bound in chains?

I thought that story was a Myth till I read The Books of Enoch, now I know the Titans were Fallen Angel's and their Wicked Children were the Titans, Cyclops, Giant's &Ogres.

Reading Enoch 2 The Book of The Secrets of Enoch; one soon learns that Hell is Not of Earth but rather The Mysterious Universe one viewed as Outer Space.

I thought Mt. Olympus being home to many deities wow the Ancient World w.must have spent time in long winded Drunkenness this how I thought when learning about these Stories; Boy, was I ever wrong with my private assessment of Mt. Olympus.

First Journey Enoch makes too Heaven ironically on behalf of the children of those Lawless Angel's.

He arrives at God's Country details on how to get too Heaven is explained in Enoch 2: and while looking around Heaven spies this massive Mountain that filled The Heaven's, I actually had to read that one passage for a month before I recognized what Mountain, I was even reading about.

In Greek Its Mt. Olympus, but, in Hebrew The Holy Mountain of God in Heaven is known as Mt. Sinai. How can I be sure?

I read Edith Hamilton's Mythology and Bulfinch's Mythology.

Anyway, I remembered in Hamilton's Mythology the introduction discussing that Mt. Olympus wasn't necessarily the mountain currently in Greece, The Greeks referenced this mountain as Being in Heaven.

That floored me when reading that small grave detail in Enoch.

So the Egyptian way to Twelve Hells may have some Merit too it unfortunately, we only have 3 Book's of Enoch, & The Book of Jubilees where I'm going with this?

Enoch testifies in Enoch 2 that he wrote 366, Book's altogether in The Presence of The Ancient of Days Himself we're missing 362 more Book's find those understand the oral history behind Ancient Egypt 12 Gates to Heaven.

This is where I end my discussion so until Next Time, Everyone Goodbye!

Who needs these "gods"? The ONLY things they have to offer us humans, are suffering, guilt, hate, and an impossible ordeal that is put upon us to achieve "salvation". Who are these "gods" to impose "their will" upon us mear mortals? And then we are supposed to think of "god" as the epitome of "love". Give me a fu*king break.

If this "god" (the Egyptian god or any other god) is so wonderful, then why did "he/she/it" make life so difficult for us and full of pitfalls that are equated as "sin"? Why can't "god" just forgive well-meaning individuals without having to go through all these tedious rituals?

The 42 Negative Confessions of Matt is a noble quest and is a more clearly defined construct than the so-called Ten Commandments - which are on several occasions repetitive. Further, the god that gave "his/her/its" law to the Hebrews in the "Wilderness" was a primitive god who gave it to a primitive people - essentially slaves. So, was it any wonder that as soon as they could the Hebrews turned to another god (the Golden Calf) and were having a "good time" when Moses came down off the mountain and "crashed their party"? Oh well.

Given the "nature" of these "gods", is it any wonder that war, strife, greed, jealousy, and suspicion are "the rule of the day"? Creation reflects the nature of the "god" that created the material world. We humans are a product of our environment. So, why does "god" condemn his/her/its creation. If he/she/it doesn't like us the way we are, then he/she/it should change our nature. What say ye?

Well it seems to me that the goal is to live free of sin and be rewarded in the afterlife for what you don't get rewarded for in life. Obviously, as in most religions, if you are manipulative, deceitful and a murderer then, unless your a Pharaoh with spells to fool your judges, you will be punished. I know it's hard to understand if you are a nihilist but maybe as a society, our need for justice and self determination is set out for us in our religions.

Granted, mankind is nuts. But the nine gates to paradise contain some good graphics. I wonder what the nine gates looked like before computer graphics came along?

I am a writer, a teacher and a father, with 5 years of experience writing online. I have written for a number of major history parenting and comedy websites. My writing has appeared on the front pages of Yahoo, The Onion,... Read More

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Comforting Christian Prayers for When Someone Dies

Discover the power of comforting christian prayers for when someone dies. find solace and hope in these sacred words of comfort., last updated:, may 24, 2024, article summary.

• Heart as a home prayer invites Jesus to settle in the heart and bring healing to any areas that need it.
• Asking the Lord to show where He was during a moment of grief can bring personal and healing experiences.
• Guided prayers can provide comfort and guidance in expressing emotions and seeking solace in the Lord.

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Prayer for the soul's journey.

• This prayer topic brings comfort and solace to the bereaved by focusing on the soul's journey after death.
• It reinforces Christian beliefs in eternal life, helping the grieving find hope and peace. 
• Some individuals may struggle to grapple with life after death.
• It might not provide immediate relief for those seeking physical or tangible presence of a loved one.

Today’s subject matter is essential to Christian theology — the soul’s journey after death. It's a peaceful yet powerful process that reassures us of God's limitless love and eternal promise. Like a candle returning to the flame, our souls complete their earthly cycle before embarking on a spiritual voyage to eternal rest. 

Dear Lord, As we mourn the departure of our dear one, we seek your divine comfort. Guide us as we navigate the waves of grief, reminding us of your love that surpasses earthly pain. Like a ship setting sail for distant lands, our loved one's soul has embarked on a journey towards eternity.  We pray for their soul, dear Lord. As they transition from our mortal coil into Your everlasting embrace, let them find peace and joy in Your presence. Like a river flowing ceaselessly towards the ocean, may their spirit merge with Your infinite grace. Provide them the strength to complete this divine journey, lending them the wings of faith and resilience. Wrap them in Your heavenly light, shielding them from any darkness. Like a seed sprouting towards the sunlight, may their soul bloom in Your divine garden. We entrust them into Your hands, Lord, confident in Your promises of eternal life and absolute love.  In Jesus' Name, we pray. Amen. 

This prayer serves as a reminder of our hopeful and comforting belief in life after death. Although we grieve, we also rejoice knowing our loved ones have begun a new journey, a transcendent voyage into divine love. Like the freshness that follows a gentle rain, this prayer aims to wash away our tears and nourish our faith, helping us find solace in the promise of eternal life.

Prayer for Strength in Grief

• Provides comfort and solace to those who are mourning.
• Helps individuals feel supported and less alone in their time of sorrow.
• Can be a source of spiritual strength and encouragement.
• Some individuals may not find comfort in words during grief.
• Prayer and spiritual solace might not align with everyone's beliefs.

Losing someone we love can feel like being stranded in a stormy sea. In our grief, we often search for a beacon of light to guide us back to shore. During these times, the power of prayer can serve as our guiding light, offering strength when our hearts feel heavy and our spirits are weary. The following prayer is conceived as a raft in these turbulent waters, a source of comfort and an anchor of hope for those who mourn.

Heavenly Father, In this moment of powerful loss and deep sorrow, we turn to You seeking comfort and strength. Like a tree standing firm against the gales, help us to remain steadfast in our grief, grounded in Your eternal love and grace.  Pour Your grace upon us, Lord, that we may find solace in Your presence. As the sun breaks through the darkest clouds, let Your light pierce the shadow of our grief, illuminating our path towards peace and healing. Grant us the courage to face each day, embracing our sorrow with faith that we will find the strength to endure through You. Bless us with memories that bring smiles amidst tears, and remind us that love never truly leaves us. May we hold tightly to the hope of Your promise, that we shall be reunited with those we have loved and lost in Your kingdom. In Your name, we pray, Amen.

This prayer for strength in grief is more than words; it calls our hearts to remember that we are not alone even in the darkest moments. Through faith, we find the strength to continue, carrying the love and memories of those we’ve lost. It is a reminder that grief is not an end, but a journey towards healing, guided by the unwavering light of divine love and comfort.

Prayer for God's Presence in Mourning

• Provides comfort and solace to grieving, reminding them they are not alone.
• Helps strengthen faith during challenging times, fostering a deeper connection with God.
• Encourages the sharing of grief with God, promoting emotional healing.
• Some may struggle to feel God’s presence, which could lead to feelings of abandonment or doubt.
• Might be misinterpreted as undermining the natural process of grieving.

In the valley of the shadow of death, where sorrow and despair loom large, a prayer for God's presence in mourning is like the first light of dawn piercing through the darkest night. It acknowledges our deepest yearnings for comfort, understanding, and an unshakable companionship during the most trying times. When words fail and loneliness envelops the soul, this prayer becomes a bridge over troubled waters, connecting the grieving heart to the divine comforter.

Heavenly Father, In this moment of powerful loss, we seek Your presence more than ever. Whisper Your peace over our troubled spirits like a gentle breeze after a storm. As we navigate through this valley of tears, be our steadfast guide, our comforting embrace. Lighten our hearts burdened by sorrow with the promise of Your eternal love and the hope of reunion in Your heavenly kingdom. Lord, in Your mercy, pour out the balm of Gilead on all who mourn, that we might find solace in Your presence. Help us to see, even in our darkest hours, the flickering light of Your grace guiding us home. In the quiet moments when grief whispers loudly, let us hear Your voice speaking life, reminding us that in Your arms, no loss is final, and no sorrow is too deep for Your healing touch. May the memory of our loved ones inspire us to live fully in Your love until we meet them again at Your heavenly table. Grant us the courage to walk through grief with faith, holding tightly to the unbreakable cord of hope that binds us to You and each other in this life and the next. Amen.

Grief, with its heavy cloak, can make us feel isolated, but a prayer for God's presence in mourning gently reminds us that we are never truly alone. God’s promises stand firm; His comfort and strength are ours for the asking. Amid grief, this prayer is not just a plea for solace—it's a declaration of hope. It anchors us to the truth that God’s love surrounds us even in the most heartbreaking moments, providing the peace and assurance we need to navigate our sorrow.

Prayer for Divine Consolation

• Offers immediate emotional and spiritual support.
• Helps in the acknowledgement of loss and grief in a faith-filled context.
• Strengthens faith in God’s eternal love and promise of comfort.
• Encourages communal support and empathy among believers.
• May not be as immediately effective for those struggling with their faith.
• The concept of divine consolation might be challenging for some, especially in times of deep sorrow.

