Tag Archives: Rite of Passage

“If there’s one thing I have noticed time and again, it’s that death and dying has a way of breaking down barriers, allowing us to find common ground in our humanity.”

- Caleb Wilde
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Annang Funeral Tradition as Rite of Passage

The Annang people of Nigeria understand "good death" as transition to status of ancestor

The Annang people of Southeastern Nigeria consider death to be natural only when someone dies of old age, according to Dominic Umoh, Ph.D., a lecturer at the University of Agriculture in Makurd, Nigeria. If someone dies young from disease or … Continue reading

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”The Ultimate Journey” by Stanislav Grof, M.D.

Psychedelics-inspired overview of cross-cultural perspectives on death and the afterlife lends insight into human consciousness

What do psychedelic substances, rights of passage and fear of death have in common? A lot, according to Stanislav Grof, M.D. Grof is the author of “The Ultimate Journey: Consciousness and the Mystery of Death.” He has served as Chief … Continue reading

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Chanting Akal as a Soul Passage Rite

In the Sikh tradition, the mantra Akal is often chanted after death to help the soul achieve union with universal consciousness

In the Sikh tradition and in the larger global yogic community, the Gurbani mantra Akal is often chanted as someone’s body finishes the dying process, as well as for 17 days following physical death. Akal means “deathless” or “undying,” and … Continue reading

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“Wake Me Up When September Ends” by Green Day

This mournful song acts as a reminder to cherish our loved ones while we have them

The iconic modern-punk band Green Day is no stranger to writing and performing mournful and nostalgic ballads. As we’ve seen before, their early song, “Good Riddance (Time of Your Life),” has served as an inspiration to many who play it … Continue reading

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