Learning To Understand & Accept Death

Every living thing dies. We tell ourselves we know this and believe it. And yet when we are visited closely by death or contemplate our own mortality, fear and denial often cloud this truth. Many current Western ideas around death can feed into fear and denial. In today's lesson, and throughout the next 10 days, we will work to look clearly at what death is and what it means emotionally and spiritually.

In today's lesson, Spike delves into a number of her own personal experiences with death, sharing with us the profound insights that death can have on our own process of growth. Spike also explains how each individual's process of grieving is different and emphasises the importance of showing ourselves a deep sense of compassion during times of grief.

When someone dies suddenly, especially a young person, this can prompt emotions that differ from the death of someone very old. When someone dies naturally it feels different from that when death comes tragically through accident, illness, or suicide. In today's lesson we will take a look at the different ways different deaths affect us and learn some valuable coping strategies.

If we know someone is approaching death, this is an opportunity to say thank you and goodbye. It is also potentially trigger-laden if we have had a difficult relationship with the dying person—say, a parent. In today's lesson we will look at ways to prepare for death as well as measures to be taken when we aren't afforded the opportunity to say goodbye in advance.

Today we delve into an examination of the pragmatic busy work (funeral arrangements, etc), dissociation, and emotions and non-emotions that occur in the immediate aftermath of death. There is no “right” way to feel or react but sometimes the way we feel and thoughts we think can feel inappropriate. Today, we give ourselves permission to feel whatever feelings come up.

In today's lesson we will take a look at the stages of grief, drawing on Elizabeth Kûbler Ross’s groundbreaking book On Death and Dying. Over time, Elizabeth's model has been adopted by many, as a compass for navigating the death of a loved one. We will also delve into an number of other schools of thought on the grieving process.

When we are leveled by the death of a loved one, deep depression can ensue. This can include lethargy, a total lack of momentum. In today's lesson, using examples from her life as a funeral celebrant, Spike offers ways to honor the dead that can help them “rest in peace” in our minds and hearts.

The older we get, the more we will begin contemplating the inevitability of death. In today's lesson you will be given some ideas on how to implement the 'Emotional Bucket List:' an end to procrastinating the things that you really want to do with your life.

In today's lesson we aim to release the fear that is often associated with death and dying. Spike teaches us that the more we show gratitude, are thankful for all beings and situations, and are able to be fully present, we are better equipped at navigating and dealing with all situations in life, particularly those that are emotionally and mentally challenging.

In this last lesson, we undergo a spiritual examination of what happens when people leave their bodies. This is not so much an exploration of religious notions of an afterlife but more about how people actually do live on in our thoughts, hearts, and memories. There’s a reason we are reminded of someone palpably when, say, we pick up a tomato at the grocery or hear a song or smell a certain scent. This can be startling but also deeply transformative.