In moments of loss, our hearts search for solace that seems beyond our grasp. A Prayer for Divine Consolation bridges our world of grief and the eternal comfort promised by our faith. It's a heartfelt appeal to God, not just for the easing of our pain, but also for the strength to understand His divine plan. This prayer embodies our longing for peace amidst the storm of emotions, reminding us that we are never alone in our sorrow.

Dear Heavenly Father, In Your sovereign embrace, we seek refuge from the storm of our grief. As we mourn the passing of a beloved soul, we cling to Your promise of eternal comfort. Lord, in this valley of shadows, be our light and guide. Let Your presence be a balm to our weary hearts, and Your words whisper peace to our troubled minds. We ask, O God, for the grace of divine consolation. Wrap us in Your loving arms, that we might feel the warmth of Your unfailing love. Help us to see beyond this moment of sorrow, to the hope of the resurrection and the joy of eternal life with You. Grant us the courage to walk through our grief, knowing that You walk beside us, catching every tear in Your hand. As we remember the one we have lost, fill us with gratitude for the gift of their life, and let this gratitude shape our remembering. May our tears water the seeds of faith in our hearts, growing into a garden of comfort and hope that bears testimony to Your everlasting love. Amen.

In articulating a Prayer for Divine Consolation, we lean on the timeless truth that God is with us in every season of our lives. This prayer is not just words but a vessel carrying our grief towards the shore of healing and hope. It reaffirms that in the depth of our loss, we are tenderly held by a love that transcends life and death. Embracing this divine comfort can transform our mourning into a deeper understanding of life, love, and the eternal presence of God beside us.

Prayer for the Comfort of the Bereaved

• Offers solace and hope to those grieving, making them feel less alone.
• Encourages a sense of community support and empathy among believers.
• Helps to process grief through faith, providing a spiritual perspective on loss.
• The topic can evoke strong emotions, making engaging difficult for some.
• May not resonate with everyone, depending on their personal beliefs and stages of grief.

In times of loss, the heartbreak feels as vast as an ocean, endless and all-consuming. Yet, within the Christian faith, a beacon of hope guides the bereaved through their darkest hours. A Prayer for the Comfort of the Bereaved is a gentle reminder of God's unchanging love and promises. It's a spiritual embrace, offering peace to shattered hearts and whispering of eternal reunions beyond this life's fleeting horizon.

Heavenly Father, In Your boundless compassion, envelop those mourning the departure of their loved ones in Your warm embrace. As they navigate through the shadowy valleys of grief, light their path with the comfort only You can provide. Remind them, Lord, that every tear will be wiped away in Your kingdom, and death shall be no more. Grant them the grace to breathe through the pain, to find solace in cherished memories, and strength in the fellowship of friends and family united in Your love. Let Your presence be a soothing balm to their aching hearts, and may Your promises of everlasting life solace their weary souls. In moments of despair, uplift their spirits, Lord, reminding them that though we part with our beloved in this earthly realm, in Your divine presence, we shall joyfully reunite. Fill their hearts with peace, knowing that all things work together in Your wisdom for good. Amen.

The act of seeking solace through prayer in times of loss is a powerful testament to the strength of faith. A Prayer for the Comfort of the Bereaved transcends mere words; it's a vessel of healing and hope amidst sorrow. It bridges troubled waters, guiding those in mourning towards a place of peace and understanding. In embracing this sacred practice, believers find comfort and a deeper connection with the divine, a reminder that love endures beyond the confines of death.

Prayer for Healing of Hearts

• Promotes emotional healing and comfort for those grieving.
• Reinforces the community's support and collective prayer for one another.
• Helps to gently guide individuals through grief towards acceptance and peace.
• The theme of healing may be challenging for individuals in the acute stages of grief who are not yet ready to move forward.
• There is a risk of the prayer not resonating with everyone's beliefs about grief and healing.

In the wake of loss, hearts shattered by grief seek solace and understanding that often seems beyond reach. The journey through sorrow is personal and universal, a paradox that binds us in our most vulnerable moments. Amidst this, Christian faith offers a beacon of hope through the power of prayer—specifically, prayers for the healing of hearts. These prayers do not promise an immediate escape from pain but the gradual strength to walk through it, guided by divine love.

Dear Heavenly Father, In Your powerful compassion, You witness the tears that fall in secret and the silent cries that echo in the chambers of our hearts. You understand the depth of our loss and the despair that sometimes grips us. In this moment of sorrow, we humbly ask for Your healing touch upon our wounded hearts. Pour out Your grace like rain upon arid land, that it might seep deep into the crevices of our souls, nurturing seeds of hope and peace. May Your love envelop us, a tender embrace to remind us that we are never alone in our suffering. Help us to see beyond the shadow of our grief, to the promise of eternity where there is no more pain or parting. Grant us the courage to navigate this healing journey, trusting in Your timing and perfect plan for our lives. Lord, bind us together in our shared grief, that we might find strength in one another and You. Let our tears be the water that nourishes new growth, and our memories the light that guides us forward. Amen.

This prayer is a gentle reminder that healing is a personal pilgrimage and a communal voyage. It acknowledges the rugged terrain of grief while holding onto the hand of faith that guides us towards eventual peace. In calling for the healing of hearts, we affirm our belief in a God who weeps with us, heals us, and ultimately brings us into His eternal comfort.

Prayer for the Assurance of Eternal Life

• Provides comfort and hope to those grieving, reminding them of the promise of eternal life with God.
• Strengthens faith in God's promises and the assurance of salvation through Jesus Christ.
• May be difficult for those struggling with doubt about life after death.
• Can be challenging for those from different faith backgrounds or beliefs about the afterlife.

When someone we love passes away, the heartbreak and void they leave behind can feel insurmountable. Yet, amidst this sorrow, our Christian faith offers a beacon of hope: the assurance of eternal life. This powerful belief is like a lighthouse, guiding us through the darkest nights of grief, illuminating our path with the promise of an everlasting reunion in God’s kingdom. Let us pray for this assurance and find solace in the truth that death is not an end but a beginning.

Heavenly Father, Giver of peace and Healer of hearts, In this moment of loss, we cling to Your promise of eternal life. Like a seed that falls to the ground and dies only to bring forth abundant life, we trust that our loved one has entered into Your glorious presence, where there is no more pain or sorrow. Lord, grant us the comfort of knowing that, through Jesus Christ, You have conquered death, offering us the hope of paradise restored. May this assurance soothe our aching hearts and dry our tears. Help us to envision the joyous reunion that awaits us, where every question is answered, and every tear is wiped away. As we navigate the days ahead, keep us anchored in the hope that we will embrace our loved one again. Strengthen our faith that, in Your perfect timing, we all will rejoice in Your eternal kingdom. Amen.

The assurance of eternal life is a cornerstone of Christian faith, holding us steady amid the torrents of grief. It offers comfort and a perspective shift — from despair to hope, from ending to continuity. As we hold onto this promise, our sorrow is mingled with joy, knowing that in God’s kingdom, death is defeated, and love endures forever.

Prayer for Hope Amidst Sorrow

• Provides comfort to those grieving, reminding them they are not alone.
• Encourages a sense of hope and resilience in face of loss.
• Deepens faith by turning to God in difficult times.
• Some individuals may find it challenging to embrace hope during deep sorrow.
• The prayer might initially seem to oversimplify complex emotions associated with grief.

In moments of powerful loss, the world seems to stand still. Yet, the heartache carried inside whispers a longing for solace. Prayer for Hope Amidst Sorrow emerges as a beacon for those adrift in the sea of grief, seeking a lighthouse to guide them back to shore. This prayer is a gentle reminder that even in the darkest nights, stars of hope still shimmer. It acknowledges the pain, yet softly encourages lifting one's eyes to the promise of a new dawn.

Heavenly Father, In this moment of overwhelming sorrow, where shadows linger and hearts are heavy, we reach out for Your hand. Comfort us, O Lord, as we navigate the valley of loss, guiding us with Your light of hope. Help us remember, amidst tears, that love never truly leaves us; it transforms, takes new shape, and watches over us from a place of peace. Lord, grant us the strength to face each day with courage and the grace to find joy in memories cherished. In Your wisdom, teach us that our hearts grow more compassionate through loss, and our spirits more resilient. Pour into our wounded souls the soothing balm of Your love, reminding us that in You, nothing is truly lost but held forever in Your eternal care. As we walk through these days of mourning, renew our spirits with the promise of Your unending presence. Let hope, like a seed, take root in our hearts, growing steadily, until from our sorrow blossoms a renewed faith, a deeper love, and an unshakable hope in Your promises. Amen.

In crafting a Prayer for Hope Amidst Sorrow, we weave together a landscape of grief and grace. It's an acknowledgment of the pain that comes with loss, coupled with a steadfast belief in hope's unwavering light. This prayer bridges troubled waters, offering a pathway from despair towards healing. As we recite these words, let them be both a salve for our wounds and a beacon leading us forward. In prayer, we find the strength to look beyond our grief, embracing the promise of comfort, renewal, and hope.

Prayer for the Legacy of Love

• It celebrates the positive impact the deceased has left on the world, reinforcing Christian values of love and service.
• It provides comfort by focusing on the continuation of the departed's virtues and love in the lives of those they've touched.
• It helps to reframe loss in a perspective of enduring love and legacy, offering a sense of peace.
• For some, it may initially feel like it minimizes the pain of loss by focusing on the positive aspects of legacy.
• It could be challenging for those in the early stages of grief and are not yet ready to reflect on legacy.

When someone we love passes, the void they leave behind seems insurmountable. Yet, amidst our powerful loss, we find solace in the enduring legacy of their love. This prayer is woven from the heartache of loss and the hope that love's legacy brings. It's an acknowledgment that while our loved ones have departed from this earthly realm, the essence of their love continues to ripple through our lives, shaping us even in their absence.

