If there’s one topic of conversation that most people find inappropriate, that would be death. Just the mere thought of people losing their lives, let alone yours, can strike a chord in the heart. But there’s more to death than fear and sorrow.
Death also represents transition, cleansing, opportunities, and rebirth. In different religions and cultures, these spiritual meanings are manifested in various accounts. So let’s dive into the symbolism of death and its importance in your journey toward the afterlife.
What Does Death Symbolize?
Undoubtedly, death is the most painful experience for people left behind. The grief and sorrow can last even for a lifetime. Nonetheless, death also brings more meaning other than pain and loss. Here are the different symbols that death brings.
Death Symbolizes Transition
It is generally believed that the spiritual body separates from the physical form when a person dies. With that, death represents the most crucial transition between two worlds.
While the details of what happens after death remain a mystery, the monumental change it entails suggests that the unknown presents various possibilities.
Death Symbolizes Cleansing
The spiritual world represents the purest form of being and represents cleaning the same way the rain washes away impurity. In that sense, dying itself is cleansing from the impurities the physical body absorbed. Many people deem the afterlife as the initial phase leading towards a more permanent space for thriving.
For this reason, people often reevaluate their life when someone close to them dies. In some cases, they go on their personal journey of cleansing, getting rid of habits, attitudes, and baggage that pollute their lives.
Death Symbolizes Opportunities
There are two ways to look into the afterlife. First, there’s the belief that what awaits them are opportunities to live a heavenly life. Then, there’s the opposite, where suffering is endless.
However, despite the strong religious claims that these scenarios are authentic, only one thing is sure, the unknown remains an unknown.
But since nobody knows what happens after death, people also associate it with opportunities. In some cases, when a person dies, several opportunities for the surviving friends and families present themselves, such as reconciliation and reconnection.
Death Symbolizes Rebirth
It may sound contradictory, but death can also symbolize life. Just as the rainbow symbolizes the end of the storm, death can symbolize the end of the old life and bringing in the new.
Many believe that after a person dies, another life is waiting for them to live. Whether it’s a better or worse version of the life they used to have is a mystery.
Moreover, the concept of letting old habits die so you can live anew remains true for people seeking rebirth within their lifetime.
Symbolism of Death in Religion
The concept of death has different takes as far as religion goes. However, while various religious beliefs present different core faith, historical characters, and traditions, the idea of life and death falling on the same thread has been a common denominator.
Here’s how death is perceived in various religions.
Death Meaning in Christianity
The death and resurrection of Jesus Christ have been the most prominent teaching among Christians.
The Bible verse John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, the whoever believed in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” This is the core of the Christian belief. It is understood that the death of Christ symbolizes the ultimate gift of God, which is an everlasting life for those who are faithful.
Furthermore, it is suggested that death is not permanent. When Jesus was on the cross, and one of the thieves asked for redemption, He hinted that he was coming with Him to paradise. With that, the idea of a better afterlife or heaven has been sealed among Christians.
Death Meaning in Judaism
Although the pain of death is undeniable, Jews are taught to see it as a beautiful moment of transition.
The Jewish faith inculcates the immortality of the soul and the eventual decay of the physical human form. That is to say, death is a natural process.
They also believe that those who have lived a good life are rewarded.
In terms of mourning tradition, Jews recognize the weight of emotions coming with the death of a loved one. As a result, the practices revolve around respecting the dead and comforting the surviving family.
Death Meaning in Islam
Islam believers have the same view about death. It is the ultimate cleansing involving the separation of the soul from the body. They also believe in the afterlife, with Allah deciding who will be rewarded with heavenly life and those going to hell for punishment.
Death Meaning in Buddhism
The idea of life and death as a cycle is central to the Buddhist faith. Instead of an afterlife, believers embrace the concept of reincarnation.
In this sense, if a person dies, the soul will be reborn into another body. However, the kind of life you will live when you’re reincarnated depends on how worthy you have lived.
Omens of Death
Death is a strong image that can sometimes present itself before the event occurs. They manifest in the form of bad omens.
Around the world, omens for misfortune, in general, have been established. Here are some of the most well-known warnings for death.
- Crows
Many cultures believe crows are messengers from the underworld. Therefore, seeing at least five crows in a row communicates a grave illness or death.
- Headless Photo
During the Victorian era, when photography was still in its primitive form, it was not uncommon to see photos with people having vague or completely losing their heads. From then on, a headless photo was taken as a sign of death or a monumental misfortune for the person in question.
- Doppelganger
Doppelgangers are apparitions of living individuals. They are sometimes referred to as evil twins. Seeing your own or someone else’s doppelganger is a sign of imminent death.
- Black Cat
Many folklore traditions refer to the black cat as the ultimate bad omen for many unfortunate events, including death. For instance, German people believe that if a black cat sits near a sick person, it brings the message of a fast-approaching death.
Dream Meaning of Death
Seeing death in your dream is not uncommon and brings different messages depending on the context of the dream. In most cases, if you dream of someone dying, the implication is not literal.
- Dead Body
Dreaming of a dead body could mean struggling to let go of a specific aspect of your life. A corpse is bound to be buried, and a part of you refuses to do just that.
- Pets or Plants Dying
Seeing a pet or plant die in your dreams may suggest that you have been neglecting someone in your life. It’s a reminder to pay more attention.
- Your Death
If your dream shows your death, it’s a sign that you are saying goodbye to a crucial part of your life. It symbolizes your growth and desire to move on from loss, hurt, or negative experiences.
- Violent Death
Witnessing a violent death in your dream could suggest that you resist a crucial change in your life.
Summary
It’s hard to believe that death can be a beautiful thing without sounding creepy. But looking into the depths of death and its beautiful symbolism can comfort many people. Seeing death as the god of chance lets a little light of hope to those who fear the unknown that the afterlife represents.