Wicca Series (part 5): What Happens After We Die

[Zendrya]

So, like all aspects of Wicca not everyone believes the exact same thing when it comes to what happens after we die.

One thing that is pretty uniform about our beliefs on death is that we all tend to believe in reincarnation. What differs is what happens between death and reincarnation. I think the common belief is that when we die we go to summerland. What people think happen in summerland varies but it is generally thought to be a place where the soul goes to reflect on their previous lives and prepare for the next. Some believe that they walk summerland with the god and goddess and reflect with them where other's believe they are just in this tranquil state and reflect on their own.

Also what Wiccan's believe they reincarnate into varies. I believe it is most commonly thought that you reincarnate into a random new person. Other's believe it has to do with Karma and based on how good of a person you were in your past life. Other's are more inclined to believe in that you are reincarnated into whatever the earth needs at the time, so a person, animal, tree, etc

Another thing about Wicca is some Wiccan's (to my understanding a majority but I'm not positive) believe in different realms. So a lot of Wiccan's believe in fairies, in gnomes, and other magical creatures. A lot also believe that we are not the only planet to have living beings like humans. So some Wiccan's also believe we can reincarnate from and into those other species.

I will tell you what I believe now. I believe that when we die instead of going to a place such as summerland our souls just return back to the earth until we are ready to become reincarnated again. I believe all of our souls have a mission that originated with their creation and that our soul gets reincarnated into whatever at that time will be the best fit for our goal. For example I believe my soul is a Starseedwhich essentially means it originates from a different planet. My soul's mission was to come to earth and try and better the earth through children. I came to this conclusion because I went to see a Shaman and she told me this with knowing anything about me and it just so happens I am studying to be an early childhood educator and all the details she gave fit my life perfectly. Also a lot of characteristics that starseeds possess I also possess. As for whether I believe in fairies, gnomes, unicorns, and the like is something I haven't decided yet.

So there ya go, this is a summary on the beliefs of what happens after death in Wicca. My next post will be about witchcraft and magickal workings.

Please check out the last 4 posts of this series by clicking the links here. Who we worship: Part 1 General Beliefs: Part 2 Wiccan Holiday's (first half): Part 3 Wiccan Holiday's (second half): Part 4

Finally, if there is anything from any post in this series that you would like me to elaborate on please feel free to let me know!

[Anonymous]

Wonderful series, especially this part about reincarnation, it kinda makes sense, in order to learn new experiences, you have to live in the material world, and for that purpose, you need a new body. Exactly - Summerland is a temporary place of rest for the souls, before they incarnate again, most Wiccans don't believe in eternal afterlife, only in rebirth... but I suppose some of them have similar views like the Buddhists and Hindus, when a soul is purified by a certain amount of life experiences, it reaches the point of perfection, aka Nirvana/Moksha, basically, it's released from the reincarnation cycle.

[Opinion Owner]

Thanks for the MHO

[Warmapplecrumble]

Very interesting take :-)

[curiousnorway]

Interesting! Anyway, regardless if it's Wiccan, Buddhism, Hindu or whatever belief it's a paradox with the rebirth thing. Before we can define death we've to define identity. The majority of people I know about thinks identity is a personality, the gender and the species that we're and that our experiences, memories etc. do form our identity.

But if you're reborn then you're not necessary reborn and it equals death in the same manner as an [typically] atheistic death if you're reborn as another specie, personality, gender and everything that make you who you're meaning that you aren't you anymore. If you aren't you, you are dead and therefor not alive. Whoever representing you are not and would never be the same as you although it's "supposed" to be you in your next life. If the identity makes a person, how can a person be the same person if everything is erased? That's the rebirth paradox.

A woman who loves football can be reborn as a man who loves sewing and hates football. After that the man who loves sewing can be reborn as a rabbit and then be reborn as a dog. The animals are thinking in the same manner as the specie they're and not like humans. Yes, animals and humans do think differently and is good in different things. The woman and the man has two different personality in my example. I and people I knows don't have any memories of past lives.

Hope you understand what I'm trying to say.

[Zendrya]

I do but to me what makes someones identity is your soul. The soul doesn't change when reborn so to me my identity never dies

[curiousnorway]

Are people's souls different and do the soul have a personality? Please elaborate yourself. : )

[Zendrya]

yes every soul is different. To me every soul has a different purpose and a different energy which makes it different from every other soul. I don't necessarily think a soul has a personality but personality to me isn't what makes up an identity.

[curiousnorway]

So what's the point with personality and what's a personality for you? And what do the soul have other than a purpose and an energy? What is an energy?

[Zendrya]

There is no point in a personality... it is just a thing that happens when you're a living creature... My definition of personality is the same as everyone else's I just don't think that is what makes up someone's identity. You also must have not looked at part 1 of the series as it explains that everyone's soul comes from the universal energy source and each soul has a unique piece of that energy.

[mjz00]

hey, loving reading your thoughts by the way, re after you die your beliefs you say when you die your soul just comes back to earth until you are ready for reincarnation do you believe your energy is here existing on some sort of other realm? or? xx

[Zendrya]

can you further explain your question? It may just be because it is the morning but I am not exactly sure what you're asking :p

[admles]

Awesome again! Keep it coming!

[Zendrya]

will do!

[Waffles731]

I find reincarnation scary

[Zendrya]

how come?

[Waffles731]

Bwcause like I can barely deal with this life, the thought of going through this again, depression and all scares me, after this I just want to rest

[Zendrya]

who's to say you will experience depression in another life? I would recommend seeing a Shaman. They can help to see if depression is something that is triggered from past lives.

[Nice222]

Loving every take in this series.

[Zendrya]

yeah! Thank you!