Dancing with Death as an Embodiment of Life

Some of the wisdom that Death has brought me

I recently had a teacher say something along that lines of “As we open up our capacity to experience pleasure and joy and bliss, we also open up our capacity to experience pain and suffering”.

The law of polarities.

I believe this to be true. As we walk this path of awakening, we cannot allow in more light without also opening our eyes to see more of the darkness.

And that is where I sit today, in the dark, grounding, and humbling shelter that Death provides.

Being present to both the beauty and the suffering of Death.

Giving space to the feelings that life isn’t fair, to the anger that someone of such beauty and big-heartedness who was a bright light in this world could be taken so young, to the anguish that their loved ones must be feeling, to the devastation of such a departure from this Earth.

But also giving space to the beauty of the blessings that they were able to have time to say goodbye, that they went peacefully surrounded by loved ones, that they were showered in love and affection by those who’s lives they touched before they went.

It’s complicated and messy to be in the both/and, to exist in both the pain and the beauty.

There is nothing that encompasses all of the meaning of life more than Death.

In our western culture, Death is one of the things people fear the most. It’s often taboo and/or triggering to even talk about.

But the deeper truth underneath the fear is that Death is actually an ally. It can be used as an advisor for living.

When we are afraid to die, we are afraid to live.

But when we can see Death with clarity, we can use it to fuel our sense of aliveness.

When we have the awakened awareness that Death could tap us on the shoulder at any moment, we can use that to not waste our time, to make better choices, and take the actions we desire to take.

We can converse with Death and ask it our questions, seek out it’s council for how we can best take advantage of our time here.

For me though, the fear that feels scarier than Death is living a life of regrets. Leaving all of the “what ifs” and “I wishes” on the table. And when the time comes, looking at all of the dust that has collected on unfulfilled and never pursued dreams.

That’s the ultimate tragedy.

And in reflecting on all of this, it’s these reminders that Death always brings when it shows up in my life:

• That my time here is precious and short and is not to be wasted.

• That I don’t need to be afraid of it, but rather can use it as fuel

• That there’s beauty and blessings in the pain

• That it’s important to remember gratitude and be thankful for the gift it is to be able to walk this Earth another day

• That I need to be better about sharing with people the things I love and appreciate about them

• That the best way to honor the dead is by truly living a courageous and heart-centered life

We cannot run from Death, so it’s best that we move towards it with guns blazing, joy spewing, heart opened, feeling fully alive and filled with love and gratitude in every moment (even for the hard stuff).

And as Death continues to show up in my life in various ways, I am deepening into this idea that in order to embody Life, we need to dance with Death.

Cheers my friends,

💀 Rachel 💀