Heavenly Father, In the quiet moments of grief, where words fall short and hearts feel weary, we turn to You. We thank You for the gift of Your unwavering presence, especially now, as we remember the one who has journeyed home to You. Though their voice is silent, the legacy of their love echoes loudly in the chambers of our hearts, a testament to the life they lived among us. Lord, help us to cherish and carry forward this legacy of love. May it be a beacon that guides our paths—a warmth that lights even the darkest nights. Through teary eyes and heavy hearts, we recognize the beautiful landscape of kindness, compassion, and love they wove into the fabric of their days—a legacy not even death can diminish. Give us the strength to embody their love, to share it freely as they did, ensuring their spirit continues to touch lives, transcending the confines of time and space. In this way, let their legacy bloom eternally, a living garden nurtured by memories and acts of love left in their wake. Amen.

The prayer for the legacy of love is a gentle reminder that those we've lost continue to live within us through the love they've shared. It invites us to reflect on the beauty of their life's impact, encouraging us to weave their legacy of love into our daily actions. Doing so ensures their spirit remains vibrant and active, a comforting thought that connects us to the powerful love we shared. In embracing their legacy, we find the strength to move forward, carrying their love as an eternal beacon of light.

Prayer for Peaceful Rest

• Provides comfort to the bereaved, reinforcing their faith in divine care.
• Offers a sense of peace and acceptance amidst grief and loss.
• Encourages a communal sense of support and empathy among mourning people.
• May be challenging for those struggling with their faith or understanding of death.
• The concept of peaceful rest might be interpreted differently across Christian denominations.

When we lose someone close to our hearts, the world seems to stand still, enveloped in a silence that echoes our deepest sorrows. In these moments, turning to prayer not only bridges our present pain but also rekindles hope in the eternal promise of peace and rest for our departed loved ones. A Prayer for Peaceful Rest is a beacon of solace, offering words where our own may falter.

Heavenly Father, In Your boundless compassion, embrace our loved one who has stepped into eternity. As they have laid down their earthly burdens, we pray for their peaceful rest in Your loving presence. In the gardens of Paradise, where sorrow and pain are no more, may they find the ultimate peace. Lord, wrap your comforting arms around those of us who remain, knitting our wounded hearts with the threads of Your unfailing love. Help us to see through the vale of our grief, holding steadfast to the assurance that in Your realm, our beloved rests in sublime peace. Grant us, O God, the strength to entrust our dearly departed to Your infinite mercy, as we cherish their memory. May we be inspired by their life's journey, carrying forward their legacy with grace and grit. In this time of loss, let us not lose sight of the promise of resurrection, where death is but a horizon; and a horizon is nothing save the limit of our sight. Amen.

In crafting a Prayer for Peaceful Rest, we call forth the essence of our faith – the belief in a benevolent Creator who offers solace and redemption in times of sorrow. This prayer seeks to mourn the loss and celebrate the promise of eternal peace and reunion. It stands as a testament to our hope in the face of mortality, reminding us that even in the darkest nights, the dawn of God's everlasting peace awaits.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How does inviting jesus into the home of your heart prayer work.

The process of inviting Jesus into your heart is akin to opening your home to a cherished guest. You allow Him, in His profound, healing presence, to fill every corner, every room of your heart.

This experience is profoundly personal and intimate. Just as you would welcome a loved one into your home, you invite Jesus into your heart. His presence brings comfort, much like the warmth of a fireplace on a cold winter's night.

Jesus is not just a guest. He becomes a restorer, mending the broken areas within us. It's like having a master craftsman who, with gentle care, fixes the damages and cracks in our lives. This restoration brings a sense of peace and fulfillment that is unparalleled.

Here are a few key points to remember:

• Inviting Jesus into your heart is a deeply personal and intimate experience.
• His presence brings comfort and restoration, much like a master craftsman repairing a beloved, but damaged, piece of furniture.
• This practice can bring a unique sense of peace and fulfillment.

What Is the Significance of Seeking Comfort by Asking the Lord to Show You Where He Was During a Specific Moment of Grief?

In times of deep sorrow, we often search for comfort. One powerful way to find that comfort is to ask the Lord, Where were You during my grief? This question is more than just an echo of our hurt. It's a plea for understanding, a cry for reassurance.

When we ask this question, it's as if we're opening a direct line to God. We're reminding ourselves that He is always present. His presence is a beacon of hope, a promise of healing. Even amidst the storm of grief, He shines through.

Remember this: There is no pain so great that it is beyond the reach of God's love. He sent His son, Jesus Christ, to bear our sins and sorrows, to die and rise again so we might have hope beyond death.

When we invite Jesus into our hearts, we welcome a profound peace. A peace that surpasses all understanding. A peace that begins the healing process.

Guided prayers can act as a lifeline during grieving. They offer solace, comfort, and a way to express our deepest feelings. They can help us navigate the turbulent seas of sorrow, bringing us closer to the shore of healing.

As you grapple with grief, remember these key points:

• Asking God where He was during your grief can remind you of His constant presence.
• His presence offers hope and healing, even in the midst of pain.
• Inviting Jesus into your heart brings peace that aids in healing.
• Guided prayers provide comfort during the grieving process.

In times of sorrow, I encourage you to reach out to God. Ask Him your questions, share with Him your pain. You may find, in His response, a comfort that is beyond words.

How Can Guided Prayers Help in the Grieving Process?

Guided prayers are like the gentle hand of a friend in the grieving process. They lead us toward divine peace and healing. They are potent tools that can provide comfort, reassurance and a sacred space to share our emotions.

Imagine the grieving process as a dark forest. Guided prayers are the lanterns that light our path. They illuminate our way, helping us navigate the dim and difficult terrain.

They have the power to connect us with the Lord. Just as a phone call connects us with a distant friend, guided prayers connect us with Jesus Christ. They offer a direct line to the divine, allowing us to express our deepest sorrows, fears, and hopes.

Consider the benefits and drawbacks of guided prayers. On the one hand, they provide comfort and reassurance, helping us express our emotions and solace in the Lord's presence. On the other hand, they require faith and trust in Jesus Christ. This may be a challenge for those who have yet to accept Him as their savior.

Yet, through this challenge, we can find true spiritual growth. Just as a seed must endure the darkness of the soil before it can sprout, we must endure the darkness of grief before we can experience the light of God's love.

To sum it up:

• Guided prayers provide comfort and help express emotions.
• They connect us with the Lord, akin to a phone call with a distant friend.
• They require faith, which can be challenging and lead to spiritual growth.
• They are like lanterns in the dark forest of grief.

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Culture and Coexistence into the Great Unknown

• Mythological Journey to the Aztec Underworld

In Aztec (also called Mexica) cosmology, the soul’s journey to the Underworld after death leaves them with four destinations: the Sacred Orchard of the Gods, the Place of Darkness, the Kingdom of the Sun, and a paradise called the Mansion of the Moon. The most common deaths end up on their way to Mictlán (Place of Darkness) with its nine levels, crashing mountains and rushing rivers, and four years of struggle. This pantheon of gods and goddesses and the expanse of the 13 Heavens provides the cultural basis for the Day of the Dead customs and celebrations.

Journey Through the Underworld

Based on a post by Moctezuma Xocoyotzin , Published by Zoe Saadia at Pre-Columbian Americas

The following is provided as a lesson at a fictional school for noble boys and girls, but presents the cosmology quite comprehensively, where the manner of one’s death determines their Land of the Dead destination.

Today I will talk of the Four Mansions of the Dead. In particular the journey we have to do while reaching Mictlán.

But, before that, you need to know that Mictlantecuhtli , the skeletal Lord of the Land of the Dead is the supreme ruler of Mictlán. He oversees the place of eternal smoke and darkness, along with his consort Mictlancihuatl.

Mictlán is the underworld of the Nahua People (also known as the Aztec), ruled over by its Lord and Lady. It is a gloomy place, reached by the dead only after wandering for four years beneath the Earth, accompanied by a “soul-companion,” a dog which was customarily cremated with the corpse. Aztec myth tells how the deity Quetzalcoatl, who in the Nahuatl language means “feathered serpent,” journeyed to Mictlán at the dawning of the Fifth Sun (the present world era), in order to restore humankind to life from the bones of those who had lived in previous eras. For bones are like seeds: everything that dies goes into the Earth, and from it new life is born in the sacred cycle of existence.  — Quetzalcoatl’s Descent To Mictlán

At sunset, Mictlantechutli, along with Tonatiuh , take their place upon the sun, to illuminate the world of the dead.

Tonatiuh, the Star God, becomes Tzontemoc at dusk to light the world of Mictlantecuhtli at night.

The legend says that, after Quetzalcoatl and Tezcatlipoca created the world, the day and night, they placed Mictalntecuhtli and his wife Mictlancihuatl as Lord and Lady of the underworld.

The counterpart of Mictlán is the paradise known as Tlalocán, the home of the god Tlaloc, where the people dead from drowning or lightning would arrive.

So, as I said, there were four mansions of the dead:

• Chichihuacuauhco
• Ilhuuicatl-Tonatiuh
• and Tlalocán.

The Chichihuacuauhco was the first mansion.

This was the place of the dead children. In its middle there was a large tree, whose branches dripped milk, so the children could feed and gain strength.

These children would return to the world when the race that is inhabiting the Earth, our world of the Fifth Sun, will be destroyed. That is why their death was necessary, because they were chosen to populate the Earth in the future, when no one will be left alive.

It was believed that these children reincarnated after their death in this mansion, where they lived physically until they were called by the gods.

Then Mictlán was the second mansion .

People who eventually succumbed to illness and old age went to Mictlán. In order to reach it, the soul has to make a four year journey, passing through nine layers of the Underworld and various daunting tests.

First, the dead would come to a place where a great river called Apanohuaya ( where one crosses the river ) roared along, wide and gushing, intimidating and impossible to swim across.

To cross it one needed the help of an Itzcuintli ( xoloitzcuintle ), a special dog each family raised and cremated alongside the mourned deceased.

