"Made of Grace and a Wisp of Stars": A Reflection on Life, Death, and Remembering Who We Are
A song by Gary Malkin has a line that has always resonated deeply with me: "We are made of grace, and a wisp of stars, do you remember who you are?"
To me, this speaks to a profound truth. "Grace" comes from a higher essence, and the "wisp of stars" highlights our connection to the cosmos—again, something greater than ourselves. I believe that our souls come from this greater spirit. But the song’s question lingers: Do we remember who we are and where we come from?
Our understanding of where life begins and ends varies dramatically across cultures. Reflecting on this, I find beauty in all perspectives and don't hold a "mono-belief" that there is only one way. I've encountered three major worldviews:
The Christian View: We are created by God in Heaven and sent to Earth. When we die, our souls are judged and return to an eternal Heaven or are sent to Hell.
The Animistic View: Our spirits come from a larger collective spirit. When we die, we return to that collective, only to be reincarnated into another life form to continue our soul's growth.
The Atheistic View: Nothing happens when we die. Our bodies are simply dead, and that is the end.
Creating my own understanding of birth, death, and the afterlife is deeply important to me. I engage in practices like prayer, meditation, dreamwork, and even communication with loved ones who have passed to help me truly understand who I am.
These are not just abstract beliefs for me; they are felt experiences. I know that spirits are around me—I've felt their presence and even seen them. I know that there is a God because when I pray, I feel the changes in my body and my spirit. My perspectives are constantly learning and growing as I gain new information, and I know my age and life experiences continue to shape how I connect with the concepts of aging and dying.
While I have been fortunate enough to not have experienced extreme loss, I have worked with many clients who have. As a therapist, I often draw on transpersonal approaches to help my clients shift their grief and find hope. A key part of this is helping them find their own unique ways to cultivate a continuing relationship with the deceased loved one.
This looks different for everyone, but some of the beautiful practices clients have chosen include:
Communicating with their loved one in an imaginary world during a meditative state.
Carrying a personal belonging of the person so they can feel their energy and presence.
Looking for signs of their loved one in the environment, like a favorite flower, a specific animal, or hearing a special song.
https://soundcloud.com/garymalkinmusic/do-you-remember-who-you-are
