Different cultures and religions have different opinions about death and the fate of the soul after the death of a person. Eastern cultures believe in reincarnation, and in Christianity they talk about eternal life after physical death. People believe that the soul of a person always comes to say goodbye to loved ones and places, and this can be noticed through certain signs and events. How the soul says goodbye to loved ones, and what scientists and researchers say about the soul, will be told by the Eden ritual agency, which provides funeral services in the Dnieper.
Opinions of different religions on the path of the soul after death
Different cultures and religions have their own attitude towards the completion of a person’s earthly journey. In Ancient Greece, they believed that a person’s life and soul are in the hands of the goddess of fate Moira, who decides where to send the soul - to Elysium or Hell.
The ancient Egyptians treated death with respect and strictly observed all ritual rites, as they firmly believed in the resurrection of the soul.
Since the Middle Ages, Christians believed in the death of the physical shell and the eternal life of the soul, which was supposed to reside in Hell for sinners or in Paradise.
Eastern cultures believe in immortality. Reincarnation can occur into a person, object, plant or animal. It is believed that the soul can be reborn 777 times, and physical death is simply a transition to another body, and there is no need to grieve too much.
Among the northern peoples there was an opinion that the soul migrates within the clan. For example, a grandmother was embodied in her grandchildren or great-grandchildren. Therefore, newborn babies were often named after deceased relatives.
For many people who have had close encounters with death and have lost loved ones, the question arises: what happens to the soul after death, and where does it go?
Objects moving on their own
Are you having trouble finding your keys or phone? Do some objects in your home seem to move on their own? Have you ever heard a loud noise from another room? Maybe after this you found something significant for you and your deceased loved one in a strange place, as if someone had moved the thing?
This is a common sign that the deceased person wants to tell you something. The deceased communicate with a person in this way. They make noise because it is difficult for an ordinary person, not a medium, to perceive more subtle signs of communication. The noise should attract your attention, this is what the dead want.
What happens to the soul after death?
Christianity has different directions, and there are just as many variations on the theme of what happens to the soul after the death of a person. There are many popular superstitions and speculations that do not have reliable confirmation. Some of them are completely rational, and some are just guesswork. According to the Orthodox Church, the soul of the deceased goes through several stages after death:
- Saying goodbye to your physical shell.
- Stay on earth for some time and visit your native places.
- Ordeal.
- Ascension to heaven.
- God's judgment.
- Moving to Hell or Heaven.
All stages are cyclical and take place on certain days on which the soul needs the support of loved ones in the form of prayer and memorial services.
Exit of the soul from the body
There is an opinion that the soul leaves the body and is present next to it in the form of subtle matter, invisible to the eye of a living person. This is not a ghost, this is a certain clot of energy. In the first minutes after death, the soul does not realize that death has occurred, and only after a while does it realize that it is looking at the body from the outside. After realizing that death has occurred, the soul can leave the scene and visit dear people and familiar places.
The phenomenon of clinical death has not yet been fully studied. But those who had to go through this experience talk about:
- Emptiness and silence around.
- A long dark tunnel.
- Bright light at the end of the tunnel.
- A strong desire to go into the light.
For some reason, the soul turns off the path and does not follow the alluring light, and thus returns to its body. Scientists, through repeated research, have given their explanation for this tunnel phenomenon. It turns out that at the moment of cardiac arrest, strong brain activity occurs. Because of this hyperactivity, a person at the moment of death can see a tunnel with light, images of loved ones, or footage of a past life. About 20% of people who have experienced clinical death report such visions.
Strange electrical activity
Electrical devices may fail in your home after the death of a deceased loved one. If this happens while you're at home, it's likely your loved one is contacting you. Everything from sudden channel changes to toys and light bulbs turning on or off is a sign.
This is especially true on the radio or TV while watching a show.
This happens because the deceased know that various signals can be easily transmitted through electrical devices. If you can't hear or see your loved one in your dreams, but electrical devices are acting strangely, take comfort in the fact that they are still out there.
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Farewell to loved ones
The period of farewell to loved ones begins from the moment of death and lasts three days. People believe that the spirit can make itself known by a bird flying into the house, knocking, or footsteps. Quite often on such days, homeless animals come to the house of the deceased; they should not be driven away. These signs are not long-lasting and not frightening. Some people may feel the presence of the spirit of the deceased in the house; at such moments it is recommended to read a prayer and light a church candle. Next, the soul of the deceased can go traveling to his native places.
If the death was sudden or violent, the soul suffers due to its early death. The greatest pain is felt by the souls of suicides who understand that they have no forgiveness. The state of mind can be partially alleviated by relatives who, from the moment of the death of a person, accept mourning, put on black clothes, order the organization of a funeral, pray and mourn the deceased.
What signs can the deceased give?
Signs from the dead are visible or felt on a spiritual level. They frighten or drive you into depression and stress. The deceased, in their farewells, talk about forgiveness, love, they want to convey feelings that they did not have time to express in life. They ask for help or reassure relatives. The signs cannot be ignored - the astral body of the deceased will be stuck between worlds. It is prohibited to search for or disturb people's astral bodies.
Energy connection and sensations
The blood connection between relatives and the deceased is strong. The souls of relatives are connected in the world of the living, in the afterlife. Images of the dead come to loved ones; they have a strong energetic connection.