STORY: Day of the Dead: Aztec Dance Honoring the Soul’s Rest

Among the Aztecs, the god Xolotl was a monstrous dog. During the creation of the Fifth Sun, Xolotl was hunted by Death and escaped him by transforming himself first into a sprout of maize, then into maguey leaves and finally as a salamander in a pool of water. The third time that Death found Xolotl, he trapped and killed him. Three important foodstuffs were produced from the body of this mythological dog. Mictlantecuhtli, Lord of the Dead, had the bones of man in the underworld, kept over from the previous creations. Xolotl descended to the underworld to steal these bones so that man could be reborn in the new creation of the Fifth Sun. Xolotl managed to recover the bones and brought man to life by piercing his penis and bleeding upon them. Xolotl was seen as an incarnation of the planet Venus as the Evening Star (the Morning Star was his twin brother Quetzalcoatl ). Xolotl was the canine companion of the Sun, following its path through both the sky and the underworld. Xolotl’s strong connection with the underworld, death and the dead is demonstrated by the symbols he bore. In the Codex Borbonicus Xolotl is pictured with a knife in his mouth, a symbol of death, and has black wavy hair like the hair worn by the gods of death. [From Read & Gonzalez 2000, Fernández 1992 , and Neumann 1975 ]

Upon recognizing his dead master, the dog would bark, then rush to help the deceased to cross the river, carrying its master upon his back while swimming.

The Journey to Mictlán was brutal.

After the crossing the great river, the deceased was stripped of all his clothes, beginning the second part of his journey between two mountains that conflicted with each other. This pass was called Tepetl Monamiclia , and the deceased would make his way warily, haunted by the fear that the two mountains would clash, crushing the passing traveler.

At the end of the pass, the deceased would be forced to walk down the hill strewn with flints and sharp obsidian, made of the same material as our knives, called Ilztepetl. The stones would cut the dead them as they passed, merciless and relentless.

The next stage was the walk through Celhuecayan, eight mountains, covered with perpetual snow that would fall on and on, whipped by strong winds. It was said that the winds in these moors were so cold and strong it would cut the body as obsidian blades.

After this the dead would arrive at the foot of the hill, the last stop in the first part of the journey called Paniecatacoyan. These moors were cold and large, where the dead would have to walk endlessly, crossing the desolated land.

Done with the first test, the dead would take a long path, where they would be struck with arrows. This place was called Temiminaloyan and the arrows were fired by unseen hands, trying to harm the passersby.

At the end of the path, they would arrive at the place inhabited by thousands of fierce beasts. When any of the beasts reached them, the passersby would have to throw open their chests and let the beasts eat their hearts, Tecoylenaloyan.

Afterwards, they would be force to dive into the Apanuiayo, where the water was black, and where the lizard called Xochilonal had lived. The dead would have to swim in this lake, dodging the animals, including the terrifying lizard to get to the next test.

Next, they would have to wade through nine rivers, on a path of mist and dark, called Izmictlan Apochcalolca. The sun never rose in this place.

Finally, tired, injured and exhausted with suffering, they would reach their final destination on Chicunamictlan, where they would meet Mictlantecuchtli, the fierce God of the Death, who would receive them with vengeance.

Here the cycle would end forever and here they would live until their bodies and their lives would extinguish.

The long journey lasted for four years, in which the deceased came to his eternal rest.

This was the mansion to which came most of the dead, people who would die of natural causes.

The third mansion was the Kingdom of the Sun .

Here the warriors, slaughtered at the hands of their enemies, would rest. Also included were the souls of those women who died in childbirth. Among the Aztecs, the pregnant woman was like a warrior who symbolically captured her child for the Aztec state in the painful and bloody battle of birth. Considered as female aspects of defeated heroic warriors, women dying in childbirth became fierce goddesses who carried the setting sun into the netherworld realm of Mictlán.

This place was outside the time, a wonderful infinite place, a beautiful plain, and every time the sun would come up, they would hear the sound of the warriors beating their shields.

After four years, these warriors would turn into rich bird-feathers, small, living creatures eating the flowers.

The iconography of Tonatiuh’s attire provides a visual explanation for what his role as the sun god entailed. The deity is usually depicted with arrows and a shield to show that he is a warrior. Tonatiuh often carries a maguey spine in one hand to signify that he takes part in bloodletting practices as a means of sacrifice. The importance of sacrifice is also reinforced by depictions of balls of eagle feather or the eagle itself, which were markers of sacrifice. Tonatiuh’s connection to the sun leads us to believe that the eagle is a reference to the ascending and descending eagle talons, which is a visual metaphor for capturing the heart or life force of a person. [From Townsend, Richard (1979). ‘State and Cosmos in the Art of Tenochtitlan’. Washington D.C.: Dumbarton Oaks].

Upon the Earth, in our world of the Fifth Sun, these birds were treated with honor, because we knew they were the souls of the warriors who had died in a battle. These birds are hummingbirds. Some would also become butterflies.

The fourth mansion was what Catholics took for a paradise.

Those who had died by drowning, lightning, and other deaths related to water and rain would arrive at Tlalocán, the Mansion of the Moon, a place of unending springtime and a paradise of green plants. This place belonged to Tlaloc (Nahuatl: “He Who Makes Things Sprout”).

Tlaloc is also associated with caves, springs, and mountains, most specifically the sacred mountain in which he was believed to reside. His animal forms include herons and water-dwelling creatures such as amphibians, snails, and possibly sea creatures, particularly shellfish. The Mexican marigold, Tagetes lucida , known to the Aztecs as yauhtli, was another important symbol of the god, and was burned as a ritual incense in native religious ceremonies. [From Sahagún, Fray Bernardino de (1569). ‘ Florentine Codex: General History of the Things of New Spain’ ]

The dead arriving here would live happy, fresh and unconcerned. These dead were not cremated, but buried, interred with a piece of wood which was believed to sprout leaves and flowers once the person had entered Tlalocán. Here people enjoyed food and fruits in abundance, a luxury deserving the realm of the supreme god of rain and agriculture.

And so, between those mansions the dead Mexica were divided, each person going to his designated place in the Mexican Underworld.

There were other pseudo-mansions to which people arrived if killed in special situations. For example, noble women dead in childbirth were going to Cihuateteo.

Mictlán was located below our world.

The Ilhuuicatl-Tonatiuh was upon the sun itself.

Tlalocán on the moon.

The Chichihuacuahco location was unknown, but it said it was out of this world.

And those were the mansions of the dead, and the journey that the dead suffered when they were in Mictlán.

And so today ends the night of #LeyendasMexicas.

Bibliography

López Austin, Alfredo. The Human Body and Ideology: Concepts of the Ancient Nahuas. Salt Lake City: University of Utah Press, 1980.

Furst, Jill Leslie McKeever. The Natural History of the Soul in Ancient Mexico. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 1995.

Neumann, Franke J. (1975). “The Dragon and the Dog: Two Symbols of Time in Nahuatl Religion”. Numen, Vol. 22, Fasc. 1 Apr 1975. Brill Publishers: 1–23.

Sahagún, Fray Bernardino de. Primeros Memoriales, translated by Thelma Sullivan. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, 1997.

Sahagún, Fray Bernardino de. Florentine Codex: General History of the Things of New Spain, translated by Arthur J. O. Anderson and Charles E. Dibble. 13 vols. Santa Fe, NM: School of American Research, 1950–1982.

Townsend, Richard. ‘State and Cosmos in the Art of Tenochtitlan’. Washington D.C.: Dumbarton Oaks , (1979).

Aztec Religion, from Death and Dying

Historia En El Calmecac, from Zoe Saadia

Mictlan, Wikipedia

Quetzalcoatl, WilderUtopia

Xolotl, from Ancient Origins

Updated 23 October 2023

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I am interested in the image of (Mictlantechutli ) you have here. What role does this God play out during the last days, judgement day, doomsday? Also please email me if you have a moment to spare. I am comparing what I have found to known ancient gods relating to underworld, serpents, and judgement related information. This looks and could be a possible, but need the information which will confirm. Thank you Bart

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Home » Hanafi Fiqh » Darulfiqh.com » Where do the souls go after death?

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Where do the souls go after death?

We know that the shaheed is not dead and are living amongst us and are getting their risk but I want to know that what happens to the other people like us who are not shaheed and die a natural death at hands of Izrael? What happens to our soul where it goes do we go in eternal slumber or we go to a place called barzakh and please tell me more about barzakh?

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.

The life of this world is nothing in comparison to the life of the Hereafter.  The experiences, happiness and sorrows of this life are microscopic in relation to the Afterlife.  The phenomenon commences when the soul exits the body.  At such a crucial stage, there are two groups: the fortunate ones and the wretched ones.[i]

The fortunate ones are received like kings.  Hundreds of angels receive them, fragrance surrounds them and light engulfs them.  They are escorted to Almighty Allah Ta’ālā in a convoy of light comprised of the angels.[ii]

The wretched ones are terrorised from the moment they sight the hereafter unfolding.  Repulsive black angels, putrid smell and fire grasps them.  Their souls are ripped out of their bodies and driven to Almighty Allah.[iii]

Once the soul exits the body, it enters Inter-space ( barzakh ).  This is another world and realm altogether.  This is the intermediary state between the two worlds.[iv]

The treatment one receives in Inter-space ( barzakh ) is a reflection of one’s deeds and actions in this world.  If a person was an obedient slave of Almighty Allah, he will be entertained with royalty.  If he was anything to the contrary, words cannot describe his ordeal.  This concept can be understood by analogising Inter-space ( barzakh ) to waiting in transit at an airport.  The holders of privilege cards and bonus points’ holders are reclining in the first class luxury lounges.  Some are entertained in the business lounge, others are offered free meals, and some are only entitled to a free drink.  There will be those passengers who are not entitled to anything.  Worse than that, some passengers are left stranded in transit, others face ordeals and troubles with flight cancellations and suffer prolonged anxiety.  This is a depiction of the souls in Inter-space ( barzakh ).  Different souls receive different privileges based on their ‘points’ they score in this world.

Ibn Qayyim al-Jawzīyyah rahimahullah explains the condition of the souls in this intermediary realm in his renowned work, Kitāb al-rūh .  He mentions that everyone’s soul is in the following different stations within Inter-space[v]:

1)     ‘A ῾lā ῾illīyīn (The highest station): This station is exclusive for the Prophets ( alaihim al-salām ).  Even in this station, there are different echelons and spheres.

2)     In green birds: These are the souls of the martyrs who did not have any debt outstanding.  Some martyrs will not receive this station due the debts they owe.

