Beautiful. Who knew physicists could be so poetic!
I never believed so strongly in a spiritual afterward until after my mom died. Since then I've had so much confirmation that she is still close by - I am positive there is an After for us all.
But as for how microwave popcorn works? I've got no effing clue either.
I love the phrase "spiritual afterward" - beautiful! I'm glad I'm not the only one who's connected deeper with the spiritual in my loss. And also good to know I'm not the only one who ponders the microwave popcorn.
Oh Miranda, I LOVE this! I agree that a physicist needs to speak at every funeral! Very early on, after my partner passed away, I heard Martha Beck on Sarah Wilson's podcast. Sarah often asks her guests "What is left if we lose it all?" Martha's response was "Everything!" She referred to quantum physics and said that energy can't be destroyed. It just changes form, transmutes. This gave me so much solace. My partner isn't gone. He continues to exist in our universe in another form and I feel his energy all the time. Reading your post was a double confirmation!
I have since been reading a book called "A Universe from Nothing- Why There is Something Rather than Nothing" by Lawrence M. Krauss. I don't understand everything that is written but I take great solace from it.
I also find the wisdom of Thich Nhat Hanh very helpful. I found one of his mini "How to" books called "How to Smile" while I was in the US for my partner's funeral and happened to flip to a page that was most relevant, titled: Like a Cloud. I will share it with you below:
"While your loved one is still alive and there with you, be aware that they are like a cloud. You, too, are like a cloud and are not entirely in this body, because every day you produce thoughts, speech, and actions which continue independently of you; they are your continuation. Even when the cloud is still in the sky, we can see its continuation- as rain, snow or hail. We must meditate to see that we are not only in our body, but we are also outside of it. I can see myself not only in this body, but also in my friends, my disciples, my work, in many things. If you want to recognise me, don't look in this direction; this body is only a small part of me."
"I will continue to be.
But you have to be very careful to see me.
I will be a flower, a leaf, or a cloud.
I will be in those forms and send you a greeting.
If you are aware enough, you will recognize me,
And you will be smiling at me.
I will be very happy."
Thank you, Miranda. I will be thinking of the photons that have been forever changed by my partner's smile and existence. xx
I appreciate you taking the time to share these sources of solace. I'm going to look up both of these books.
I love the page of wisdom you shared as well. I love thinking about that observing self part of ourselves, and thinking that that can't be destroyed. It's all still here.
You reminded me that I took a lot of comfort reading "Astrophysics for People in a Hurry" by Neil deGrasse Tyson. Similarly to like you mentioned, some things went over my head, but I did find comfort reading the facts on the universe and zooming out to that scale.
I'm glad that this resonated with you and am looking forward to reading further!
Beautiful. Who knew physicists could be so poetic!
I never believed so strongly in a spiritual afterward until after my mom died. Since then I've had so much confirmation that she is still close by - I am positive there is an After for us all.
But as for how microwave popcorn works? I've got no effing clue either.
Thanks for reading and sharing this, Christie!
I love the phrase "spiritual afterward" - beautiful! I'm glad I'm not the only one who's connected deeper with the spiritual in my loss. And also good to know I'm not the only one who ponders the microwave popcorn.
Oh Miranda, I LOVE this! I agree that a physicist needs to speak at every funeral! Very early on, after my partner passed away, I heard Martha Beck on Sarah Wilson's podcast. Sarah often asks her guests "What is left if we lose it all?" Martha's response was "Everything!" She referred to quantum physics and said that energy can't be destroyed. It just changes form, transmutes. This gave me so much solace. My partner isn't gone. He continues to exist in our universe in another form and I feel his energy all the time. Reading your post was a double confirmation!
I have since been reading a book called "A Universe from Nothing- Why There is Something Rather than Nothing" by Lawrence M. Krauss. I don't understand everything that is written but I take great solace from it.
I also find the wisdom of Thich Nhat Hanh very helpful. I found one of his mini "How to" books called "How to Smile" while I was in the US for my partner's funeral and happened to flip to a page that was most relevant, titled: Like a Cloud. I will share it with you below:
"While your loved one is still alive and there with you, be aware that they are like a cloud. You, too, are like a cloud and are not entirely in this body, because every day you produce thoughts, speech, and actions which continue independently of you; they are your continuation. Even when the cloud is still in the sky, we can see its continuation- as rain, snow or hail. We must meditate to see that we are not only in our body, but we are also outside of it. I can see myself not only in this body, but also in my friends, my disciples, my work, in many things. If you want to recognise me, don't look in this direction; this body is only a small part of me."
"I will continue to be.
But you have to be very careful to see me.
I will be a flower, a leaf, or a cloud.
I will be in those forms and send you a greeting.
If you are aware enough, you will recognize me,
And you will be smiling at me.
I will be very happy."
Thank you, Miranda. I will be thinking of the photons that have been forever changed by my partner's smile and existence. xx
Thank you so much for sharing all of this, Kei!
I appreciate you taking the time to share these sources of solace. I'm going to look up both of these books.
I love the page of wisdom you shared as well. I love thinking about that observing self part of ourselves, and thinking that that can't be destroyed. It's all still here.
You reminded me that I took a lot of comfort reading "Astrophysics for People in a Hurry" by Neil deGrasse Tyson. Similarly to like you mentioned, some things went over my head, but I did find comfort reading the facts on the universe and zooming out to that scale.
I'm glad that this resonated with you and am looking forward to reading further!