It is impossible to grieve for the deceased for a long time. The energetic connection intensifies, the soul of the deceased cannot say goodbye. Subsequently, the spirits of the dead will become angry and filled with negativity.
Signs of such a connection with the astral body of the deceased and its manifestations:
- The reflection of a ghost appears in a mirror, TV screen, monitor, or in a shop window. Relatives see the silhouette of the deceased, but as they approach him, the shadow dissolves.
- Sleep is a common type of energetic connection. Deceased relatives say goodbye this way. Dreams can be good, bright or frightening and dark. It's worth listening to them. The astral body of a loved one is trying to warn of impending danger.
- Calls and music - calls to a mobile or landline phone from the voices of deceased relatives. The phenomenon occurs before the ninth day of death. This is due to confusion of the soul, fear. The closer to the fortieth day, the less frequent the calls. The voices of the dead can be heard in music speakers and on the radio.
- Thoughts - spirits do not say goodbye, they send thoughts to relatives telepathically. When anxiety or peace arises, the soul of the deceased supports the living. They help you achieve your goals.
- Tactile sensations - the presence of the deceased is felt as a light touch on the cheek or hair. Those saying goodbye feel a touch on the shoulder or arm.
- Household appliances - ghosts sometimes control electricity. If there are no visible reasons for lights turning on or off, or light bulbs flickering, this means that the soul of the deceased is coming to visit.
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People who have experienced loss often experience fear, anxiety and stress from not understanding the astral bodies of relatives.
Church ministers advise praying for the repose of the soul of the deceased, lighting candles, and saying goodbye to the deceased. You cannot put personal belongings and photographs in the coffin, or take the deceased’s belongings from the cemetery.
Long contact with the astral body of a loved one causes depression and apathy. People who try to say goodbye to the dead are powerless to do so because of the soul’s reminder of itself.
Animal behavior
Strange behavior of animals is a sign of the presence of the astral body of the deceased. Cats, dogs, birds and flies sense the otherworldly intervention of their loved ones. The behavior of animals is different:
- Birds are knocking on the window, there is a depressed state or, on the contrary, increased agitation, behavior that was not noticed before - this means that the astral body has come to say goodbye.
- Cats see otherworldly anomalies. If a cat snorts and rushes into an empty corner, there is a soul or ghost of a deceased loved one in the corner. Strange, unusual behavior of a cat indicates an invisible guest.
- Dogs. Considered less sensitive, but can smell and see ghosts or a lost soul. If the dog is strongly attached to the deceased owner, the spirit of the owner visits the pet. It has been proven that dogs have stronger emotional attachments than other animals. When he sees the dog wagging his tail and jumping joyfully, and there is nothing nearby, he says goodbye to the ghost of his owner.
Ninth day after death
On the 9th day after death, a wake is held. They pray for the soul of the deceased, order a funeral lunch, and visit the cemetery. Funeral rituals help the soul of the deceased to get rid of earthly attachments, to cleanse himself of sins, so that she quickly realizes that she will soon leave this world and move on to another.
From the ninth to the fortieth day, the soul goes through ordeals, namely tests before ascension. If the tests are severe, the soul periodically returns to the place of its former home and to loved ones in order to receive support and strength to pass all the tests.
The souls of the dead inhabit birds
There is a popular belief that if a bird accidentally flies onto the balcony, then it is actually the soul of a deceased relative who has come to visit. Therefore, there is no need to drive the bird; it is advisable to feed and water it. If a dove has arrived, this means that the inhabitants of the home will have an improved personal life. When a tit flies, it means money. An arriving magpie warns of changes in life, and a crow warns of luck in business.
Another sign about deceased relatives is also when a bird knocks on the window. She is also worth feeding. How can you understand that a bird is the soul of a loved one who has died? In fact, it is very simple: the occupant of the home will simply be flooded with memories of the deceased.
There is a sign that if you see an animal in a cemetery and it comes close, then most likely it is the soul of the deceased who has come to visit his family. It could be a cat, a squirrel, a crow, a dog, and you should definitely share something delicious with this animal.
They also say that when seagulls fly over a ship in the sea, these are the souls of dead sailors. They bring good news to those on board, for example that the storm will soon end.
Fortieth day after death
For 40 days after death, the soul is convicted of mortal sins and temptations. At this stage, the prayers of relatives serve as ransom and purification. The more sins a person has committed during his lifetime, the more severe the ordeals assigned to him. In Orthodoxy, this day is associated with the Ascension of Jesus Christ. And religion says that on this day the soul goes to God’s Judgment.
Mandatory on this day are a funeral service, ordering a service in the church, visiting a cemetery, distributing a memorial service and alms. On the 40th day, the soul completely leaves the earth, and no longer has the opportunity to visit family and friends.
The version about how the soul of the deceased says goodbye to loved ones and native places is figurative and has no factual confirmation. A person can only speculate on the basis of the Bible what happens to the soul after death, but he will only be able to find out about this when his time comes.
Visits in a dream
Seeing a deceased loved one in a dream can be heartbreaking, but more often than not it is a sign that they are doing well. These types of dreams are known as "spirit visitations," and you can immediately see the difference: in these dreams, your loved one appears before you, surrounded by light. The dead may visit you, ask you to send messages to others and tell you that all is well in the afterlife.