3)     Courtyards at the gates of Paradise: The souls of the pious believers will dwell here.

4)     Graves: souls of a percentage of the righteous believers will be in their respective graves.

5)     Earth: a number of wretched souls will be constrained to the Earth.  They will not be privileged to go to the Heavens.

6)     Cauldrons: The souls of the fornicators will be gathered in these huge cauldrons.

7)     Rivers of blood: The souls of the evil ones will be drowning in rivers of blood whilst being pelted with boulders.

8)     Sijjīn : The souls of the disbelievers will be shackled in this realm which is situated beneath the seventh Earth.

The higher the station, the more the soul will be entertained with the blessings of Allah.  Likewise, the lower the station, the more wrath and torment will be let loose on the soul.

May Allah Ta῾ālā make us from amongst the ones who dwell in the highest of stations.  Ameen.

Every person should be striving to attain the highest of ranks in the Hereafter.  The real winner is he who attains a lofty rank and a real loser is he who loses the opportunity to attain a rank.  Once we leave this world, nothing materialistic will be of any benefit.  If we contemplate on these ranks and the events we have to still attend, it will most certainly motivate us to please Allah the Almighty.

There are some deeds every Muslim should do daily without fail to safeguard his/her faith.  Below is a checklist which everybody should try and adhere to.  Every night, take account of yourself and see if you practiced the ‘5 points’.

1) Men must perform their 5 times sal āh in the masjid with the congregation.  Likewise, women should perform 5 times salāh at home in the recommended time.

2) Recite a portion of the Qur’ān daily according to one’s capacity.

3)  Study the English translation of the Qur’ ān for 10-15 minutes daily.  We recommend Ma’āriful Qur’ān by Mufti Muhammad Shafi sahib or Tafseer Uthmani by Maulana Shabeer Ahmed Uthmani sahib (Allah have mercy on them).

4) Perform zikr (remembrance of Allah) daily.  The recitation of 100 times Salawāt on the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace), a 100 times Istighfār and a 100 times third kalimah some time in the morning and evening.

5) Do your utmost to fulfil the rights of people.  Do not oppress or hurt anyone.

If there is a downpour of rain and we see shelter, we immediately run to that shelter.  Likewise, when there is a downpour of trials, the shelter is the company of the pious and god-fearing.  Frequent the gatherings of the pious in your locality.  Also, try and spend some time with the brothers in Tablīgh Jamā’ah .  It is a praiseworthy work with the sole aim of refreshing and reviving the faith of the people.

And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best

Mawlana Faraz Ibn Adam, Student Darul Iftaa

Checked and Approved by, Mufti Husain Kadodia. www.daruliftaa.net

[i] وفي صحيح البخاري  

حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ، حَدَّثَنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ وَهُوَ الصَّادِقُ المَصْدُوقُ، «إِنَّ أَحَدَكُمْ يُجْمَعُ فِي بَطْنِ أُمِّهِ أَرْبَعِينَ يَوْمًا، ثُمَّ يَكُونُ عَلَقَةً مِثْلَ ذَلِكَ، ثُمَّ يَكُونُ مُضْغَةً مِثْلَ ذَلِكَ، ثُمَّ يَبْعَثُ اللَّهُ إِلَيْهِ مَلَكًا بِأَرْبَعِ كَلِمَاتٍ، فَيُكْتَبُ عَمَلُهُ، وَأَجَلُهُ، وَرِزْقُهُ، وَشَقِيٌّ أَوْ سَعِيدٌ، ثُمَّ يُنْفَخُ فِيهِ الرُّوحُ، فَإِنَّ الرَّجُلَ لَيَعْمَلُ بِعَمَلِ أَهْلِ النَّارِ، حَتَّى مَا يَكُونُ بَيْنَهُ وَبَيْنَهَا إِلَّا ذِرَاعٌ، فَيَسْبِقُ عَلَيْهِ الكِتَابُ فَيَعْمَلُ بِعَمَلِ أَهْلِ الجَنَّةِ فَيَدْخُلُ الجَنَّةَ، وَإِنَّ الرَّجُلَ لَيَعْمَلُ بِعَمَلِ أَهْلِ الجَنَّةِ، حَتَّى مَا يَكُونُ بَيْنَهُ وَبَيْنَهَا إِلَّا ذِرَاعٌ، فَيَسْبِقُ عَلَيْهِ الكِتَابُ، فَيَعْمَلُ بِعَمَلِ أَهْلِ النَّارِ، فَيَدْخُلُ النَّارَ» رقم الحديث 3332

[ii] وفي مسند أحمد  

عَنِ الْبَرَاءِ بْنِ عَازِبٍ، قَالَ: خَرَجْنَا مَعَ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، فِي جِنَازَةِ رَجُلٍ مِنَ الْأَنْصَارِ، فَانْتَهَيْنَا إِلَى الْقَبْرِ، وَلَمَّا يُلْحَدْ، فَجَلَسَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، وَجَلَسْنَا حَوْلَهُ، كَأَنَّ عَلَى رُءُوسِنَا الطَّيْرَ، وَفِي يَدِهِ عُودٌ يَنْكُتُ فِي الْأَرْضِ، فَرَفَعَ رَأْسَهُ، فَقَالَ: ” اسْتَعِيذُوا بِاللهِ مِنْ عَذَابِ الْقَبْرِ مَرَّتَيْنِ، أَوْ ثَلَاثًا، “، ثُمَّ قَالَ: ” إِنَّ الْعَبْدَ الْمُؤْمِنَ إِذَا كَانَ فِي انْقِطَاعٍ مِنَ الدُّنْيَا وَإِقْبَالٍ مِنَ الْآخِرَةِ، نَزَلَ إِلَيْهِ مَلَائِكَةٌ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ بِيضُ الْوُجُوهِ، كَأَنَّ وُجُوهَهُمُ الشَّمْسُ، مَعَهُمْ كَفَنٌ مِنْ أَكْفَانِ الْجَنَّةِ، وَحَنُوطٌ مِنْ حَنُوطِ الْجَنَّةِ، حَتَّى يَجْلِسُوا مِنْهُ مَدَّ الْبَصَرِ، ثُمَّ يَجِيءُ مَلَكُ الْمَوْتِ، عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ إلخ رقم الحديث 18534

[iii] وفي مسند أحمد  

قَالَ: ” وَإِنَّ الْعَبْدَ الْكَافِرَ إِذَا كَانَ فِي انْقِطَاعٍ مِنَ الدُّنْيَا وَإِقْبَالٍ مِنَ الْآخِرَةِ، نَزَلَ إِلَيْهِ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ مَلَائِكَةٌ سُودُ الْوُجُوهِ، مَعَهُمُ الْمُسُوحُ، فَيَجْلِسُونَ مِنْهُ مَدَّ الْبَصَرِ، ثُمَّ يَجِيءُ مَلَكُ الْمَوْتِ، حَتَّى يَجْلِسَ عِنْدَ رَأْسِهِ، فَيَقُولُ: أَيَّتُهَا النَّفْسُ الْخَبِيثَةُ، اخْرُجِي إِلَى سَخَطٍ مِنَ اللهِ وَغَضَبٍ ” رقم الحديث 18534

لَعَلِّي أَعْمَلُ صَالِحًا فِيمَا تَرَكْتُ كَلَّا إِنَّهَا كَلِمَةٌ هُوَ قَائِلُهَا وَمِنْ وَرَائِهِمْ بَرْزَخٌ إِلَى يَوْمِ يُبْعَثُونَ (المؤمنون 100

[v] وفي كتاب الروح  

قيل الْأَرْوَاح مُتَفَاوِتَة فِي مستقرها فِي البرزخ أعظم تفَاوت فَمِنْهَا أَرْوَاح فِي أَعلَى عليين فِي الملا الْأَعْلَى وَهِي أَرْوَاح الْأَنْبِيَاء صلوَات الله وَسَلَامه عَلَيْهِم وهم متفاوتون فِي مَنَازِلهمْ كَمَا رَآهُمْ النَّبِي لَيْلَة الْإِسْرَاء

وَمِنْهَا أَرْوَاح فِي حواصل طير خضر تسرح فِي الْجنَّة حَيْثُ شَاءَت وَهِي أَرْوَاح بعض الشُّهَدَاء لَا جَمِيعهم بل من الشُّهَدَاء من تحبس روحه عَن دُخُول الْجنَّة لدين عَلَيْهِ أَو غَيره كَمَا فِي الْمسند عَن مُحَمَّد بن عبد الله بن جحش أَن رجلا جَاءَ إِلَى النَّبِي فَقَالَ يَا رَسُول الله مَالِي إِن قتلت فِي سَبِيل الله قَالَ الْجنَّة فَلَمَّا ولى قَالَ إِلَّا الَّذين سَارَّنِي بِهِ جِبْرِيل آنِفا

وَمِنْهُم من يكون مَحْبُوسًا على بَاب الْجنَّة كَمَا فِي الحَدِيث الآخر رَأَيْت صَاحبكُم مَحْبُوسًا على بَاب الْجنَّة

وَمِنْهُم من يكون مَحْبُوسًا فِي قَبره كَحَدِيث صَاحب الشملة الَّتِي غلها ثمَّ اسْتشْهد فَقَالَ النَّاس هَنِيئًا لَهُ الْجنَّة فَقَالَ النَّبِي وَالَّذِي نَفسِي بِيَدِهِ إِن الشملة الَّتِي غلها لتشتعل عَلَيْهِ نَارا فِي قَبره

وَمِنْهُم من يكون مقره بَاب الْجنَّة كَمَا فِي حَدِيث ابْن عَبَّاس الشُّهَدَاء على بارق نهر بِبَاب الْجنَّة فِي قبَّة خضراء يخرج عَلَيْهِم رزقهم من الْجنَّة بكرَة وَعَشِيَّة رَوَاهُ أَحْمد وَهَذَا بِخِلَاف جَعْفَر بن أَبى طَالب حَيْثُ أبدله الله من يَدَيْهِ جناحين يطير بهما فِي الْجنَّة حَيْثُ شَاءَ

