As beautiful as the images of angels are, I find the depictions of the spirit of death just as breathtaking. There is a profound beauty in duality—the dance between life and death, light and darkness, beginnings and endings. It is easy to admire the light, to seek the warmth and comfort it brings. But what about the darkness? What about death? Can you dare to look it in the eyes, sit with it, and let it teach you its deepest wisdom?
Most of us don’t want to think about death. We push it away, fearing the unknown, the loss, the emptiness. But what if embracing death could bring you more freedom? More lightness? More life? When you stop running from death, you stop running from life. By facing the end, you discover a beginning—one filled with deeper joy, richer love, and true liberation from fear.
Death isn’t just a moment when life ends. It’s a presence, an energy that moves through our lives constantly—through endings, transformations, letting go. The spirit of death walks with us more often than we realize. Every lost relationship, every shed identity, every release of old patterns is a form of death. Yet in that ending, something new quietly waits to be born.
My journey with the spirit of death
Years ago, I chose to walk the path of the shamanic death—the practice of dying before you die. It was not a gentle journey. It shook me to my core, took me into emptiness, stripped away everything I thought I was. I became ill. Exhausted. Lost in the vastness of nothingness. There were days when I wondered if I would ever find my way out.
But in that emptiness, something extraordinary happened. The spirit of death stood beside me, not as a terrifying force, but as a teacher. A friend. A purifier. It whispered truths I didn’t want to hear but deeply needed. I learned to sit in the void without reaching for escape. To surrender to the vast unknown. To breathe in the darkness and find, within it, a stillness more profound than anything I had known.
That journey changed everything. I now call upon the spirit of death during healings, readings, and in my own life when something needs to end. It’s an ally when releasing old stories, dissolving relationships that no longer serve, or clearing stagnant energies. The spirit of death is not something to fear—it’s a force that clears away what no longer belongs, making space for truth, authenticity, and renewal.
Why face the spirit of death?
When you avoid death, you avoid the deepest parts of yourself. Fear of death is, at its core, fear of change. Fear of losing control. Fear of stepping into the unknown. But death is inevitable—not just the physical death at the end of life, but the countless little deaths that shape us every day.
By consciously facing death, you become more present. You begin to live fully, appreciating the fleeting nature of each moment. Life becomes richer, more vibrant. The things you thought you needed fall away, revealing what truly matters.
Imagine living without the constant hum of fear in the background. Imagine choosing joy without hesitation, loving without holding back, speaking your truth without worrying about the outcome. This is the gift of embracing death—it frees you to truly live.
An exercise: meeting the spirit of death
This is a sacred practice. Approach it with an open heart, curiosity, and respect.
1. Create a sacred space:
Find a quiet place where you won’t be disturbed. Light a candle if you wish, or bring an object that symbolizes transformation.
2. Breathe and ground:
Sit or lie down comfortably. Close your eyes. Feel your body supported by the Earth. Take slow, deep breaths. Inhale through your nose, exhale through your mouth. With each breath, let your
awareness drop deeper into your body.
3. Enter the space of meeting:
Imagine yourself standing at the edge of a vast, dark forest or an open field under a night sky. There’s no danger here—only the presence of something ancient and wise.
4. Call upon the spirit of death:
Silently or aloud, say: “Spirit of death, I invite you. Show me what I need to release. Teach me what I need to know.”
Notice what happens. Maybe you feel a shift in the air, see images, hear words, or simply feel emotions arise. Stay open. Don’t force anything—just observe.
5. Ask questions:
- What am I clinging to that no longer serves me?
- What needs to die in my life for something new to emerge?
- How can I surrender more deeply to change?
Listen. Even if nothing seems to happen, trust that something is shifting beneath the surface.
6. Offer gratitude and return:
When you feel complete, thank the spirit of death for its presence. Slowly bring your awareness back to your body. Wiggle your fingers and toes, open your eyes, and take a moment to reorient.
7. Integrate:
Take time afterward to reflect. Journal what you experienced. Rest if you need to—working with these energies can be deeply transformative.
Feeling the call to explore this deeper?
If the spirit of death speaks to you, if you sense that something in your life is ready to end so something new can emerge, you don’t have to walk that path alone. In a reading, we can explore what you’re ready to release and how to move through that transition with grace. We’ll call upon the energies you need, clear what holds you back, and open the doorway to your next chapter.
Are you ready to meet what you’ve been avoiding?
Let death be your ally. Let it teach you how to live, love, and surrender more fully.
You don’t have to fear the end—because in every ending, there is a beginning waiting to bloom.
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