The Shakespeare quote reminded me of some old lithographs that showed the life of man/woman as ascending steps, peaking at middle age and then descending until death. When I contemplated these images in a relative's house in Kasos, I don't recall considering that someone might fall off the staircase before old age - possibly because my grandparents lived to be very old. Or I wasn't ready to confront this fact of life.
Today's quotes about the world as a stage and the director ordering an actor off the stage mid-act link to contemporary ideas about the world as a simulation populated by avatars. Marcus' quote does not explicitly mention the next step in the syllogism, but I think we can safely infer it from other parts of the Meditations: that it doesn't matter how long one has lived in the world; what matters is the impact that one's life has had in the world - the good that one has brought to the world.
Another take on the moment of death: there's the idea that the soul/higher self knows the best time to leave the present incarnation, no matter how much the ego/localised self may resist it out of fear or attachment to the world. Seen from this perspective, any death, even of an embryo or a child or a young person, happens because the time was ripe (my mother used to say ήρθε η ώρα του - 'it was his/her time [to die]'), and therefore it is as it should be.
Thank you, dear Kathryn, for this week of death contemplation. I needed it during a hectic week when the world needed more of my attention than usual. The morning contemplations set up my day and helped me keep perspective on what is unfolding. It was a most enriching experience once again.
Fascinating insights here -- thanks for sharing! Love the image of the ascending and descending steps! And the additional idea now that one could step off the staircase before the descent, at any time.
(I am latterly seeing the steps of life as a kind of a spiral - ascent, slight descent, and around again to ascent and so on.)
So happy to hear that this hectic week was kept in perspective by taking time in the mornings to contemplate. We don't need much time at all and it makes such a difference! Now - for me - the challenge is to keep going in one way or another!
Thanks again and always for joining me on these journeys, and the biggest one of all -- life itself. 💙
“But I only got seven days!…” It doesn’t matter whether the death meditation email was seven days or twenty-eight days, the length was fixed by the host. Make your exit with the same grace shown to you.
Thank you for putting this on again, and getting me back into the habit of morning reading.
A delightful grand finale to the Seven Days and in tune with my own reflection here that crossed my thoughts before reading this post.
"Life takes us through death's door, it lifts the illusion of separation and dives with us deep into that pool of reality."
I was reading a poem by Emily Dickinson which at the moment of death is distracted by the buzz of a fly!
I think also in a film about when the children discover the wardrobe leading into another world the film refers to that poem in drawing attention to a fly that dies on a windowsill!
Oddly enough when encountering this piece thoughts of Prince Harry (or whatever title he is currently known by - ah yes - Duke of Sussex? ) This piece particularly: Then a soldier,
Full of strange oaths, and bearded like the pard,
Jealous in honour, sudden and quick in quarrel,
Seeking the bubble reputation
Even in the cannon’s mouth.
I wasn't well yesterday, and feel much better today, and I had tech troubles, so I'm not sure I actually wrote anything..but currently living in Sussex, yesterday was an enactment of the Battle of Lewes. I didn't actually go along, but there's a strange parallel between these people for whom the past is so live in the present, and this man of royal heritage, with a huge sense of entitlement, who has quite possibly never even set foot in this county, and lives 'across the pond'. His wife meanwhile, trades on his title. He chose to end his royal life of service, it seems to me, but to continue with privileges associated with that.
I'm not sure that is allied to this posting but I certainly respect that wonderful Shakespearean quote, and I really must get to grips with completing my reading of the Power of Attorney document.
A great conclusion to the week's meditations. Thank you KK.
I know it's Monday - and I am alive! The 7 days of Joyful Stoic Death Writing are over, and it was a pleasure. And I am so glad I joined. Thank you, KK!
I took Sunday off as I have done now for the past 2 years...yes, literally the day to rest and detox from the computer to spend in nature...and yesterday at the Royal Glasshouse and gardens in Brussels, a chance we had to take because they only open it for the public once per year, for one month only, and the ticket fly out within seconds the moment they open the portals...after that, I could have easily died happily, and I assure you I possibly had the best sleep in a while after yesterday...all the troubles seemed so far away...haha... still I sat there contemplating...and this poured out of me:
Thank you KK. I wasn't feeling well at the weekend - sick on Saturday although the day had begun well when I simply decided the best thing to do was to be kind to my body, and luxuriate in the bird song. The quiet. Today the cement mixer, drill, and sundry other sounds are already churning away. Friends are visiting and I've warned them that it's like a building site, but it will soon all be finished. Thank you for the week, and on Saturday I listened to a podcast in which you may be interested. It wasn't related to death, but thank you for the prompts.
The Shakespeare quote reminded me of some old lithographs that showed the life of man/woman as ascending steps, peaking at middle age and then descending until death. When I contemplated these images in a relative's house in Kasos, I don't recall considering that someone might fall off the staircase before old age - possibly because my grandparents lived to be very old. Or I wasn't ready to confront this fact of life.
Today's quotes about the world as a stage and the director ordering an actor off the stage mid-act link to contemporary ideas about the world as a simulation populated by avatars. Marcus' quote does not explicitly mention the next step in the syllogism, but I think we can safely infer it from other parts of the Meditations: that it doesn't matter how long one has lived in the world; what matters is the impact that one's life has had in the world - the good that one has brought to the world.
Another take on the moment of death: there's the idea that the soul/higher self knows the best time to leave the present incarnation, no matter how much the ego/localised self may resist it out of fear or attachment to the world. Seen from this perspective, any death, even of an embryo or a child or a young person, happens because the time was ripe (my mother used to say ήρθε η ώρα του - 'it was his/her time [to die]'), and therefore it is as it should be.