وَمِنْهُم من يكون مَحْبُوسًا فِي الأَرْض لم لَعَلَّ روحه إِلَى الْمَلأ الْأَعْلَى فَإِنَّهَا كَانَت روحا سفلية أرضية فَإِن الْأَنْفس الأرضية لَا تجامع الْأَنْفس السماوية كَمَا لَا تجامعها فِي الدُّنْيَا وَالنَّفس الَّتِي لم تكتسب فِي الدُّنْيَا معرفَة رَبهَا ومحبته وَذكره والأنس بِهِ والتقرب إِلَيْهِ بل هِيَ أرضية سفلية لَا تكون بعد الْمُفَارقَة لبدنها إِلَّا هُنَاكَ كَمَا أَن النَّفس العلوية الَّتِي كَانَت فِي الدُّنْيَا عاكفة  على محبَّة الله وَذكره والقرب إِلَيْهِ والأنس بِهِ تكون بعد الْمُفَارقَة مَعَ الْأَرْوَاح العلوية الْمُنَاسبَة لَهَا فالمرء مَعَ من احب فِي البرزخ وَيَوْم الْقِيَامَة وَالله تَعَالَى يُزَوّج النُّفُوس بَعْضهَا بِبَعْض فِي البرزخ وَيَوْم الْمعَاد كَمَا تقدم فِي الحَدِيث وَيجْعَل روحه يعْنى الْمُؤمن مَعَ النسم الطّيب أَي الْأَرْوَاح الطّيبَة المشاكلة فالروح بعد الْمُفَارقَة تلْحق بأشكالها وَأَخَوَاتهَا وَأَصْحَاب عَملهَا فَتكون مَعَهم هُنَاكَ

وَمِنْهَا أَرْوَاح تكون فِي تنور الزناة وَالزَّانِي وأرواح فِي نهر الدَّم تسبح فِيهِ وتلقم الْحِجَارَة فَلَيْسَ للأرواح سعيدها وشقيها مُسْتَقر وَاحِد بل روح فِي أَعلَى عليين وروح أرضية سفلية لَا تصعد عَن الأَرْض (ص117-115 دار الكتب العلمية

This answer was collected from DarulFiqh.com, which is operated under the supervision of Mufti Faraz ibn Adam al-Mahmudi , the student of world renowned Mufti Ebrahim Desai (Hafizahullah).

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Depressed after his wife's death, this minneapolis man turned to ketamine therapy for help.

First came the music, soft and mystical, perhaps from the Middle East or Asia. My body began to feel heavy, like I was melting into the recliner. Then came the slow creep of unfamiliar but not unpleasant feelings and the taste of metal in my mouth.

It had been just a few minutes since Dr. Manoj Doss had injected me with a dose of the anesthetic psychotropic ketamine, a drug that has been successfully used in surgeries and other procedures for years. More recently, ketamine has found growing support in the mental health field because of its success in treating such psychological traumas as post-traumatic stress syndrome and depression and anxiety caused by lingering grief.

That's why I came, reluctantly, to the Institute for Integrative Therapies in Eden Prairie, the first in Minnesota to offer ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAP), part of the expanded use of mind-altering drugs to ease certain mental health problems. My wife, Ellen, had died in April 2023, and rather than get better, I found my mind increasingly trapped in a relentless cycle of bad memories and ruminations on her long illness and death.

Ellen had been my anchor — a spirited, funny woman who had been a pioneer in nonprofit fundraising. We had eloped to Mexico 36 years ago, and, knowing her life would be shortened by Type 1 diabetes, we traveled the world. Last spring, she insisted we go to Savannah, Ga., even though a doctor warned she could die on the trip. And she did.

After her death, I tried therapy and medications to fight depression and anxiety, but I only got worse. During an annual checkup, I completed a mental health questionnaire, which asked what gave me hope. "Nothing. My wife is dead," I wrote. Asked what would give me comfort on my deathbed, I sarcastically scribbled, "Salma Hayek." A doctor looked at my answers and asked a good question: "Do you own a gun?"

I needed to do something, but what? An old friend had told me about using psilocybin mushrooms under supervision in South America to recover from a breakup, and then I discovered that some Twin Cities clinics were using ketamine for similar results.

So, after a physical and blood pressure reading, there I was in a dark, cozy room with a blanket, headphones and a sleep mask waiting for the medication to kick in.

The heaviness turned to lightness as I began to feel as though my subconscious — my soul? — was rising out of my body. An onslaught of patterns and textures moved before me. Geometric shapes, a gauzy haze of white, pin-pricked dark skies. I floated through a landscape of bubble gum-colored terrain. Barbie Land?

As a writer, I struggled to create the narrative of what was happening to me, and I voiced frustration because I lacked words to describe my dreamscape.

"This is … weird," I recall telling Kristine Martin, the psychotherapist who accompanied me on my three-hour hallucination.

"It is weird," Martin responded.

"Are you still here?" I asked Martin. "Yes, I'm here," she said.

"Am I here?" I asked.

"Yes, you are here," Martin said. "So is Ellen."

Tears rolled down my face. "I know," I said. "I'm holding her hand."

Early research interrupted

Research into psychedelics for treating mental health disorders was done throughout the 1950s and '60s, but psychedelics were eventually adopted as party drugs. Psychologist and author Timothy Leary advocated that people use the drugs to "turn on, tune in and drop out." Though scientists saw promise in psychedelics, they were increasingly seen as an anti-establishment escape by the counterculture. President Richard Nixon saw that as a danger, and declared them a Schedule 1 drug, making them illegal.

"It wasn't done for public health reasons, it was done for political reasons," said Doss, the Eden Prairie physician. "Criminalizing them made it impossible to research and you were thought of as a kook. It would ruin your career."

That may be changing.

A nasal form of ketamine was approved by the FDA for clinical use to treat mental health problems in 2019. There are a handful of clinics in Minnesota now offering ketamine-assisted psychotherapy, and others that do ketamine infusions without the psychotherapy element. Doss estimates the number of patients who have benefitted from the treatments to be in the thousands in the state.

More therapies may be coming. In 2023, Minnesota created the Psychedelic Medicine Task Force to advise the Legislature on legal, medical and policy issues associated with psychedelic medicine. Doss' partner, Dr. Ranji Varghese, is a member of the task force.

Ketamine has gotten bad publicity through its use as a street drug. It was one of the drugs abused by actor Matthew Perry, who died from a combination of drugs. Like any drug, it can be abused and cause addiction or death. Use of the drug also came under scrutiny locally when some Minneapolis police officers were found to be instructing emergency responders to inject unruly or violent offenders .

Exactly how ketamine works is still being investigated. National Institutes of Health said the drugs are thought to dampen certain brain connections and activate some neurons in the brain while quieting others. It is believed to increase the organ's neuroplasticity, the brain's ability to adapt and change to meet new life experiences.

When a person gets trapped in a depressive mindset, their "default mode" creates chaos and confusion, creating depression and anxiety, Doss explained. That's where I was last summer.

A second journey

I paid $850 out of pocket for my first session, and $500 for the second, though some insurance companies are now covering or reimbursing patients for part of the expense.

For my session, Doss gave me an initial dose of 60 milligrams of ketamine, followed by two more doses of 30 milligrams to prolong the sessions. My dose was "mild to moderate," enough to create dissociations but not enough to sedate me. I was vaguely aware of my surroundings, yet clearly removed from my body.

Doss talks about the importance of "set and setting." The person needs to be ready for treatment and needs to take it in a safe place. After months of sometimes debilitating depression and thoughts of hopelessness, my mind was ready for a reset. The clinic proved to be a comfortable environment.

I had experienced psychedelics a few times in college, but it was recreational. Nothing like this.

I slowly came out of the experience and talked to Doss and Martin about my thoughts and feelings. I was unsure whether I had said things out loud, or only thought them to myself. A session with Martin a couple of days later helped me process the dream state I'd experienced.

Yes, I did tell Martin I was holding my wife's hand, and, apparently, I held my own hand as I said it. While some patients unearth long-buried memories during or after a psychedelic experience, I did not. I did cry for much of the three hours. I was a bit shaky afterward, and had a friend drive me home.

But the morning after the treatment, I was up at 6 a.m., hit the gym, wrote for two hours and went to breakfast, a pace I had not known for months. I had a sudden memory of Ellen telling a joke, and I laughed. I also was interrupted later that day by a memory of my father in the hospital for depression on Christmas Eve when I was a child. It was oddly reassuring; I had survived that, I will survive this.

When Martin asked what I was feeling, I said, "Clarity. Confidence. I feel positive."

Most important, the negative ruminations that roamed my brain — what I called the hamster wheel of doom — much of the day before my sessions were, and are, gone.

Some patients do several sessions of ketamine. I did a follow-up "booster" a few weeks after my initial shot. This time, the drug was given through an I.V. drip and I was accompanied by a nurse.

I did not cry. I did see Ellen again, briefly. She was holding the hand of a woman I had recently begun dating, and they were smiling. I later told Martin that I interpreted that to mean Ellen was giving me permission to move forward.

The other strange thing is that, unlike the first session, I heard lyrics for several of the songs. Scrolling through my brain were full stanzas and a chorus. They were uplifting and talked about getting through the darkness into the light. One sounded like Lionel Richie. OK, they were a little corny.

Shannon, the nurse who sat with me for the second session, said I was smiling and even laughing. At one point when the music soared, I put my hands in the air in triumph, like Rocky on the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

After that session, I asked Doss why he chose songs with lyrics this time. He smiled.

"There were no lyrics," he said. "You made them up. You told yourself what you needed to hear. The subconscious is a powerful thing. There are caverns you have not even explored yet."

A new worldview

Ketamine does not work for everyone. Some patients report few or no effects. Others, however, see immediate results. It is not recommended for people who have had psychotic episodes because it can be a trigger.

Margaret Gavian, a psychologist who is part of the Psychedelic Task Force, has patients who have been treated with ketamine.

"What patients talk about is the relief they feel when nothing else has worked," said Gavian. She hasn't witnessed anyone having a bad reaction to the drug, but cautions that "people have to be ready because it's very intense. It can be freaky, to use a medical term. They are not for everyone."

