What happens when you die? Part One: Coping with Loss

In this series, we are going to explore the sensitive and yet interesting subject of what happens after you die. We will discuss ways that you can connect with your loved one who has passed over and also explore reasons why you may not be able to connect with your departed loved one. We will also look at what you’re planning for your own departure!

Grieving the Loss of a Loved One

Few things compare to the pain of losing someone you love. While there’s no way to avoid intense feelings of grief, there are healthier ways to come to terms with your loss.

Whether it’s a close friend, spouse, partner, parent, child, or another relative, the death of a loved one can feel overwhelming. Bereavement isn’t restricted to the death of a person. For many of us, our pets are also close companions or family members. So, when a pet dies, you can experience similar feelings of grief, pain, and loss.

The intensity of your feelings often depends on the circumstances of your loved one’s death, how much time you spent anticipating their loss, your relationship to them, and your previous experiences of bereavement. Of course, just as no two relationships are the same, no two losses are ever the same, either. The more significant the person was in your life and the more feelings you had for them—regardless of their relationship to you—the greater the impact their loss is likely to have.

You may experience waves of intense and very difficult emotions, ranging from profound sadness, emptiness, and despair to shock, numbness, guilt, or regret. You might rage at the circumstances of your loved one’s death—your anger focused on yourself, doctors, other loved ones, or God. You may even find it difficult to accept the person is really gone, or struggle to see how you can ever recover and move on from your loss.[1]

Whatever your relationship with the person who died, it’s important to remember that we all grieve in different ways. There’s no single way to react. When you lose someone important in your life, it’s okay to feel how you feel. Some people express their pain by crying, others never shed a tear—but that doesn’t mean they feel the loss any less.

Coping with loss when you’re not practicing “organised religion”

Most of us reading this information on this website have decided to leave mainstream religion. If not physically, then mentally move out of thinking that Jesus or any other disciple is coming for their soul. When a loved one dies, it can test your beliefs, as predominantly you wish to believe that your loved one is now in a “better place”. So how do you mentally process what truly happens to your loved one now that they are gone from this earth?

I really believe it will depend on which spiritual system you are following at this point in time. For example, the Church of Satan doesn’t actually have a set of beliefs about the afterlife. Simply put, death really is the end [2]. Peter H. Gilmore wrote in his book, The Satanic Scriptures: 

“Satanism is for the living. If we can, we will cheat death at every turn, to continue living well. When someone we cherish dies, we regret the loss of a worthy companion. When we die, the end of consciousness is upon us, and we cannot experience what happens amongst those who succeed us. Life cycles endlessly, and we are part of this process. So we enjoy the here and now, and do not look for a fictive afterlife.”

It’s important to know that not all Satanists believe death is the end. Theistic Satanism, otherwise referred to as religious Satanism, spiritual Satanism, or traditional Satanism, practice various forms of spiritualism and magic, and the beliefs around death and the afterlife are extremely diverse. One should study and research deeply to explore the options. Understand that you do not have to practice under any system, rather follow your own heart and your own journey if you so desire.

If you are stuck somewhere in between detaching from your past spiritual beliefs and researching where you should land next, you could be feeling extra confusion. During the process of grieving, you should not put any extra pressure on yourself at this time. Go back to what you know, as the known rituals can bring you great comfort. There will be time for you to process your beliefs on death and dying at a later time. But the time is not right now. Be kind to yourself, and focus on the process of grieving.

Perhaps your family is practicing their own form of spiritual ceremony  – should you participate? Is this dishonoring Lucifer? Personally, I believe in going with the flow. I am very respectful of the religious practices of others around me, and would not interject my own personal opinion unless it was asked of me to do so. I will say, that there are parts of certain religious ceremonies that I will not partake. It is one thing for me to be in attendance, showing my respect, but I will not join in with prayers or any other actions which dishonour my own religious beliefs.

Prayer

The word prayer can sometimes be a dirty word to the LHP.  Some seek to remove any means by which they are controlled or repressed by others, and reject all past terminology linked to suppressive religions. However, the word prayer means “a request for help” or “an expression of thanks”. Personally, I request help from many of my ancient gods on a daily basis, so it makes sense that I would reach out and request help from Lucifer or any other spirit whom I work with, during a time of personal grief.

Grieving the loss of something you love is a time of great loneliness. Even if you are in a room full of family and friends also grieving the loss of that loved one, the individual who has passed may have had a special relationship with you, that only you and the spiritual world can understand. Prayer is that bridge that helps you connect your mind, the spirit, and the great beyond!

I encourage you to seek books, prayers, and little rituals for every major human event. This can be a lengthy project to undertake, but it is a wonderful process to bring you enrichment and connection to your left-hand path spiritual practices.

S.Conolly, in her book Modern Demonology offers these prayers:

Funeral Oration

In darkness there comes a ray of light in the promise of rebirth foretold by our dark Lords. Hail Eurynomous and Baalberith. May Babael keep this burial place sacred and unsoiled. I pray you Lord Eurynomous for my loved ones safe passage to Unsere who brings life from desolence.

Death of a Child

Lord Baalberith, please watch over this little child. (S)he has come to you in death. As protector of souls comfort and guide her to her resting place. May Babael guard her that no harm shall befall her. A life so young forsaken. We weep and find comfort in knowing she is now, and ever shall be among kindred. As her energy was in life so it returns to its source. Blessed are the children for their innocence. Blessed is this child. Lord Eurynomous protect and keep her, so be it.

Death of a Pet

Even though this mere creature of Belial was not a man nor woman, (s)he was my friend and companion in life. Now, our Lord Eurynomous has taken her soul in peaceful rest. Thus we lay her to the ground, to the earth from whence she came. In sorrow we release her and in joy do we celebrate the dawn of her passing. Blessed are the beasts for their love in unconditional. Blessed are the beasts for their judgment lyes in truth. Protect and keep her, so be it.

TO BE CONTINUED……………

Come back on the 13th of each month to find another addition to this series on what happens when you die!

References:

1. 1. https://www.helpguide.org/articles/grief/bereavement-grieving-the-death-of-a-loved-one.htm
   2. https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/satanist-beliefs-death-afterlife