The Moment Between Life and the Beyond

She turned to me as the credits began rolling on the screen above us. I quickly wiped away the stray tears that had fallen as my death date was left sitting on the projector. 

‘You ready?’ She asked gently, watching me. I hadn’t realized the theater had faded, and we now stood at what looked to be a train station. Back when I was alive this is not at all what I expected Death to be like. Not that I really expected much anyway…

      Death is the universal end. No matter who you are, you can’t outrun it. However, the personification of it varies from culture to culture. It can be a woman, a man, or nothing at all. Death is the sleeping agent following you through life waiting for the right moment to strike. 

      The first place I want to take you to is Ireland. Those from Irish descent view death as a headless horseman. Sound familiar? They call him The Dullahan. He holds his head in hand high searching for his next target, ready to call out the name of the next unlucky victim at any time. Once chosen, the horseman races towards them with such speed it’s said bushes catch fire as he passes. For anyone that may be caught in his path a pail of blood can be thrown marking them as the next victim; or even a quick strike from the whip he carries made of his own spine. 

      Next we go to Scotland where the WasherWomen reside. It is said that you can find her by a stream rinsing the blood out of the clothes of whoever is going to die next. A washerwoman is a woman who died during childbirth. Once dead, she becomes a washerwoman until the day she was naturally supposed to die. There are many myths connected to them. One says if you come between her and a stream she will grant you three wishes and must answer any three questions truthfully that you ask her. Washerwomen are also thought to be like banshees. They will gather at the home of the doomed and wake setting the fate of the dying. 

      In Norway there’s the Plague Hag. She was more the personification of the Plague, also known as Black Death. She is an old woman named Pesta who carries a rake or a broom. Depending on what she carried would be a warning of how many people would perish. If she had a rake many would die, but a broom everyone dies. However, she does show a little mercy. If someone is able to guess who she is and does so correctly they earn themself a quick death rather than a long suffering one. 

      Greek mythology offers a death of their own, Thanatos. Thanatos’ parents are Etebos (father of darkness) and Nyx (goddess of night). He also had a twin brother ,Hypnos (god of sleep). With his angelic appearance he collects the souls of those who died peacefully. 

      The Japanese believe that death comes in the form of a Shinigami. These supernatural spirits measure human lifespans with candles. As they extinguish, so does their lives. The candles of the wealthy and handsome burn the fastest. Some say that if you are sick you can see them sitting at the end of your bed waiting for you to worsen. However, you don’t need to fear them. Shinigami make sure that a person dies at the right time. When they do so they bring them to the afterlife. 

      In Judaism there is the Angel of Death. Created by God on the first day of creation he is death. One of the famous stories of the angel is in Exodus when he claims the first born of all those who didn’t put lambs blood above their door frames. Depicted he has twelve wings and is covered in eyes. When someone is about to die he will approach them with sword drawn. However, some say that if you confess some of your sins you can convince God to call him off and give you more time. 

      Finally we have the Grim Reaper. The cloaked dark figure appears carrying a scythe (reaping tool). Created ,like Pesta, during the plague in the 14th century. Sometimes he is even pictured riding on the back of a white horse like the fourth bourse man of the apocalypse. You can even find the Grim Reaper on the death card in the Rider Waite Tarot Deck and many more.  

      No matter what you believe Death is always lurking around the corner. Whether it finds you unexpectedly or waiting patiently to be brought to the great beyond it will come. Don’t fear it so much; but look at it as the next great adventure.