Yet, she's also witnessed "people who are suicidal, who were suffering for decades, finally get some relief. It was really inspiring."

Mark Schneiderhan, board certified psychiatric pharmacist and associate professor at the University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy, said ketamine infusions can have an almost immediate decrease and effective relief of depressive symptoms in some patients who haven't responded to traditional antidepressant treatments, such as SSRIs.

However, he recommends ketamine be administered only in a clinical setting, where a patient's reactions and vital signs are monitored, and during a behavioral therapy session. Using the drug can cause dissociation (an out-of-body, disconnected feeling) which can cause panic and/or trigger disturbing memories "that can feel scary," he said. "That's when having a trained behavioral therapist at the bedside is so important."

Neither Schneiderhan nor the FDA recommends buying compounded ketamine off the internet or off the street. "There are no quality controls to ensure product safety," he said. "We don't know how it's compounded. What is the purity and dose consistency? There are all sorts of questions about it."

For his part, Doss describes psychedelics as "lenses. We are all stuck in our own existence, sometimes we need to have that worldview shaken."

He compares ketamine treatment to skiing down a long hill, carving the same path, with fears and doubts and ruminations, until you can't get out of the ruts. "This is a fresh set of powder to help you ski a new path. It's not a cure, it's a catalyst."

Did I have an epiphany? Seeing my wife twice was certainly close. Two months after my first ketamine exposure, I still miss Ellen and grieve for her loss. But something in the way I perceive the loss has shifted. The pain has lessened, and the memories are largely positive.

I'm still skiing downhill, but there's a new layer of snow.

Jon Tevlin is a former Star Tribune columnist.

© 2024 StarTribune. All rights reserved.

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Doug Ingle, the Voice of Iron Butterfly, Is Dead at 78

His biggest hit, “In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida,” was a 17-minute psychedelic journey that epitomized 1960s rock indulgence. But after just a few years in the limelight, he walked away.

By Alex Williams

Doug Ingle, the lead singer and organist of Iron Butterfly, the band that turned a purportedly misheard lyric into “In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida,” the 17-minute magnum opus that propelled acid rock into the outer reaches of excess in the late 1960s, died on May 24. He was 78.

His death was confirmed in a social media post by his son Doug Ingle Jr. The post did not say where he died or specify a cause.

Mr. Ingle was the last surviving member of the classic lineup of Iron Butterfly, the pioneering hard rock act he helped found in 1966. The band released its first three albums within a year, starting with “Heavy” in early 1968, and, after a lineup shuffle, cemented its place in rock lore with its second album, “In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida,” released that July.

“In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida” spent 140 weeks on the Billboard album chart , peaking at No. 4, and was said to have sold some 30 million copies worldwide. A radio version of the title song, whittled to under three minutes, made it to No. 30 on the Billboard Hot 100.

But it was the full-length album version — taking up the entire second side of the LP in all of its messy glory — that became a signature song of the tie-dye era. With its truncheonlike guitar riff and haunting aura that called to mind a rock ’n’ roll “ Dies Irae ,” the song is considered a progenitor of heavy metal and encapsulated Mr. Ingle’s ambition at the time:

“I want us to become known as leaders of hard rock music,” Mr. Ingle, then 22, said in a 1968 interview with The Globe and Mail newspaper of Canada. “Trend setters and creators, rather than imitators.”

A psychedelic dirge but also a love song, “In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida” captured a 1960s spirit of yin-yang duality — much like the band’s name itself. There have been varying origin stories regarding its mysterious title, with its overtones of Eastern mysticism; the band’s drummer, Ron Bushy, said in a 2020 interview with the magazine It’s Psychedelic Baby that it grew out of an inebriated garble.

Returning to the house he shared with Mr. Ingle late one night, Mr. Bushy, who died in 2021, said he had found Mr. Ingle working on a slow country song on his Vox organ after drinking “a whole gallon of Red Mountain wine.”

When he asked Mr. Ingle what the song was called, “it was hard to understand him because he was so drunk,” he said, “so I wrote it down on a napkin exactly how it sounded phonetically to me … ‘In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida.’ It was supposed to be ‘In the Garden of Eden.’”

Adding to the legend of the song was that it was essentially an in-studio soundcheck that became the final version.

Don Casale, an engineer at the session, had asked the band to run through the song so he could set the recording levels, but he hit “record” as the band meandered through a sprawling free jam featuring solos by the guitarist Erik Braunn , fills by the bassist Lee Dorman and a two-and-a-half-minute drum solo by Mr. Bushy.

“After 17 minutes and five seconds I ended the tape ,” Mr. Casale recalled in a 2020 interview with The Rochester Voice, a New Hampshire newspaper. “I then called down to the band and said, ‘Guys, come on up and listen to this.’ They loved it.”

While the song is an enduring artifact of its times, its legacy remains complicated.

“With its endless, droning minor-key riff and mumbled vocals, ‘In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida’ is arguably the most notorious song of the acid rock era,” Stephen Thomas Erlewine wrote on the website Allmusic.com. He noted that the song rambles on for what “to some listeners sounds like eternity.” But, he added, “that’s the essence of its appeal — it’s the epitome of heavy psychedelic excess, encapsulating the most indulgent tendencies of the era.”

Even so, in a 1988 appraisal in The Los Angeles Times, the music critic Steve Hochman deemed the song “nothing short of a pop monument .”

Douglas Lloyd Ingle was born on Sept. 9, 1945, in Omaha and grew up in San Diego. As a child, he developed a taste for music from his father, Lloyd Ingle, a church organist.

At his career zenith, Mr. Ingle performed with Iron Butterfly at hallowed venues like the Hollywood Bowl and the Fillmore East in New York (with Led Zeppelin as an opening act), and made enough money to buy multiple properties, including a 600-acre ranch.

The third Iron Butterfly album, “Ball” (1969), rose to No. 3 on the Billboard chart, followed by two albums — “Iron Butterfly Live” and “Metamorphosis” — that both made the Top 20 in 1970. But by that point, Mr. Ingle said, he had grown weary of life as a rock star.

“When I did autograph sessions, I’d shake hands with people and I just didn’t feel anything,” he said in a 1996 interview with The San Antonio Express-News of Texas. “I lost track of why I was doing music in the first place.”

The band broke up in 1971, and Mr. Ingle went on to manage a recreational vehicle park and work as a house painter. He was eventually forced to sell his ranch and other properties to pay off debts to the Internal Revenue Service.

He also remained occupied on the domestic front, marrying three times and raising six children and three stepchildren. Information on his survivors was not immediately available.

While Mr. Ingle remained in the shadows for decades, his most famous song did not. Over the years, “In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida” popped up in various places — as a gag on “The Simpsons,” on the soundtracks of the films “ Manhunter ” (1986) and “ Less Than Zero ” (1987), sampled by the rapper Nas.

On occasion, he re-emerged for Iron Butterfly reunion tours. Before a concert in 1996, he told The Express-News: “Some people see the Jurassic rockers and say they’re burned out on playing. I’m burned out on not playing. Of course, a 25-year break helped.”

Alex Williams is a Times reporter on the Obituaries desk. More about Alex Williams

• HISTORY & CULTURE

Two tragedies: Why Jackie Kennedy was already mourning before JFK's fatal visit to Dallas

The first lady spent several months out of the public eye after the death of her infant son, Patrick Bouvier Kennedy. The tragedy brought her and the president closer together.

On August 7, 1963, First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy accompanied her daughter Caroline to a riding lesson off the coast of Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Just after they arrived, Secret Service agent Paul Landis remembered the first lady knew something was wrong. He says she asked to go back to the house, “right now.”

The then-pregnant first lady went into labor almost six weeks early. Despite desperate attempts to save her son Patrick Bouvier Kennedy’s life, he died two days after he was born.

( JFK: One Day in America   is streaming now   on   Disney+   and Hulu .)

The following days, weeks, and months would be traumatic for both Jackie and President John Kennedy   as they experienced both the birth and death of their child. What neither knew, however, was how the events of August 1963 would affect their relationship. One tragedy strengthened the bond between the Kennedys. A few short months later, the president’s assassination would forever tear them apart.  

Losing Patrick

Patrick’s death was not the first loss for the first family. In 1955, Jackie Kennedy experienced a miscarriage and, one year later, gave birth to a stillborn daughter named Arabella. Caroline and John Jr., were born in 1957 and 1960, respectively.  

After the first lady went into premature labor on August 7, 1963, she was taken by helicopter to Otis Air Force Base. Because she had given birth to their son, John Jr., early, precautionary accommodations had been prepared at Otis. Additionally , her obstetrician, John Walsh, and the White House physician, Janet Travell, went with her to Cape Cod at the president's urging.  

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While the first lady received medical attention, the president was notified she had gone into labor around 11:30 a.m. When Patrick was born via emergency cesarean section shortly before 1 p.m., the president was still en route. Patrick, who weighed 4 lbs and 10.5 oz, was placed in an incubator because the medical staff was worried about his breathing .

Because Patrick’s condition was dire, the newborn was transferred to Children's Hospital in Boston, accompanied by the president. The first lady remained at Otis. Efforts to save Patrick were for naught: he died at 4:44 a.m. on August 9. The first lady was told soon after, and the president returned to Otis to be by his wife's side.  

Jackie Kennedy did not attend funeral services for her son because she was still recovering from surgery. After she was released from the hospital, the first lady returned to the Kennedy compound at Hyannis Port.  

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In late August or early September, she asked Secret Service agent Clint Hill if he would like to go to Greece with her.   She told Hill that she was going with her sister, Lee Radziwell, and her husband, Polish diplomat Prince Stanislaw Albrecht Radziwell. The group would spend weeks aboard Aristotle Onassis's yacht traversing the Greek isles. President Kennedy supported the idea of the trip, despite concerns by his staff that there could be political repercussions. The first lady left on October 1, 1963.

