TEMPLE

The Pagan Afterlife

Most pagans are not atheists.  Pagans as a general rule believe in some form of an afterlife and usually connected with reincarnation.  Everything has a life cycle.  Just as the earth passes through the cycle of seasons, so too do our lives pass through seasons.  The generally accepted cycle of life is: birth, death, and rebirth.  Within this simplistic example are other cycles or passages from infant, to child, young adult, adult, parent, wise-one.  That is where the commonality ends.  The name, traits, location of the afterlife depends upon the tradition followed, and personal opinion.
 

The concept of reincarnation can be connected, though not based in its entirety, to the eastern philosophy(ies).  How else to fully appreciate and understand persecution than having been both the persecuted and persecutor?  Another example would be that throughout the different lives, one learns the various methods and aspects of spirituality and love.  The reason for reincarnation is wisdom.  Learning can come from books, discussions.  This equates to knowledge.  Wisdom is knowledge coupled with experience.
 

A primary difference between pagans and the other great religious traditions of the world (Judeo/Christian/Islamic) is ‘original sin’.  Pagans simply do not believe we enter the world tainted and have to work off a cosmic strike.  Neither do all pagans necessarily accept the eastern or the western adaptations of Karma.   Many (myself included) consider that a wrong/debt in this life is redeemed in THIS life and not carried into future lives as chains from Dickens’ ‘A Christmas Carol’.
 

The pagan afterlife is a place for reunions, rest, reconnection with the divine (whatever you accept that to be) and other supernatural beings.  The physical locale of this place can be beyond the confines of (heavenly), above ground (mountains), on (within a veiled space co-existing with our own) or within the earth (Hades).  By and large, there is no concept of a Christian Hell where souls are tortured throughout eternity.  That is not to say that many pagan traditions do not have methods of atoning or punishment.  An Egyptian/Kemetic soul could be forced to wander rather than immediately enter into the afterlife based on the decision of Ma’at and Her scales.  The Greeks have Hekate as the first judge after death.  If you cannot pass by Hekate, you wander the earth for a period of time.  One then passes over the river Styx (better have a coin for Chiron) and stand before the judges of Hades for disposition and assignment to a locale within Hades based upon your deeds and religious observances.  The Romanized traditions are similar to the Greco traditions since they adopted and adapted the Greek mythos. Celts have Avalon, the Isle of Apples.   Northern/Norse pagans await Valhalla.   The real pagan sin is fear.  The pagan overcoming fear has everything to look forward to in the afterlife.  Wisdom will guide a life and the soul through any trials to the afterlife.
 

The criteria for how a soul returns or is reborn is also a matter of preference.  Some believe the Gods/Goddesses decide these events.  Some believe that the person and deities make the decision jointly.  Others believe the soul makes the decision on their own.  One can return with friends and loved ones, or even be born into the same family they left behind.
 

What is the point for all these lives and wisdom?  To gain a better understanding of and become like our creator/creatrix; the divine source.  Consider this; as a child grows, they are better able to communicate and interact with their parent(s).  Pagans use ancient texts and nature as the bases for explaining our world and our part in it.  Pagans consider themselves the children and beneficiaries of the Gods and Goddesses, not necessarily their servants.
 

Rites of passages differ between traditions.  There is usually a blessing or anointing of the physical body.  Prayers are offered to the Gods/Goddesses for the soul’s continued journey and return.  Many pagans also hold a memorial for the ‘Beloved Departed’ and remember them also during the Shadow season of the year around Halloween.  In my own tradition, we have an altar in our home set up to honor our ancestors, friends, pets and other Beloved Departed (known or unknown).  Candles of remembrance are lit on their special days, including birthdays in this life, anniversaries, holy days (Sabbats) and days of passage into the afterlife.  We celebrate their life, their love, our love for them (which is eternal) and their memory.  We do not mourn their physical death.  Perhaps a priest writing for a Catholic periodical said it best when he wrote, “God saved death for last because it is the best part of life.”
 

May all your passages in this life and all the lives to come be filled with love.