MIND, BODY & SPIRIT

{ SHIFT+CONTROL }{ MIND, BODY, AND SPIRIT } WHERE DOES YOUR SPIRIT GO WHEN YOU PASS AWAY

There are myths out there about the afterlife. I call them myths because we don’t really know. What’s out there. After we pass away. We can only observe the decay of our physical bodies.

Some of you may not even believe in an afterlife. For you especially, I hope you are making the very best of this life.

For many of you, however, there is a belief in something beyond this world. It may be far up into the sky. Or in the depths of mother earth.

Here are a few myths and/or beliefs out there. While reading, consider your own belief and notice how similar or different it may be in comparison.

Then without judging, ask yourself, “Am I living my life to the fullest?”

Allow all of the answers to arise. Then ask, “How can I live more deeply in this lifetime?”

THE AFTERLIFE

In Christianity, we are taught that there are three realms: Heaven, Earth, and Hell. We live here on earth as physical beings. When our body dies, our spirit rises into heaven, one can only hope. Because the alternative is going straight to hell, not a place anyone wants to go.

In the Catholic Church of Christianity, one is taught that at the time of death, your spirit is judged. This often takes place at the gates of heaven, and is judged by St Peter.

BY ALANA CAHOON

As a child growing up in this religious belief, the image of judgment is burnt into your memory, and motivates you to do good. Clever!

The gates of heaven are described as pearly and golden upon beautiful clouds. Once, inside, you are free. You are also welcomed by your loved ones who passed on before you.

The gates of hell? First of all, there are no gates. Just a door opening to a fiery inferno. Where you spend the rest of your … life … suffering. In the 1990’s, the Catholic Catechism redefined hell as an exclusion from God versus punishment. Whew! of us who may have led a life in earnest albeit humanly flawed. This is called Purgatory, perhaps a fourth realm where you undergo purification from your sins in order to enter into heaven.

Shamanism is an ancient form of religion and spirituality whose main focus is that of healing. Its origins have been traced back 40,000 years ago to Siberia and Japan.

As a Shaman, myself, I can attest to the healing and intuitive abilities one is gifted with.

Shamans have the ability to support healing of the sick and communicate with the otherworld. We are often described as prophets, diviners, and can escort the souls of the dead to the otherworld.

Here, too there is a belief in three worlds: the Upper World, the Middle World, and the Lower World.

As a Shaman, you can ‘journey’ to each of these realms. The middle world is considered the earth plane where we exist in our human life. But, it is not excluded to only the living.

There are spirits or ghosts also living in this environment. These spirits are sometimes considered lost souls.

A lost soul wandering the earth plane or middle world did not make it to either the upper world - which is quite lofty, or the lower world - which is a paradise of its own. This may be a result of a traumatic or sudden death or due to their belief system while alive.

“These are several beliefs and/or myths about life and death. What are yours? Where did they originate from?”

In my experience of the upper world, it is layered with soft billowy clouds. Each journey there, I have been welcomed by a spiritual master who has a lesson to reveal.

My experience of the lower world is that of pure action. Reveling in lush greenery, riding horses, and swimming in healing waters.

It’s fun to be a Shaman!

Yoga Philosophy is one of the six orthodox schools of Hinduism. The belief is that mind, body, and spirit are all one. Main practices are mental discernment, detachment, spiritual knowledge, and selfawareness.

When training to be a yogi here in North America, you discover that the asanas are expressions of liberation and unity. These physical poses prepare the body to sit in samadhi or meditation.

In Hinduism, it is believed that we come back to this earth plane. At the time of death, one’s thought determines the quality of our rebirth. This is motivation to be mindful of one’s thoughts!

The practice of mantra chanting is one way to support a positive outlook and thought patterns.

Rebirth can take several forms as either a god, a human or an animal. In some cases of traumatic death, a person can take the form of a hungry ghost, and remains earth-bound until certain ceremonies are done to free them. Similar to Shamanism.

These are several beliefs and/or myths about life and death. What are yours? Where did they originate from?

Personally, I believe in the power of mindfulness in this lifetime. By being mindful of one’s thoughts leads to being mindful in one’s behavior. And hopefully leads to a beautiful afterlife! Let this be your new way of being. In this lifetime. Mindful.

Dedicated to two beautiful women in my life who only days ago departed from this earth plane. My motherin-law, Ingrid, and my aunt Diana. May you both enter into the highest realms of peace & serenity, and be welcomed by your loved ones.

Alana Cahoon is the mindfulness coach, healer, and founder of Grow 2 B U, and author of Mindfulness, Mantras & Meditations. www.alanacahoon.com.