Thank you, dear Kathryn, for this week of death contemplation. I needed it during a hectic week when the world needed more of my attention than usual. The morning contemplations set up my day and helped me keep perspective on what is unfolding. It was a most enriching experience once again.
Fascinating insights here -- thanks for sharing! Love the image of the ascending and descending steps! And the additional idea now that one could step off the staircase before the descent, at any time.
(I am latterly seeing the steps of life as a kind of a spiral - ascent, slight descent, and around again to ascent and so on.)
So happy to hear that this hectic week was kept in perspective by taking time in the mornings to contemplate. We don't need much time at all and it makes such a difference! Now - for me - the challenge is to keep going in one way or another!
Thanks again and always for joining me on these journeys, and the biggest one of all -- life itself. 💙
“But I only got seven days!…” It doesn’t matter whether the death meditation email was seven days or twenty-eight days, the length was fixed by the host. Make your exit with the same grace shown to you.
Thank you for putting this on again, and getting me back into the habit of morning reading.
Hah, love this! Thanks Scott! Let's do it again soon x 💙
A delightful grand finale to the Seven Days and in tune with my own reflection here that crossed my thoughts before reading this post.
"Life takes us through death's door, it lifts the illusion of separation and dives with us deep into that pool of reality."
I was reading a poem by Emily Dickinson which at the moment of death is distracted by the buzz of a fly!
I think also in a film about when the children discover the wardrobe leading into another world the film refers to that poem in drawing attention to a fly that dies on a windowsill!
Dear Matthew -- so pleased your joined in and lovely to meet you here! 💙
I looked up the Emily Dickinson poem which I didn't know and here it is - thank you!
I heard a Fly buzz - when I died - (591)
By Emily Dickinson
I heard a Fly buzz - when I died -
The Stillness in the Room
Was like the Stillness in the Air -
Between the Heaves of Storm -
The Eyes around - had wrung them dry -
And Breaths were gathering firm
For that last Onset - when the King
Be witnessed - in the Room -
I willed my Keepsakes - Signed away
What portion of me be
Assignable - and then it was
There interposed a Fly -
With Blue - uncertain - stumbling Buzz -
Between the light - and me -
And then the Windows failed - and then
I could not see to see -
Oddly enough when encountering this piece thoughts of Prince Harry (or whatever title he is currently known by - ah yes - Duke of Sussex? ) This piece particularly: Then a soldier,
Full of strange oaths, and bearded like the pard,
Jealous in honour, sudden and quick in quarrel,
Seeking the bubble reputation
Even in the cannon’s mouth.
I wasn't well yesterday, and feel much better today, and I had tech troubles, so I'm not sure I actually wrote anything..but currently living in Sussex, yesterday was an enactment of the Battle of Lewes. I didn't actually go along, but there's a strange parallel between these people for whom the past is so live in the present, and this man of royal heritage, with a huge sense of entitlement, who has quite possibly never even set foot in this county, and lives 'across the pond'. His wife meanwhile, trades on his title. He chose to end his royal life of service, it seems to me, but to continue with privileges associated with that.
I'm not sure that is allied to this posting but I certainly respect that wonderful Shakespearean quote, and I really must get to grips with completing my reading of the Power of Attorney document.
A great conclusion to the week's meditations. Thank you KK.
Thank you for joining in this week, Di! 💙
I know it's Monday - and I am alive! The 7 days of Joyful Stoic Death Writing are over, and it was a pleasure. And I am so glad I joined. Thank you, KK!
I took Sunday off as I have done now for the past 2 years...yes, literally the day to rest and detox from the computer to spend in nature...and yesterday at the Royal Glasshouse and gardens in Brussels, a chance we had to take because they only open it for the public once per year, for one month only, and the ticket fly out within seconds the moment they open the portals...after that, I could have easily died happily, and I assure you I possibly had the best sleep in a while after yesterday...all the troubles seemed so far away...haha... still I sat there contemplating...and this poured out of me:
I've been given roles
Meant to shape,
If not to break.
At first, I shook them,
As hard as I could,
Resisting.
But in time, I learned
To let them be,
To see
What was truly meant
For me.
And so I ventured on
With the one
That appeases,
That pleases
Me.
And when I look
Into Jager’s eyes,
Oh, surprise!
I see my late mother’s disapproval.
I smile,
Knowing
It’s alright.
Knowing
I did what I could,
Stayed true
To who I am.
And so,
On course.
To be at ease,
Gentle
In my own skin.
If I were to die tomorrow,
It would be fine
To leave the stage of life.
I fulfilled my purpose,
To create a way
To stay alive.
And when it’s time -
Exit gracefully.
🙏😊🌻
Yay, you are alive! I celebrate you! I love the poem and the final understanding. It was very special spending the past 7 days with you! 🌻💙
🌞🌻 And you!
Thank you KK. I wasn't feeling well at the weekend - sick on Saturday although the day had begun well when I simply decided the best thing to do was to be kind to my body, and luxuriate in the bird song. The quiet. Today the cement mixer, drill, and sundry other sounds are already churning away. Friends are visiting and I've warned them that it's like a building site, but it will soon all be finished. Thank you for the week, and on Saturday I listened to a podcast in which you may be interested. It wasn't related to death, but thank you for the prompts.
Thank you for joining me this week! 💙
Thank you so much for all the Meditations ❤️🙏❤️