Dedicated to Stephanie Sautter – A departed friend who I haven’t really gotten to know yet.

It’s no secret that death is feared and misunderstood. Most people assume that we stop existing and enter an eternal slumber when the body dies, and the idea of ceasing to exist has driven a lot of people to fear death.

Most spiritual seekers probably understand by now that death isn’t as malevolent as some people believe, but still, the idea of the body dying and the spirit departing for greener pastures can be a little unsettling. I imagine that deep down, even some spiritual seekers have a fear of death, whether or not they understand that it isn’t the end.

One of the biggest fears is that dying is painful, but the material we’re going to examine suggests otherwise.

Apparently, dying can be an ecstatic process that entails a lifting of the lower-vibrational weight that holds us down. Death doesn’t entail an end to this beautiful life we experience, and instead, it helps us understand the density of this reality and opens us up to brimming and colorful etheric landscapes.

Depending on the individual paths of each of us, we cross over to heavenly planes of existence when we die. The material about life after death that’s been given from the other side of the veil paints the realms we depart into as blissful, productive and intensely higher-dimensional compared to this reality.

People who’ve had near-death experiences and glimpsed the other side, like Dr. Eben Alexander, have come back and told us about the incredible things we’ll experience when we cross over (or evolve) from the third-dimensional Earth.

You’re encouraged to look up Dr. Alexander’s Proof of Heaven for a fascinating glimpse into the other side, and plenty of other people have had intense OBEs that let them glimpse the things we’ll experience when we cross over.

I’d like to examine the spirit planes and the blissfulness of death from the perspective of people who’ve crossed over. Just like a lot of books have been written about the other side by people who’ve glimpsed it and come back, a lot of material has been channeled from people who took up residence there.

Like anything else, you’re encouraged to use discernment if channeled material doesn’t resonate with you.

I think that the material offered here is very helpful to anyone who wants to understand what death is like, however, and I think we’re fortunate to have a perspective on it from people who’ve experienced it. You’re encouraged to believe or disbelieve whatever you want, but I think that the material out there centered around life after death is fascinating.

Gordon Burdick through Grace Rosher tells us that the departed are more alive now than they were in life.

“Death, as [you] call it, is nothing more than a new birth. … We are even more alive than before.” (1)

Instead of unceasing darkness, death offers a greater experience of life. I have a feeling that a lot of the things we enjoy about this reality are intensified in the etheric realms, and that harmony and bliss will replace heaviness and anger. The etheric realms will be different for everyone, of course, but what’s given here is intended to be a general guide.

The grandmother of Grace Rosher tells us that beyond shedding our bodies, we don’t actually “die” when we cross over. She also shares her wish that she would’ve understood the gentleness of death instead of fearing it.

“We do not die and there is nothing to fear when the change comes. If I had known what I know now, I [would] have had no fear.” (1)

We waste a lot of time fearing or avoiding death, when all the while, life continues as endlessly as it always has. We don’t have to fear death if we embrace the idea that consciousness is eternal and life continues on forever, and we can make the most of our time here with the understanding that eventually, we’ll reach a much better place.

Mike Swain tells us that being born is actually a much riskier and more fearful process than passing on.

“Believe me … it is ten times more dangerous and unpleasant to be born into your world than it is to leave it! Being born is a painful, risky process and none of us contemplate it with any degree of pleasure. And yet all of you people on the earth fear death.” (1)

It’s interesting and surprising to think that birth is more dangerous than death. With all of the attention we’ve given death – inadvertently by avoiding it or directly by fearing it – it’s apparently a much easier process than entering this world.

The idea that death is more benevolent than birth makes sense, given the belief that this world is much denser and heavier than the realms we’ll depart into. I can imagine that entering this world would be much more painful than exiting it, because in the latter scenario, we’re shedding this density instead of taking it on.

Mary Bosworth through Charlotte Dresser tells us that death will never inhibit the consciousness and growth of the eternal spirit.

“Never be afraid of death. It is only the final sleep of the mortal mind, and has no power to affect the spirit mind. That grows stronger and brighter and more active from the moment of separation, until it becomes so educated and balanced that it is the all-in-all of spirit life. I found it so, for I went to sleep in the mortal mind, and discovered at last that I was more vividly awake than ever.” (2)

After we pass on, we continue growing and developing. It’s been said that progress and soul growth are much rapider on the physical Earth because of its extreme nature, but in the spirit planes, we can probably go about our growth in a more peaceful manner.

Continued in Part 2 tomorrow.

Footnotes:

(1)- Grace Rosher, medium. The Travellers’ Return. London: Psychic Press, 1968.

(2)- Fred Rafferty, ed., Charlotte E. Dresser, medium, Life Here and Hereafter. Author’s edition. Downloaded from http://www.harvestfields.ca/ebook/02/001/00.htm, 2 Feb. 2008.

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