DEATH MEDITATION

This practice was taught to me by a channeled fellowship called The River. I included the mediation in my blog-Julia Star’s Blogsite and my book about the River teachings-Soul Catching-Discovering sacred connections in our environments. This book is available on my website-Visionaryjourneys.net. This death meditation is similar to Buddhist practices with same intentions but created for contemporary people in these times.

Winter is the best time of year to practice the Death Meditation. If possible, choose quiet times at night, especially between one and four o’clock. This is a practice best reserved for individuals aged 28 years or older. It is sound practice to allow the first 28 years of maturation for the ego to develop in a healthy way. This is a practice that is beneficial for those who are at the end of their lives, or those who want to let go of the fear of death, or those who want to live more fully without the shadow of death in their psyches. There are some old souls in young bodies who may also benefit from this practice but be observant if you are the care giver that the young one does not fall in nihilism with this practice. It is meant to enlighten, enliven and create joy, not ego ruminations about loss of control.

As is so beautifully stated in Psalm 23- “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.” Notice the poet did not say “death’ but ‘the shadow of death’. The rod and staff refer to the crook and walking stick that shepherds would typically carry to release caught sheep out of thorny bushes and drive away predators.

We do not fear death as much as we fear dying, the process of letting go. However, releasing old habits, old selves, even old friends and family is often necessary for deep change. We die to our old selves and then can welcome new future selves.

To practice dying is an ancient training which many wisdom traditions incorporate in one way or another. The Buddhist tradition recommended that monks and nuns find a corpse that had been freshly laid on the ground and sit by it every day to observe how the flesh gradually corrupts and is transformed until only white bones remain. This is obviously not an option for us in these times. But we can prepare for dying and embrace our inevitable passing.

This is an extremely powerful practice to face fear in any situation, but especially during journeys, which often bring an ego death. This practice is also helpful for any practitioner who wants to work with dying clients, especially using plant medicines to ease the transition out of this life.

Generally, the progression of release goes in much the same manner as a real death; first the body is dissolved, then the senses (hearing is the last to go) and then the identity and concepts are released.  Whatever comes up, dissolve it in death.  For example, if fear of meeting demons arises, tell yourself that in death, there will be no one left to be afraid.  Like the proverbial tree in the forest, there will be no sound because no one is there to hear it.

Begin by a small ritual of opening into sacred and multidimensional space-walking the four directions, lighting fragrant plants, lighting a candle. Keep the room dark and cool. State your intention for doing the Death Meditation and then, if that falls in line with your beliefs, ask your spirits, guides and essences who travel with you to aid you in completing the meditation deeply.

Find a comfortable position lying down on the back, flat on the floor without a pillow, arms comfortably by the sides and palms facing upwards.  You may want to cover yourself with a warm blanket because the body temperature drops while in deep meditation (unless it is a meditation to rise the body's temperature). It is best to do this meditation alone, unless it’s a guided group experience. Playing music through most of the meditation can be inspiring, however put your music to end after about 15 minutes, as you prepare yourself for the final stages of dying.

Start by stating to yourself ‘I will die tonight. I will not see the dawn’s light” or words with similar meaning. Let that thought sink in. What do you notice? Breathe deeply if your first response is fear. This is natural, let it pass. Remember this is a practice so when your moment to pass truly comes, you will be able to let go easily and joyfully.

Imagine you have the gift being able to say goodbye to all your acquaintances that you met in this life. Take your time and say your farewells to them, say everything you want, knowing this will be the last chance the two of you will meet. You can also say fare thee well to ones who have passed on, animals and environments such as a favorite beach, forest, or plain.

Address the body one part at a time and visualize that part is dying.  Start with the feet and work up to the head.  Say to yourself “My feet are now dying. I want to thank you, feet, for carrying me through this life, for all the pleasure and sensory orientation you gave me. For carrying out the Soul’s desires by keeping me safely upright.”-or words to that effect. Bring to mind all the experiences that were enriched by your feet-walking in the snow with the feet bound up in hiking boots, walking on cold sand in winter, receiving a foot massage with scented oils from your beloved.

As impressions arise, address them by telling yourself that these things will no longer manifest because you are dying.  And let go slowly, let each impression arise and address it as if this is your last hour of life.  Let yourself cry if sorrow arises and move on.  When you have cleared all attachments to one part then release it and move up the body. Spend time especially with joints, hands and the charkas as you move through the torso.

As you work up the body, a multitude of impressions may arise, anger in your gut, sorrow in your solar plexus, your Mother in your knee.  Now comes the difficult part, you must clear each of these parts before you can release them.

 How can you release your stomach to death if all the anger from your previous marriage is pent up there? 

How can you release your need to be recognized by talking, if all your grief from childhood is still in your throat?

And on it goes, be gentle with yourself, be thorough and don't expect to fully achieve release with one meditation.  Remember in the old days, forty days and forty nights were given to this method.

 

When you have let go of the body, go up the centre channel of your spine and release any sensations that might still be there. Then rest your awareness in your crown chakra. Now you will release all of your five senses, except for hearing which will stay until the last and even remain after death.

With the same process of bidding farewell, let go of each sense with gratitude, appreciation, love and of course, sorrow and grief.

Finally, you will release all concepts about who you are. You will release all personal identity, leaving not a trace behind. This may be the most difficult part. Each time a concept of who you are arises, dismiss it. Saying something like “Once I was a (mother, young man, husband, sister, helper, healer, troublemaker, addict…) but now I am dying. I am no longer any of those concepts.”

You will know when the meditation has been successful. You will travel past fear, past regret, past sorrow and past any glib concepts you may have about what happens to you after death.  Don't let the ego fool you by letting the astral body slip away into a fantasy land. Remember, with the true death of identity, there is no one to experience heaven or hell. When this meditation is done deeply and sincerely, we can let go of death in life and fully and joyfully appreciate each precious moment.

VisionaryJourneys.net