Death and the Afterlife Archives - Otherworldly Oracle

Omens of Death & Old American Funeral Superstitions

kitty fields — Tue, 22 Dec 2020 21:18:58 +0000

Many of us fear death. We’ve been taught from a young age that death is the end and that sense of finality is what causes anxiety. But remember, death is part of the cycle. It is not the end. Whatever you might believe about death and the afterlife, we all know how big of an event it is. There’s a mourning process, a wake or viewing, and a funeral, burial, or cremation. Here we examine old school American omens of death, as well as funeral superstitions, traditions and lore. Old School American Omens of Death Omens and signs come to us in all shapes and sizes. You might see a pair of redbirds as a sign that you’re going to meet the love of your life. Or maybe a cloud in the sky shaped like a dollar sign, indicating money is coming. Sometimes we receive omens of death to warn us before it happens. Keep in mind, what might be an omen of death in one culture is a sign of good luck in other cultures. Omens of death include: A random bone-rattling sound foretells an imminent death in the household. A ripping-sheets or linens sound is an omen of death. Breaking a mirror can mean seven years of bad luck or an oncoming death. Ringing in the ears foretells a death. Soft ringing—a person in your family, but loud ringing—a person held in high regard like a politician. This is known as the “death bells”. (it’s interesting to note that some people believe ringing in the ears is a spirit guide or angel getting your attention) A dog under the front porch that howls four times foretells a death. If a songbird, bat, or owl gets into the house it is a bad omen. If a rooster crows near the doorway and someone is ill in the house, death is coming. To see a person’s doppelganger (double/twin) is one of the omens of death Carrying an axe into the house means death is coming. The sound of a deathwatch beetle in the house foretells of an impending death To sweep under an ill person’s bed is to bring on death. An old superstition says to never move a dying man from one bed to another, potentially symbolizing his “death bed.” A cradle that rocks on its own foretells death in the family. The sudden sight of a white animal, such as a dog or horse, is a bad omen (in the British Isles and Ireland, seeing a white animal is a sign one is near a doorway to the fairy-world). A mysterious knock or rapping on a wall foretells a death in the household. Hearing a shriek or scream nearby is an omen of death (this relates to the Irish legend of the banshee’s scream). The bark of a dog or fox near an ill person’s room signals death. Old Funeral Traditions and Superstitions Because of the uncertainty of an afterlife, traditions and superstitions about death and funerals have been around for ages. The concept of a soul permeates every religion in the world, and therefore loved ones of a deceased individual feel its their duty to help aid the soul to the afterlife. Often families will pass down death and funeral customs to their descendants and so on. Many of the American funeral traditions come from Europe or Africa, brought here by immigrants and the enslaved over the last four centuries. An Irish American Wake: An Old Funeral Tradition A wake is a watchful vigil over the deceased a day or so after the person dies. Traditionally, family comes to the deceased’s home and watches over the body together. The wake is an old Celtic tradition from Europe. There is sometimes food, drinks, and partying to celebrate the deceased’s life. Originally, the “wake” was a way to watch over the newly deceased’s body so that the soul didn’t stick around or an evil spirit wouldn’t invade the newly-deceased body. Other theories say the “wake” was to watch over the dead in case the individual awakened from his/her sleep. As sometimes people were pronounced dead but weren’t truly dead yet. Wakes are still done in the deep south, but the tradition has largely been replaced in the United States with a modern “viewing” of the deceased at a funeral home. And the body is sent for funerary arrangements soon after death. Omens of Death and Funeral Superstitions: Mirrors, Clocks and Flowers Covering the mirrors in a home was an old custom that some folks still carry on. In Fried Green Tomatoes, following death, the clock is stopped and the mirrors are covered. This death custom dates back centuries and has a firm place in some Jewish, Catholic, and other religious homes. The modern theory behind this old tradition is to protect the mourners from seeing themselves in the mirrors. Older beliefs suggest mirrors confused the newly-departed soul and could trap it on this plane. Others maintain the death of a person attracts good and evil spirits. If the mirrors are covered, the mourners won’t see the spirits. Clock Omens and Traditions Clocks play a part in some households as well: stopping the clocks after a death. Cover the clocks to allow the soul to move on. If the spirit sees what time it is, it might decide to stay longer and end up a ghost. Clocks being stopped but not covered might be to allow the mourners time to mourn, without worrying about the amount of time going by. Opening a window after someone has passed is traditional and allows the soul to swiftly leave the earthly plane. Sources online say this is an old Danish tradition, while others argue it’s worldwide. If a clock stopped on its own in the house, it was an omen of death. Flowers at a Funeral Ever wonder why there’s flowers at a funeral? Most people might think flowers are simply showing care for the deceased, but there’s a grisly past. In Victorian […]

