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 We know little about the afterlife except for the stories told us by those who have passed over and returned. And it’s possible that what is brought back is but the tip of the iceberg. The universe is vast, complex, and beyond our mental comprehension.
When I viewed this film, I was soothed by the kind, loving, healing and wise support given those on the other side of the veil between “life and death,” or in the formless world of consciousness, which we enter upon leaving this world or form. But I was also struck by the darkness presented.
It would appear from the film’s interpretation of the darkness that we don’t escape the consequences of our unkind thoughts, words, and acts. This implies that we take with us when we go the unredeemed, bad qualities as well as the good qualities gained from our experience on Earth.
The repercussions must be worse in cases of suicide given the angry taunts of ‘suicide’ in the film. But the main character in the film didn’t take his life! Could there be such a thing as unconscious suicide? Could subtle thoughts such as I wish I would die constitute suicide for which we suffer the consequences now or in the afterlife?
I also noticed in the film the calming, wise, and non-reactive teachings that bring understanding to life now as it relates to life on the other side of the veil.
Here are some of those teachings: The other side is not dead. Life on the other side is the real existence in terms of conscious awareness; earth is just a stage. We alone must account for the destiny we create. We each encounter different afterlife experiences based on the stage of spiritual awareness achieved during the lifetime. Life isn’t supposed to be about gaining love, pleasure, possessions, knowledge, or anything of a selfish nature. Life is about serving one another. We are family. Action and reaction are key elements of our gradual evolution; belief is the cause and either joy or suffering is the effect.
The soul goes through different stages in its evolution. Mysterious are the paths of the heart and soul. Forgiveness and love, gratitude and compassion are valid emotions. The past can’t be changed, only learned from. It takes years to regain a lost or wasted minute of life here on earth. We will be helped out of the darkness into the light. There’s no place for greed on the other side—or anger, egoism, pride, arrogance, hatred, envy, vanity, or intolerance. These are diagnoses given us for the purpose of recovery. There are no accidents. There are no miracles. There’s just what we create.
Before viewing this film, I operated from the belief that the other side is without emotion; that we reviewed our previous life as if watching a movie for the purpose of assessment. I imagined we were sweetly met by loved ones and taken to a nice cozy place to recover before moving to the next green pasture.
But after viewing the agony, writhing, shouting and darkness in the film, I determined to heed the teachings given and to live now to create a clearer path forward, to leave here in peace, and to escape, as near as possible, the emotional payback of my unkind acts. Here are some ‘how to’ thoughts:
♦ Be always kind. It doesn’t matter what others say, do or think. If he doesn’t like me, that’s his business. Do I like me? Do I like him? Let me reply to those questions.
♦ Be mindful of judgments. They come back at me; here or in the afterlife.
♦ Clear resentments, hostilities, negativity, and fear. These block my ability to love.
♦ Be especially aware of subtle thoughts like the ones I found myself thinking this morning: he shouldn’t have parked there - he must be up to no good - did he take my newspaper - I can‘t trust him. Rather, notice where do I park illegally? Where do I hide my intentions? When have I picked up another person’s newspaper? When can’t I be trusted?
(Later I determined that he parked there as an act of kindness; to reserve a spot for another. But I’m stuck, now, with the subtle thoughts that came out of me; until forgiven.)
♦ Don’t be attached to earthly things—pleasures, titles, technologies. They have no significance in the afterlife. Rather, ask yourself: how have I served?
♦ Don’t waste this precious life. It’s not easy getting back here.
♦ Don’t fear death. It is only a portal to life on another plane.
♦ As I forgive myself, others are forgiven, including those passed.
♦ Be honest. I may fool others, but I cannot fool myself.
♦ Don’t give advice. I may think I know, but I know nothing. There is a higher knowing.
♦ Don't seek apology. Apologies are given; not gotten. Seeking apology only feeds the ego's need to be right.
♦ I don’t need to be right. There’s no such thing as defeat because there’s no success to be attained.
♦ See everyone as equal. The lowliest on earth may be the highest on the other side.
∞
"I am the creator of my reality
And ALL patterns of resonance
Are created by my consciousness.
The reality that I am creating
Begins with a thought form,
Which I invent with the thoughts and emotions
That I am consciously or unconsciously,
Allowing to fill my heart and mind."
Source Unknown
Note: There are many processes for forgiving and clearing our fear and confusion. Three of my favorites are: body work; The Work of Byron Katie, www.thework.com; and Ho’oponopono, an ancient Hawaiian process of reconciliation, www.self-i-dentity-through-hooponopono.com/
∞
 In 1982, I found myself suddenly alone and asking: Why am I here? Where am I going? I began a quest that led, step by step, from one self-realization to another. In 2000, I participated in my first school for "The Work of Byron Katie" and learned a process for achieving inner peace no matter what is happening out there. It was a way to investigate and free the painful effects of my emotional reactions. In 2008, I became a Certified Facilitator of The Work, able to support others to transform confusion and fear into acceptance of what is. Into peace. I now live happily in the Washington, D.C. metro area where I regularly do The Work for myself and with others.
Patricia Parrott
January 2014
• Links to a video on Chico Xavier and the trailer for Astral City appear in the introduction above.
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