Imagine if your hometown is known for the grandest grave ever built, the pyramids of Giza.
I think that might be very well the reason Egyptians have a special relationship with death. It is evident throughout history and modern day; Egyptians honored death since the dawn of conscience with ancient text to guide the departed in their passage to the afterlife. They created elaborate and illustrious tombs to celebrate death as much as they enjoyed life. The ancient Egyptians had a healthy balanced attitude towards matters of life and death; they understood accountability.
If ancient graves and traditions aren’t enough, modern Egyptians adhere to monotheism in its many forms, upholding similar views on matters related to death.
We haven’t feared death in centuries. We befriended death; we understood its nature and embraced it fully.
Deadly Encounters!
My comprehension of death started right around the age of twelve, it was then that my maternal grandmother passed away. I recall the sadness the haunted everyone; I recall crying and being told “men don’t cry”. My second encounter took place when my best friend’s brother passed away; he was eighteen and we were thirteen. I laughed at his funeral as I recalled some of his jokes. The third and most impactful one happened when we lost the younger brother, my best friend, Sameh, at 17.
It is not an easy experience for a group of friends to mourn such a loss, even to a hereditary heart condition. We knew it was coming. He made sure we knew it.
I had many undesired encounters with death since, some more traumatic than others.
Traumatizing Death!
Death, in some cases, sneaks up on us. It doesn’t need much to attack, especially the most vulnerable. It is the sneaky nature that makes it one of the most traumatizing experiences. In seconds, someone can move on to the next life without any warnings or signs; it happens.
It leaves us with many unfinished sentences, unfinished business, unfinished conversations, unprocessed emotions, unfulfilled promises, unfairness, missed opportunities, and much more. It also leaves us with lasting memories, haunting loneliness, warmth, coldness, uncertainty, and soul holes that whistle every time familiar winds blow in that direction.
Are we ever ready for those moments?
Deadly Relationships
Death is a fact of life that we tend to either obsess over or ignore, leading to traumatic and chaotic results. The two are extremes; the two are in constant clashes and stagnation to the collective.
Those who obsess over it are filled with crippling fear that may freeze their abilities to progress. And those who ignore it tend to push limits and boundaries beyond their capacities that leads to an overload.
We live and we die. It is the most basic cycle of life, which applies to all creatures. The trick is finding the balance between the two.
I like the ancient Egyptian and Islamic views on life after death; I like the whole idea of accountability that encompasses all dimensions of the human existence. The two promote accountable living and happy conclusions.
My Two Cents!
- Live, don’t exist. Find the things that make fill your heart and soul with peace.
- Look around the room. Look in the mirror. You know how the story ends. Tell them how you feel; speak your truth.
- Sing your song. Sing it alone; sing it with others. Just sing it.
- Determine your narrative, including your death.
- Remember! We manifest our realities, even in the afterlife. What do you believe of the afterlife?
I enjoyed your two cents.
Always a fan of your work.
I enjoyed your two cents.
Always a fan.