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Pagan Funerals: Burials, Customs, and Pagan Funeral Songs

kitty fields — Fri, 21 Jun 2019 00:35:35 +0000

Witch and pagan funerals are a real thing. We don’t have to be buried and commemorated by a Christian pastor or priest, if we don’t want to. If you want to know how to plan a pagan funeral and what to expect, we will detail it for you here including pagan death beliefs, traditions, pagan funeral songs and witch burial rites. Pagan Death Customs It truly depends on what your loved one (or you) want to happen upon death, but there are several pagan death customs to consider. Just as a baby is cleansed upon birth (via bathing or baptism, etc.), many pagans ask to be cleansed/bathed upon death. Why? Because death is another transition and just another part of the life/death/rebirth cycle. When you’re clean, you’re prepared to meet the afterlife fresh and anew! In addition, here are some other pagan death customs to consider: Massaging/anointing the deceased’s feet with oils for the “long journey” ahead; some oils used traditionally include: angelica, blackberry, chrysanthemum, tobacco, etc. placing a circle of candles around the body and keeping watch until the funerary rites call on the individual’s gods and/or ancestors to protect and guide them to the afterlife a picture or statue of the individual’s gods/ancestors/guides can be placed with the deceased to ease in transition prayers should be said to aid the deceased in its travel to the afterlife pipes and tobacco should be smoked near the deceased – the smoke wards off evil spirits bouquets of hydrangeas around the deceased burning frankincense and myrrh upon death upon death, if at home, cover the mirrors and open a few windows to allow the deceased’s soul the ability to leave this earthly plane stop the clock upon death cover the body in white linen, white and black flowers hold an Irish wake: click here to learn more Types of Pagan Burials and Cremations Pagans and witches don’t have a single holy book that they use to guide their lives or their transitions like death. It all depends on what the individual pagan believes; however, many pagan and witch burials lean towards the eco-friendly. This means a natural burial: no concrete is poured into the ground, no man-made caskets, etc. There are natural cemeteries throughout the United States who accommodate eco-friendly witch burials. You can do a simple google search to locate one in your area. Other Witch Burial Options In addition to an eco-friendly witch burial, some pagans may choose to be cremated and then have their ashes spread somewhere in nature. While cremation is purportedly a “Christian” death custom, our ancient pagan ancestors from certain countries burned their dead. Unfortunately, burning a person on a pyre is illegal and frowned upon these days, so the pyre is probably not an option. Sorry, friends. However, cremation is very similar to the pyre custom and can be used in its place. Then again, regular burials in a cemetery or being housed in a mausoleum are choices, too. Talk to your funeral director and ask for options. Ideas for a Pagan Funeral Service The best place to have a pagan funeral service is where? In nature! If the person loved the ocean, hold the service at the beach. If the person loved the mountains, hold the service on a mountaintop. Recite passages from pagan poetry, mythology, prayers to gods, etc. There are some wonderful passages that would be appropriate for a pagan funeral in the Egyptian Book of the Dead, the Prose Edda, the Mabinogion, and the Carmina Gadelica, to name a few. Following the pagan funeral service, have a party to celebrate the person’s life together – eat, drink, and socialize. Our ancestors made funerals into parties! Read more pagan passages on death further down. More Pagan Funeral Traditions: To protect the deceased upon burial: drive/carry the casket around the cemetery 3 times in a sunwise direction Bury the deceased with his or her amulets/talismans: magical jewelry like crystals or runes they wore during life or any other sacred tokens During the funeral ceremony – ask psychopomps to guide the deceased to the afterlife. Psychopomps include: the deceasesd’s spirit guides and ancestors and gods, in addition – Osiris, Iris, dogs, horses, snakes, birds, Thoth, Hecate, Berchta (particularly for women and children), Madame Death, etc. Garlands of flowers and resins can be made into necklaces to protect and bless the deceased’s loved ones – hang around their necks during the funeral rites Flowers and food offerings should be left at the gravesite to aid the deceased in his/her journey to the afterlife Witch and Pagan Funeral Officiants As a witch or pagan, most of us would opt out of the Christian funeral service and ask for a pagan officiant to preside. There are shamans and ordained pagan ministers all over the country and the world. Look for one in your local area who is qualified and who also jives with the individual’s overall pagan outlook. For example, if the person was Wiccan, search for an ordained high priest or priestess to officiate. If the person was native or into shamanic practices, search for a local shaman. If the person was a druid, look for a druid priest in your area. Etc. Pagan Death Beliefs So instead of the Christian version of talking about the deceased as if they’re going to Heaven, pagan death beliefs nearly always revolve around reincarnation and/or traveling to a place outside of this world. For some pagans and Wiccans, this other place that we go upon death is called Summerland. In Norse tradition, they may say they believe we go to Valhalla upon death. For the Celtic tradition, the Celtic Otherworld, Faery Realm or Tir Na Nog. Etc. At the very least, mentioning that your pagan loved one believes we come from the earth and return to the earth is perfect. Read more about pagan death beliefs and the pagan afterlife here. In addition, share a few pagan passages or quotes on death and the afterlife: Listen to our […]

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Pagan Afterlife: Where Do Pagans Go When They Die?

