May 01, 2014
Dying With Grace and Awareness
In our Western culture we have forgotten how to die. We are more focused on youthfulness and prolonging our lives. Death is something we fear and quietly sweep into the shadows. Rather than honoring our elders for their wisdom and strengths, we shuffle them off into “assisted care” facilities at the end of their days. We pay large amounts of money to keep them alive instead of listening to their stories and facilitating their transitions so they can leave with grace and dignity.
In the shamanic traditions one of the main focuses of a high shaman’s training is to die consciously. She sees death as a transition only, as a journey between dimensions. She clears herself of the heavy energies binding her essential self to her body and practices Spirit Flight many times before she takes her final one. All of us can loosen our grips on the physical this way and we can all help someone who is dying prepare for death similarly.
The journey of identifying with our essential self is the journey of differentiating between that part of us that is eternal and that part that dies with the body. There have been many accounts of Near Death Experiences (NDE) where the person who has “died” sees themselves pull out of their body and separate from it. What is most interesting is the awareness they have does not require a functioning body. They still “see” their family gathered around them, but without the use of their “eyes.” By all NDE accounts, we are still conscious after our body dies.
The shaman knows this conscious part of ourselves is our soul, or in more scientific terms, our Light Energy Field (LEF). This luminous self is where all healing in shamanic traditions originates; when we heal from the soul, healing of the body, mind and emotions follows. Through her training the shaman learns that old stories, wounds, ancestral and cultural beliefs and Karmic stories are all embedded in the chakras of her LEF, binding it tightly to her body. As she does the work to dissolve these imprints from her soul, she loosens her grip on the past and learns to source from her future, eternal self instead.
Using some of the same principles, anyone can learn how to prepare the LEF of a dying person for their transition. By learning how to clear their chakras and hear their stories we help our loved ones come to peace and resolution with their past experiences. There comes a time when another round of Chemo becomes an act of fear rather than heroism. Imagine, instead, choosing to have someone sit with you and gently remove the energetic baggage from your chakras that makes Spirit Flight so difficult. Imagine having someone help you create simple ceremonies to say the I love you’s and I forgive you’s that have not yet been expressed.
To die consciously instead of bogged down in all of life’s dramas and regrets is one of the greatest gifts you can give. Give it to yourself and give it to others in the process of dying. Help them celebrate their life and let it go instead of clinging to it in fear. As the indigenous know, this transition is not a true death of self, only one of body. Whether you are a caring individual, a hospice nurse, or someone facing your own mortality, you can learn to help someone pass more gracefully and courageously by experiencing the wonders of your own LEF and learning how to prepare it for Spirit Flight! Once you know the way you can be of service in helping others find theirs.
Christina Allen, Healer, Teacher, Destiny Coach, and founder of Austin Shamanic Center, combines a strong science background (BA Physics, MS Neuroscience) with decades of applied ancient spiritual wisdom (Master Yogi, Reiki Master, and Shamanic Healer based on Q’ero Indian traditions of Peru). Available by appointment to help clear your imprints and align you with your highest destinies! (512) 391-9829. Info on sessions and Dying Consciously classes at Austin Shamanic Center. Join the conversation at the Blue Raven Circle Of Light Facebook Group.
© Austin All Natural, May 2014