In the Afterworld

Chapter 1

We came to the Afterworld.

When our silver chords detached, our souls floated away from our bodies. We floated up and came to the Afterworld.

There was no pain, no regrets, and no despair although we felt sadness for the ones we had to leave behind. We wished they could feel as free we did now.

We came from heat, ice, and storm to the Afterworld. We came from noise to quiet. We came from the pressure of time to an expanse of eternity. We went from then to the Now.

In the Afterworld shone an eternal sun. Under our feet was a soil fresh with the moisture and scent of gentle rain. Brushing over our new selves came a wind scented with pine and sea and sand, fresh and clean.

The Afterworld revealed itself to us: Fields, forests, mountains. Sky, wind, and dew. The trill of birds, the distant lowing of cattle, the bark of a dog who recognized someone. The soft murmurs of waves from a distant ocean.

Then came our Guides.

Down mountains, through fields of flowers, across streams they came. On foot, on bicycles, in boats. They came at a run over plains, they came in slow circling motions around the trees, they floated in purple crystal waters that sang O wonder O joy O love.

Our Guides came to greet us.

Chapter 2

As we arrived in the Afterworld, our Guides welcomed us.

They were old, they were young. They were fools, they were sages. They were strangers, they were friends.

But what is this place? we asked.

The Guides answered with a song:

This place you know

From oldest tales.

It is the end,

It is the start.

To here we return,

From there we journey.

We the Guides

Greet you, the departed--

Come join the flow.

But we don’t feel dead, we said. In fact, we feel rather good.

The Guides laughed and sang:

For death is only a door

The passage to life anew.

Here you have clarity

You lost over time.

Here you have the spark

You couldn’t feel.

Here you have the power

You forgot about before.

You seem casual about the matter, we said. Happy, even.

And you’re not? they asked.

When the Guides asked us that, we realized that we too, felt like laughing and singing. The burdens of life had left us, and we felt light and free.

That’s not possible, we said.

What is possible? responded the Guides. Is it what other people told you? Or is it what you told yourselves?

We paused to think about what we told ourselves during life and why we believed what someone else told us.

Would you know more? asked the Guides. Would you leave the known for the unknown only to find it’s been your home all along?

Your paradoxes confuse us, we said.

Then what will you do? they asked. Will you stand there, or will you move?

We looked at each other, all around us, and at the Guides. The memories began their trek back to us, like distant wanderers whose feet remembered the way home.

We have been here before, we said.

Many times, said the Guides. They sang:

From the soul ocean you rise

Back up to Earth’s green ways.

In each life you have lessons

In each time you will learn.

Then here you will return

To reflect and talk with us.

You may meet the Soul Fisher,

You can escape his net of sleep--

In this way you become wise.

Will you come with us, deeper into the Afterworld? asked the Guides. Will you come with us, deeper into your Selves?

We looked behind us. Earth was a tiny point. In front of us stretched the vast expanse of the Afterworld.

We’ll come with you, we told the Guides.

Chapter 3

One by one, we walked away from our group of souls, each of us with a Guide. We began to remember ourselves.

We were the old woman who died alone in her apartment. We were the reckless young man in the speeding car. We were the lonely soul on the precipice. We were the old man surrounded by the family who feared him.

We