Jackie Kennedy visited Greece and Morocco in October, returning to Washington, D.C. on October 17, 1963 . Still grieving, the first lady made it a point to acknowledge that her husband was "really nice and understanding" during a dinner with friends upon her return. President Kennedy teased her, stating, "Maybe now you'll come with us to Texas next month," at which point she wrote in her appointment book that she would, indeed, go on the trip.  

The journey to Dallas

The weeks leading up to trip to Texas, the first lady spent much of her time focused on the family’s newly built home, Wexford, located near Middleburg, Virginia. She was present at functions at the capital, including her first appearance at a White House event on November 13.

In a phone conversation with her friend Letitia Baldridge around the same time, the first lady   mentioned "I'm going campaigning to Texas with Jack next week, and I'm going because I want to." Baldridge noted a "note of genuine happiness" in her friend's voice. Baldridge also said that this was how she "suddenly knew that her marriage was going well."  

Others around Mrs. Kennedy and the president said that their relationship was in a very good place. Hill indicated that Patrick's death "changed everything" and   that "the other agents and I noticed a distinctly closer relationship, openly expressed, between" them. Press Secretary Pierre Salinger attested to this, noting , “The White House had brought about a closeness in their relationship, a wider understanding of one another. The death of their baby brought them even closer."

As Jackie Kennedy prepared to go to Texas in November 1963, she made a list of items to pack, including her favorite jewelry and handbags. The trip was a bit of a re-emergence for the First Lady who had not traveled since the loss of her son months earlier. It was also an important outing for President Kennedy as the election of 1964 loomed.  

( The Black designer who created Jackie Kennedy’s wedding dress .)

According to secret service agent Clint Hill, while the first lady didn't like politics, she was determined to "do everything she could" to help her husband get reelected. Texas was a key campaign stop since the president only narrowly won the state in 1960. He believed having the first lady by his side would help him with potential voters.  

The first lady’s dedication to her husband was not new, but their relationship changed in the months since Patrick's death. In fact, the pregnancy seemed to breathe new life into the couple's relationship. By November 21, 1963, when the president and first lady left for Texas, their relationship was imbued with optimism. That same optimism for their marriage was not unlike the overall hope felt around the world for President Kennedy's political future.

The extent to which the closeness between the Kennedys would have lasted will never be known. Shortly after 12 p.m. the following day, President Kennedy was assassinated as he rode in a motorcade through downtown Dallas, Texas. Despite navigating her own loss and trauma, she stood up in the face of tragedy and exhibited poise that helped the nation grieve. She became a symbol of opportunities lost but also a reminder of perseverance.

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Gaza hostage rescue latest: 'Horror movie' scenes as Hamas says 210 killed in IDF operation

Nuseirat refugee camp has been described as the "epicentre" of Gaza's trauma after reports 210 people were killed there and more than 400 wounded. Israel says it carried out a mission under "heavy fire" to rescue four hostages.

Sunday 9 June 2024 09:26, UK

• Israel-Hamas war

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• Four hostages rescued by Israeli forces - what you need to know
• Number of Palestinians killed during operation rises to 210
• Paramedic describes 'horror movie' scenes after strikes
• Some hostages killed during rescue mission - Hamas
• Hamas suggests it could take more prisoners
• Who are the rescued hostages?
• Analysis:  Hostages rescue will be cathartic for Israelis - but Netanyahu is under pressure and infuriating the US
• Live reporting by  Josephine Franks  

The operation to rescue four Israeli hostages from central Gaza was a "high risk, complex mission", according to the IDF - and it happened with help from the US, a Biden administration source says. 

A US hostage cell provided advice and support throughout the process of locating and rescuing the hostages, a Biden administration official told the Associated Press. They were not authorised to comment and requested anonymity.

The hostage cells are multi-agency teams. 

Pushing back against social media claims, the US Central Command said in a tweet that neither the American-built pier in Gaza that brings in aid for Palestinians by sea nor any of its equipment, personnel or other assets were used in the Israeli operation. 

It said Israel used an area south of the pier "to safely return hostages".

Children lying on foil blankets crowd the floor of Al Aqsa Martyrs Hospital as doctors deal with an influx of patients. 

The hospital is just over two miles from where four Israeli hostages were held in the central Gaza refugee camp of Nuseirat, which was hit by multiple strikes as Israel carried out its rescue mission yesterday.

The Hamas-led government says 210 people were killed in the raids, a figure repeated by hospital spokesman Dr Khalil Al-Dakran.

Israel has acknowledged "under 100" Palestinian casualties.

Watch our report from Sky News US correspondent Mark Stone below - please be warned, this video contains images of injured children in hospital and dead people in the street. 

An American-built pier has been repaired and a badly needed shipment of food delivered to Gaza, according to a US official. 

The effort to deliver aid by sea has been plagued with problems.

The pier built by the US military was only operational for about a week before it was blown apart in high winds and heavy seas on 25 May.

The damaged section was reconnected to the beach in Gaza on Friday after undergoing repairs at an Israeli port. 

Crews delivered almost 500 tonnes of humanitarian aid via the pier yesterday, a US official told the Associated Press on condition of anonymity.

The damage to the pier was the latest stumbling block, after earlier efforts were disrupted as desperate crowds overran a convoy of trucks, stripping much of their cargo before they reached a UN warehouse.  

More than 400 people were wounded and 210 killed during Israel's hostage rescue mission, according to senior Hamas officials. 

Israel has acknowleged "under 100" Palestinian casualties during raids on the Nuseirat refugee camp, where it says the four freed hostages were being held in two locations. 

Gazan paramedics and residents said the assault killed scores of people and left the mangled bodies of men, women and children around a marketplace and a mosque.

"It was like a horror movie but this was a real massacre," said Ziad, 45, a paramedic and resident of Nuseirat, who gave only his first name.

"Israeli drones and warplanes fired all night randomly at people's houses and at people who tried to flee the area."

"To free four people, Israel killed dozens of innocent civilians," he added.

The war is Gaza grows more horrific by the day, UN relief chief Martin Griffiths says.

"Nuseirat refugee camp is the epicentre of the seismic trauma that civilians in Gaza continue to suffer," he wrote on X.

He called for the release of the remaining hostages and the protection of all civilians, after reports 210 Palestinians were killed in al Nuseirat yesterday. 

"Seeing shrouded bodies on the ground, we are reminded that nowhere is safe in Gaza."

Al Nuseirat, a historic Palestinian refugee camp, was hit by multiple strikes yesterday as Israeli forces launched a hostage rescue mission. 

At least 210 Palestinians were killed in the operation to rescue four people, the Hamas-led government has said.

Israel said there were less than 100 casualties.

Photos from central Gaza show the level of destruction.

A pier built by the US for delivering humanitarian aid to Gaza was not used in Israel's operation to rescue four hostages yesterday, the US says. 

An area south of the pier was used by the Israelis to safely return the hostages to Israel, the US Central Command said. 

But it insisted the pier facility "including its equipment, personnel, and assets" were not used. 

"Any such claim to the contrary is false," a statement on X said. 

"The temporary pier on the coast of Gaza was put in place for one purpose only, to help move additional, urgently needed life-saving assistance into Gaza."

Welcome back to our live coverage of the Israel-Hamas war. 

Yesterday, the Israel Defence Forces rescued four hostages from the Nuseirat area of Gaza during a military operation. 

A soldier named Arnon Zmora was killed during the recovery mission, Israeli police said. 

The Hamas-run government, and a doctor at al Aqsa Hospital in central Gaza, said at least 210 Palestinians had been killed and a further 400 had been injured as a result of the operation. 

Israel acknowledged less than 100 people casualties.

In the hours after Noa Argamani, Almog Meir Jan, Andrey Kozlov and Shlomi Ziv were returned home, several Israeli officials, including Benjamin Netanyahu, praised the work of soldiers, calling them "heroic". 

But Hamas claimed Israeli forces had killed some hostages during the mission, and warned that its fighters could take more prisoners. 

"It will not change its strategic failure in the Gaza Strip, as our valiant resistance still maintains the largest number in its possession, and is capable of increasing its yield of prisoners," it said. 

We'll be bringing you the latest updates throughout the day, but first here's a look at the other key events from the last 24 hours: 

• During a trip to France, Joe Biden said the US will not "stop working until all hostages are home";
• Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he expects Hamas to release the remaining hostages and his forces will do "whatever it takes" to bring them home;
• Colombia announced it will suspend coal exports to Israel;
• Doctors Without Borders said al Aqsa Hospital was dealing with "back-to-back mass casualties" following Israel's operation.

A missile has struck a cargo ship in the Gulf of Aden in a suspected attack by Houthi rebels in Yemen.

The British military's UK Maritime Trade Operations centre reported the attack on the Antigua and Barbuda-flagged ship.

Private security firm Ambrey said the missile hit the ship's forward station, starting a fire that the crew were able to put out. 

A second missile missed and people "on board small boats in the vicinity opened fire on the ship during the incident",  Ambrey added. No one was hurt onboard.

Suspicion for the attack fell on the Houthis. The rebels did not immediately claim responsibility.

The Houthis have been targeting shipping throughout the Red Sea corridor during the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip.

They say the attacks are aimed at stopping the war and supporting the Palestinians, although the attacks often target vessels that have nothing to do with the conflict.

The Houthis have launched more than 50 attacks on shipping, killing three sailors, seizing one vessel and sinking another since November, according to the US Maritime Administration.

A US-led airstrike campaign, supported by Britain, has targeted the Houthis since January, with a series of strikes.

Al Aqsa hospital is dealing with "back-to-back mass casualties", Doctors Without Borders has said. 

The international organisation, which is also known as MSF, has been helping medical staff in Gaza throughout the conflict with Israel. 

In a series of posts on X, it said there had been "intense bombings by Israeli forces" this morning, leaving the hospital in central Gaza treating an "overwhelming number of severely injured patients".

"It's a nightmare at al Aqsa. There have been back-to-back mass casualties as densely populated areas are bombed," said Samuel Johann, the organisation's coordinator in Gaza.

"It's way beyond what anyone could deal with in a functional hospital, let alone with the scarce resources we have here."

Another member of staff, Chris Hook, said doctors were dealing with patients suffering from multiple major open fractures and several unconscious children. 

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