Afterlife

[jmlandf]

i am new when it comes to all the paths of the pagan religion. At the moment I am curious about everyone's views on the after life, how many people believe in rebirth, and if you don't believe in it then what do you believe in.

[jodarius]

i believe in rebirth, for in my belief i am the embodied spirt of many great warriors, all stemming from the soul of a great black dragon. I have imprints of those lives left in me, so i believe that i have been befor and i will be again.

[Sylvan]

I believe in reincarnation, but I haven't pegged down exactly what I believe happens.
And really, no one knows until they die, so why waste time worrying about it? *shrug*

[WinterTree]

For me that's actually kind of hard to answer....

I beleive in an afterlife, yes, as in when someone/something dies their spirit makes a journey to an alternate spiritual plane where they reside from then on. But when I think afterlife I don't think heaven, as in fluffly clouds and floating around in the sunshine, I jus think "Otherworld", as in a place that is veiled but is actually right next door to the world of the living and where all souls go to rest until they are given further intstruction by the Divine.

But I also find myself strongly believing in rebirth, especially when it comes to very young children/animals/plants/etc who died at a very young age or had little to no chance to experience life (toddlers, infants, unborn children...). I didn't start believing in rebirth until after one of my best friends, who introduced me to the Goddess and Paganism, and was Wiccan at the time, began having past-life experiences and visions. Also, the cycle of the Goddess being reborn again as the Maiden in springtime has also etched reincarnation into my beliefs.

(sorry for all the rambling...) So...I believe that both somehow coexist. yes I think there is and afterlife and yes for rebirth too... I know its confusing

[sugarcult]

i also believed in reincarnation even before i found wicca.. although.. i really need to do more studying on the subject.. heh ^^;

[WolfWonderess]

I believe in both an afterlife and reincarnation. However, my view on reincarnation is a bit...odd...as I believe it is choice, an option you can choose whenever you like, as many times as you like. Personally, I don't like the idea of being forced to reincarnate, but I don't like the idea of eternity. I myself would want to reincarnate, but I would like time between lives to reflect and recuperate, so to speak. ^_~

I also believe I have had past lives, and felt that way even when I was really young.

[Deranged Hermit]

What I believe is a bit like what WolfWonderess said, but perhaps even more odd. I believe that the afterlife is different for different people. I don't believe you are fated to an eternity that would be something totally different than your beliefs. So, if you want to be re-incarnated, then you can. If you want to sit in the clouds and play a harp, you can. If you want to hang around in spirit form, you can. You get the idea. :)

[OceanMyst]

I believe in reincarnation. I don't believe in a heaven or a hell, but a place we all go as a final resting place we go when we have learned all the lessons in life, and in between incarnations. Who here has read any books by Sylvia Brown? I believe most of what she says about after life and reincarnations.

[Shanti]

I believe the spirit can manifest itself into anything, anywhere it chooses to.
I have said this before: How can a spirit know whats its like to smell a rose unless it becomes a creature that can smell a rose?
:)

[SkySilver]

Interesting to see everyone's view about it. But I agree with Kurgarra. I don't bother thinking about it. I just try to live life the best way I can in the moment.

[Mizzou]

I believe the spirit can manifest itself into anything, anywhere it chooses to.
I have said this before: How can a spirit know whats its like to smell a rose unless it becomes a creature that can smell a rose?
:)

I agree with Shanti, I believe that the spirit goes werever it is most attracted to.. wether its your minds verson of a heaven or a hell.. or if it wants to reincarnate, or wait and reincarnate when it has rested frm its previouse life.

[Kalika]

I believe in reincarnation. :) But I also bellieve that, eventually, you pass on to something better... I don't exactly envision an afterlife, but take comfort in feeling that there's something else out there when my time comes, and look forward to the surprise.