‘The stars are our ancestors, as is the earth, the wind, the air, the fire, the sun, the moon, and the rain, and the burst of initial energy that sparked our world into being’. Thank you, Eden, so much for this beautiful post, and for this reminder in particular. Tracing our ancestry back to stars! I love the perspective this brings, and also the connectedness. Your reasons for fearing death resonated with me, too. I was diagnosed with stage one cancer a couple of years ago, and one of my biggest fears was ‘no! I have things to do! Books to write!’ So I’ve been working really hard since to get my novel finished, and do the things I’ve always dreamed of doing. I was luckily given the all clear from the cancer after surgeries, so here’s hoping for many books and many adventures Sophie x
Hi Sophie, just seeing this beautiful comment. Thanks for sharing your story and for reading, and here's to many more adventures, lots more writing and doing what we love, and also just loving the world in all its transience and beauty :)
your reflections on death and our connection to the ancestors echo something I’ve been exploring—the idea that everything we create is woven from the living energy of those who came before us. When you say we’re “living, walking transmutations,” I feel that deeply. We’re not just individuals with a single lifespan; we’re threads in a massive, ancient tapestry, connected to elements, stars, and spirits that continue in us.
Your challenge to “write like it’s your last day” is powerful because it calls us to be honest, to let the rawness of life and death be seen in our words. I believe this is where our true creative power lies—not in polish but in showing up cohesive, even if unpolished, as part of the larger web. In that way, our work becomes a kind of soul offering, a piece of the vast network that outlives us.
Thank you for this invitation to write from that place. It’s a reminder that what we put out into the world is part of an ancient lineage of thought, spirit, and transformation, carrying our voices forward into something greater.
“(…) death may be a warm absorption back into the loving arms of cosmic union.” — I feel this way too; it’s soothing
Thank you for sharing your reflections on death. I can relate a lot to your relationship with your grandma (I think we connected about it already in one of the comments :) ). And I’m sorry for your loss. Grandmas are, I believe, the bold and unapologetic embodiments of love so we can see what it means to be accepted and held unconditionally while we’re still alive.
Lastly, I’m glad that you don’t have that genetic condition you were suspected to have! Wishing you lots of health and courage to continue writing like you know you need to :)
Deep and thoughtful article, Eden, I really enjoyed reading it, on so many levels. Your Gran sounds like a lovely woman. After my mum died in 2006 I too wondered where she was. I heard a talk by a wise Brahmin priest, who has studied the writing in the Veda’s about death and the soul’s journey. His words helped me. He said that the soul remains in the realm of the ancestors for around a year after death, then moves on when the time is right. He also said, which I love, that souls incarnate in ‘family groups’, maintaining connection through lifetimes. I love this concept. So often in a family one soul leaves when another enters. He spoke bout the importance of remembering, and honouring our ancestors. I loved your references to the fish with legs and all the life that went before, of which we are a part. May we always stay rooted in earth with our heads in the sky and our hearts encompassing all. With love, Josie
This makes a lot of sense to me — we are definitely interwoven beyond the borders of life, and yet even so, nothing is permanent. and I love what you said about being rooted in the earth with our heads in the sky; it so important to stay connected to reality while wandering among the worlds, with love at the center of it all. And yes, Pink Floyd is my lifelong favorite band! Thanks for reading, and for this lovely and insightful comment!
Thank you for sharing so vulnerably, and I’m so sorry for your loss. I also lost my grandmother in 2020, and last night, during Día de los Muertos, she came to me in a dream with a very specific message.
Your insights here are very powerful, and it takes a special type of person to observe these moments of magic in the every day. Don’t deny the signs! 🤍
‘The stars are our ancestors, as is the earth, the wind, the air, the fire, the sun, the moon, and the rain, and the burst of initial energy that sparked our world into being’. Thank you, Eden, so much for this beautiful post, and for this reminder in particular. Tracing our ancestry back to stars! I love the perspective this brings, and also the connectedness. Your reasons for fearing death resonated with me, too. I was diagnosed with stage one cancer a couple of years ago, and one of my biggest fears was ‘no! I have things to do! Books to write!’ So I’ve been working really hard since to get my novel finished, and do the things I’ve always dreamed of doing. I was luckily given the all clear from the cancer after surgeries, so here’s hoping for many books and many adventures Sophie x
Hi Sophie, just seeing this beautiful comment. Thanks for sharing your story and for reading, and here's to many more adventures, lots more writing and doing what we love, and also just loving the world in all its transience and beauty :)
your reflections on death and our connection to the ancestors echo something I’ve been exploring—the idea that everything we create is woven from the living energy of those who came before us. When you say we’re “living, walking transmutations,” I feel that deeply. We’re not just individuals with a single lifespan; we’re threads in a massive, ancient tapestry, connected to elements, stars, and spirits that continue in us.
Your challenge to “write like it’s your last day” is powerful because it calls us to be honest, to let the rawness of life and death be seen in our words. I believe this is where our true creative power lies—not in polish but in showing up cohesive, even if unpolished, as part of the larger web. In that way, our work becomes a kind of soul offering, a piece of the vast network that outlives us.
Thank you for this invitation to write from that place. It’s a reminder that what we put out into the world is part of an ancient lineage of thought, spirit, and transformation, carrying our voices forward into something greater.
“(…) death may be a warm absorption back into the loving arms of cosmic union.” — I feel this way too; it’s soothing
Thank you for sharing your reflections on death. I can relate a lot to your relationship with your grandma (I think we connected about it already in one of the comments :) ). And I’m sorry for your loss. Grandmas are, I believe, the bold and unapologetic embodiments of love so we can see what it means to be accepted and held unconditionally while we’re still alive.
Lastly, I’m glad that you don’t have that genetic condition you were suspected to have! Wishing you lots of health and courage to continue writing like you know you need to :)
Ps, I love Pink Floyd!
Deep and thoughtful article, Eden, I really enjoyed reading it, on so many levels. Your Gran sounds like a lovely woman. After my mum died in 2006 I too wondered where she was. I heard a talk by a wise Brahmin priest, who has studied the writing in the Veda’s about death and the soul’s journey. His words helped me. He said that the soul remains in the realm of the ancestors for around a year after death, then moves on when the time is right. He also said, which I love, that souls incarnate in ‘family groups’, maintaining connection through lifetimes. I love this concept. So often in a family one soul leaves when another enters. He spoke bout the importance of remembering, and honouring our ancestors. I loved your references to the fish with legs and all the life that went before, of which we are a part. May we always stay rooted in earth with our heads in the sky and our hearts encompassing all. With love, Josie
This makes a lot of sense to me — we are definitely interwoven beyond the borders of life, and yet even so, nothing is permanent. and I love what you said about being rooted in the earth with our heads in the sky; it so important to stay connected to reality while wandering among the worlds, with love at the center of it all. And yes, Pink Floyd is my lifelong favorite band! Thanks for reading, and for this lovely and insightful comment!
So beautifully written, honey
Thank you for sharing so vulnerably, and I’m so sorry for your loss. I also lost my grandmother in 2020, and last night, during Día de los Muertos, she came to me in a dream with a very specific message.
Your insights here are very powerful, and it takes a special type of person to observe these moments of magic in the every day. Don’t deny the signs! 🤍
Oh wow, what a lovely synchronicity. Same to you — keep listening to the signs and thanks for sharing your own beautiful work!
Love this! Thank you for sharing
Thank you so much <3