Passage
Death is actually only a loaded word for “transition” and an
emotionally charged label for a very natural, safe “rite of
passage.” Our current Western society has lost touch with the
value of preparing people for this basic reality of life:
constant change, continual transition from one form to another.
Until the modern era, sacred rites of passage have been
important to the health of human societies for thousands of
years, enabling individuals to negotiate their life transitions
with purpose, ease and meaning.
Is it time to re-embrace the fact that we are constantly dying
and recreating ourselves? If so, we could help each other to
master our transitions between careers, relationships, marriage
and divorce. Together we could move with grace through grief and
loss, addictions, and illness. We could teach ourselves and our
children to celebrate the coming of age, menopause, midlife
crisis, aging and spiritual awakening. Our reward would be a
more harmonious journey on this planet.
“Make Death Your Ally”
With this motto indigenous shamans advise us to make the
inevitable demise of each moment-and of each life-a source of
power and a well of motivation to live more vibrantly and fully
in each moment. “Dying” is our friend when we allow it to remind
us to let go of expectations of how “things have always been.” ”
Death” is our ally when we let it remind us to open again and
again to choosing innocence-that is, choosing to be innocent,
free, of the past and preconceptions of who we are. Being
innocent means living fully in each new moment-leaving the past
behind.
“I Feel Like I’m Dying!”
Some common feelings people experience when moving through life
changes and personal growth are the emotions of