kitty fields — Mon, 10 Dec 2018 14:13:56 +0000

Just as Christians and other religions have their beliefs in an afterlife, so do pagans. Depending on the pagan tradition and even down to the individual, the pagan afterlife will have different names and legends to go along with it. Learn about different ideas of the pagan afterlife and we will answer the question “where do pagans go when they die?” The Pagan Afterlife What we’ll cover in this article: Where Do Wiccans Go When They Die? Wicca is a religion unto itself. Often people get Wiccans mixed up with Pagans. They think if you’re pagan, you must be Wiccan, right? Wrong. There are many different forms of paganism, Wicca is just one branch. That being said, Wiccans believe in a pagan afterlife and they call it the Summerland. The Wiccan Summerland is comparable to the Christians’ Heaven with some pagan differences. Wiccans believe souls travel to the Wiccan Summerland after death to await reincarnation. Once the soul learns or experiences all it needs, the reincarnation cycle ends. Then the soul stays in the Wiccan Summerland for eternity. Of course, beliefs on exactly how this happens varies. The Wiccan Summerland belief was no doubt influenced by the Celtic Otherworld and the Norse Pagan afterlife. The Celtic Otherworld To our ancient Celtic ancestors, death was just a part of the cycle of life. There were various beliefs in a Celtic pagan afterlife, depending on the people. In Welsh mythology, the Celtic Otherworld was called Annwn and was a place of abundance, health, and eternal youth. The Welsh Celtic god Arawn ruled the Celtic Otherworld, as told in the early Welsh prose story The Four Branches of the Mabinogi. The Irish Celts also believed in the Celtic Otherworld, located somewhere under the earth or under/over the sea. There were many names for it including Tir Na Nog, Tir Naill, Tech Duinn, and Mag Mell. Whether these were different names for the Celtic Otherworld or separate places within it remains a mystery. The Celtic Otherworld was a place where the gods and ancestors lived – a place of eternal life. The Welsh and Irish weren’t the only Celtic people. Remember the Gauls on Continental Europe were also Celtic and they too had a pagan afterlife similar to the Irish and Welsh. The Celtic Otherworld to the Gauls was known as Orbis alius. At least that’s the Latin name for it. The Gaulish Celtic people believed in three major planes of existence: upper, middle, and lower. This reflects a worldwide mythical concept of the World Tree in which the upper world is the realm of gods, the middle world is the world of men, and the lower world is the realm of the dead. The Norse Germanic Pagan Afterlife Similar to the Celts’ belief in the Otherworld, the Norse peoples believed in a pagan afterlife too. The World Tree concept was an integral part of Norse paganism, but their name for it was Yggdrasil. The tree consisted of nine realms: Niflheim, Muspelheim, Asgard, Midgard, Jotunheim, Vanaheim, Alfheim, Svartalfheim, and Helheim. The gods, dwarves, giants, elves, humans, and the dead dwelled in various realms throughout. Maybe you’ve heard the word Valhalla, mentioned often in the popular TV show Vikings. Valhalla was one of the places the dead could go after death – a place with Odin in Asgard for fallen warriors to go in preparation for a future war known as Ragnarok. Hel was another realm of the dead, somewhere under or in the earth, ruled by the goddess Hel. The goddess Freya presided over a field of the dead called Folkvangr. Valhalla You’ll find many people online who claim you must be a soldier or die in battle to go to Valhalla with Odin. I believe if you are a warrior for a cause (it doesn’t have to be literal) and you/or you are Odin’s devotee, you have the ability to reach Valhalla. Ultimately it was up to the gods and your deeds on earth that determined where you went in the Norse Pagan afterlife. More can be read about the Norse Pagan beliefs in the Edda by Snorri Sturluson. Folkvangr: Freya’s Hall of the Dead Many people forget, there is more than one place in the Norse afterlife where the dead may go. Freya, goddess of love, war and witchcraft, also had her own hall of the dead called Folkvangr. The Norse myths say that those who died on the battlefield were first surveilled by Freya, and she took those whom she wanted FIRST…before Odin received his fallen warriors in Valhalla. But there’s other Sagas that point to the fact that it wasn’t just warriors or fallen warriors that went to Freya’s realm. But those who were devoted to her, as well. Helheim a.k.a. Hel No, this is not the same place as the Christian Hell. Though it does have a similar name. I’m sure that happened for a reason. But Helheim, also known as the goddess Hel’s realm, is another place where the dead could go in the Norse pagan afterlife. Although Snorri Sturluson, the scholar who recorded many of the Norse myths, painted Helheim to be a very bleak and torturous place. Modern scholars and neo-pagans believe Sturluson’s view of Helheim was clouded by the Christian influence all around him at the time. Still others claim Helheim is a place where the dead go to rest and even “party” with their ancestors. It is potentially a place where we go before reincarnating… Pagan Belief in Reincarnation In addition to having a place for the dead to go after life, many pagans believe in the process of reincarnation. Reincarnation is the belief the soul cycles in and out of physical bodies. When you die in this life, your soul will return to the earth in another body. This concept is worldwide and ancient. Reincarnation can be found in Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, Jainism, and other far east religions. Before the rise of the Church in Europe, the Celts believed in reincarnation and so did […]

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