Is there life after death? An equally puzzling question could be posed: What has happened before our life’s frame of reference and will happen after it? Some may assign great meaning to the various answers that questions such as these evoke, and some may not. My own take is that we cannot and will not know the true answer until we slip the bonds of this life, so our time and energy here are best spent ruminating on what we can do in the here and now.

Currently the evidence I have available to me suggests that there is not an afterlife in the traditional sense that humanity teaches. Biologically we can prove (as much as anything can be proved when there are few or no known absolutes) that the vast majority of our personality and individuality resides in the brain, and that brain activity eventually ceases upon death. My working hypothesis is that when death occurs, hypoxia in the brain causes increased neural activity and a massive hormone rush that speeds up perception in a way that produces the so-called near-death experience. We suspect that time is perceived relatively by different people in different situations, and I consider it likely that we can experience a seeming eternity in the window between death and the time brain activity ceases. Obviously this is subject to scientific verification and open to reinterpretation given further evidence.

Given this stance, the best way I’ve found to honor the memory of loved ones is to heed their wisdom and to act in ways that honor their memory. There are many and various ceremonies that pertain to this practice, such as Halloween or Día de los Muertos that we can take part in to remember and honor our departed loved ones. These need only have the spiritual implications that we place upon them, and can provide healing and joy to those who choose to celebrate them.

Similar to honoring the dead, the best way I’ve found to improve this life is to live it to the fullest. Live responsibly but don’t be too sparing when indulging yourself. Spend it improving life for others, as those who do the same may bring some joy to you in return.

If you’re a UU, please feel free to leave your thoughts on PeaceBang’s blog and link your comment here. If you’re not UU, please feel free to leave your thoughts here. I ask this only to keep her blog entry on-topic, and I ask that you respect the views and opinions of others even if you are diametrically opposed to them.

Among other cherished qualities of the Ivy Celtic tree astrology sign, most prized is your ability to overcome all odds. You have a sharp intellect, but more obvious is your compassion and loyalty to others. You have a giving nature, and are always there to lend a helping hand. You are born at a time of the waning sun so life can be difficult for you at times. This sometimes seems unfair because it appears that obstacles are coming at with no prompting on your part. Nevertheless, you endure troubling times with silent perseverance and soulful grace. Indeed, Ivy signs have a tendency to be deeply spiritual and cling to a deep-rooted faith that typically sees them trough adversity. You are soft spoken, but have a keen wit about you. You are charming, charismatic, and can effectively hold your own in most social settings. Ivy signs are attracted to the Celtic tree astology sign of Oak and Ash signs.

Celtic Tree Astrology

It too was covered with ages of dust and plant growth, but was recognizable nonetheless. There was another statue on one end of the dance floor that was in far worse condition. It had tendrils of stone coming off of it, climbing ever skyward, and seemed to have resembled something human at some time. I can’t recall for certain, but it seems as though some of the tendrils had broken off and continued to grow, giving them a layered appearance. There were other statues scattered around, but I can’t recall what any of the others looked like. Matter of fact, the whole city in my dream happened to be full of such buildings. I recall at other points in the dream regretting not having my camera to take pictures of it all. Strangely there was a feeling of sadness over it all, but it somehow felt right.

There was some time spent exploring the house, which was a strange cross between a Victorian mansion and an early 20th century farmhouse. I say this because there was a fairly modern toilet hidden beneath a staircase, but the rest of the house was filled with rich carpets and fine art you would expect to find in a mansion. The dream finally climaxed when I met up with three characters that some of you may also recognize:

I’m not sure how I realized it, but it seems I was carrying the the gems that belong on the foreheads of Urd, Belldandy, and Skuld. I recall it being a surprise, as though I had not recognized them in their human forms. I gave each their gem and was surrounded by light as they placed them to their foreheads. They went swirling through the air, rays of light shining out and feathers flying. When I opened my eyes, the hall was restored to its original condition. Marble tiles gleamed with polish as did perfect, smooth pillars of stone. Candles lit the entire hall with dancing flames. The statue that had fallen into such decay was restored, and turned out to be a dancer in mid-stride. I recall becoming distinctly aware at that point that there was something I was supposed to do in response to all this; something required to keep things this way, but it all started to fade away as I felt myself waking up to start a new day.

• I can live without you, no problem
• My love for you will definitely change
• You’re not everything I need
• I won’t always hold you close
• You and I aren’t one

There really isn’t much more I can add to this, so go check it out!

It seems to be a societal thing, this voluntary solitude. With the proliferation of the internet and nearly instantaneous communication with nearly any corner of the globe (I can IM my buddy in Iraq as though he’s across the street from my cell-phone) it’s as though people have forgotten the need to nurture their local communities. I can’t say I’m not guilty, of course, but I wonder where it will all end? Will we get to a point where everyone’s minds are linked in some massive neural network and nobody needs to actually talk anymore? It seems like the only people we really communicate with are those we encounter on a daily basis anyway (coworkers, fellow students, church and club members, etc.) and the art of striking up a conversation with a total stranger is lost.

I feel like I should be going out to the coffee shop and making some new friends, but I’d probably just weird people out because I’m a stranger trying to strike up a conversation with them. That and the internet’s more entertaining; and have you seen the price of coffee these days?

7 Reasons the 21st Century is Making You Miserable