SUICIDE AND SPIRIT

I find this an incredibly difficult and sensitive subject to write about as mental health and suicide can be driven by so many societal, medical and psychological factors that I'm not qualified in any way to talk about. So, I must say from the outset that if you are impacted by any such health issues that you do seek professional help. Whatever the drivers for such thoughts I do believe, however, that spirituality cuts through all of them and can provide support to all those whether directly or indirectly impacted.

I write this based on my own spirituality experiences but also the experiences written about by others and far more experienced.

My own experiences stem from those in Spirit who did end their lives and have connected through mediumship to loved ones. First and foremost, you must accept the evidence that mediumship provides of life after death. Otherwise these are just words. For me this is the purpose of mediumship, because with that knowing, not just believing, of life after death then flows all the healing, hope and meaning we need to get through this life. Every connection I have had when a message is given from those in Spirit who have had a hand in their own passing follow the same pattern. First, the evidence of who they are, then comes the feeling of their emotional state prior to death. From this it can be obvious about the passing condition. Sometimes images are provided by Spirit but rarely is this needed or wanted by the recipient and would be very unprofessional to expand upon, especially in public.

Then the magic happens. In every case, immediately the recipient accepts the identity of the person and nature of passing the spirit person always dramatically changes their feelings they give. Usually there is remorse for the hurt caused followed by thanks for any help and love that was given. Attending my very first circle, years ago, the first ever communicator that came through for me was a friend who had committed suicide just two weeks previously and wanted to thank me for my efforts to help him. That probably convinced me to stay in circle. Finally, a reassurance is usually given that the person in spirit is no longer suffering. This gives comfort to the recipient which the communicator is usually most concerned about. Small acts of kindness are often referred to and given thanks for, even if just a passing friend many years previously. I have not had a case that has gone on to explain what the spirit person must now go through in the spirit world following their premature passing. I believe that is because it would not be appropriate or healing at that moment to the recipient. Experiences of many mediums are readily available and would recommend for example TJ Higgs book “True Spirit”.

To go deeper into what happens in the spirit world to those who take their own lives we must dig into the teachings of spirituality, whether from a religious or just a way of life viewpoint. There is some difference in how the different belief systems of all religions talk about suicide compared with Spiritualism. All say it is wrong, usually explained as God has given us this life and we have no right to end it. All refer to a process that all must go through when passing back into spirit. The main religions talk about punishment, banishment, and Hell being thrown at the poor individual. In Spiritualism the belief is in retribution by self and not by some deity or devil. Nobody or entity judges you, only yourself. All souls want to progress that is why they incarnate in us as physical beings. We are given freewill to how we respond to the challenges and people that life gives. This gives us the experience and learnings we need to progress as souls. The retribution comes from self-realisation of all the bad things done but also from the challenges we could not face or learn from. I'm sure you have all met someone and thought them to be an old soul, as someone who just seems to have a calmness, caring and wisdom about them. They will have received much learning over their lifetimes.

From here I must bow to the teachings from others.

One source is Silver Birch. You cannot study Spiritualism without having read some of Silver Birch teachings. Silver Birch is the name given to a spirit control who came through a medium Maurice Barbanell while in trance. This started in the early 1920s and was regularly written about in public from when the Psychic News was founded in 1932. Maurice Barbanell was not on an ego trip or fame seeker as the identity of the trance medium was not disclosed until 1957. As a result, there are many scripts now in books of the dialogue given by Silver Birch about the spirit world. These scripts talk about all things spiritual, and particularly our purpose in life. I have looked at what Silver Birch had to say about suicide, and I am afraid it's not an easy read. Silver Birch describes the displeasure in the spirit world about suicide but not from a punishment or discipline view but from the lost opportunity of development. That we ourselves set our own experiences needed for our progress and will never give ourselves more than we can bear. Any regrets in the spirit world come from not taking the full experience from what we need to progress. That we must only repeat and live through those experiences if we are to progress.

There is no burning in Hell or Judgement Day that is conveniently used to scare the population into compliance. When the ending of life is to overcome incredible pain there appears to be sympathy and all life factors are acknowledged. Silver Birch often refers to the Natural Law that can never be broken. That is the Natural Laws of the universe and of life, while we are here and how we may progress. There is never a shortcut. This is the Cosmic Religion referred to by Albert Einstein

Reading Silver Birch comments for this article took me back to a book I read over 20 years ago and long before I became involved with Spiritualism. This book “Destiny of Souls” by Michael Newton is one of the most influential books to me that I have read. Maybe right book at right time as at that time I was not thoughtful about life or life after death. This book is basically Michael Newton's many client’s case histories, as a hypnotherapist who accidentally found some clients could be taken back to before their birth and into their existence between lives. The approach of using his client case histories and not just giving his views, struck me and has stayed with me ever since. So, I thought I would look into his cases where suicide had been in a prior life. The comments made by clients under hypnosis into their in-between physical lives are in line with the rather more blunt views given by Silver Birch. I'll quote directly from Michael Newton's case number 13 where suicide had taken place.

“I'm going to have to make some kind of......accounting.... of myself”

“There is no such thing as punishment, that's an Earth condition”

“I have to come back later and deal with the same thing all over again in a different life” 

“I had an agreement......”

“I'm more upset with myself over what I did - they do not humiliate us”

In general, Michael Newton comments on how those who had lived lives productively and caring returned to the spirit world with enthusiasm. In cases of a wasted life, or suicide, the return to spirit is described as going back rather dejected.

Perhaps this sums up life’s purpose here on earth. From friends that I have lost prematurely, and those who inspire me with their response to difficulties in life that dwarf anything I have, I can only say that once a person fills their lives with purpose, care and love then darkness cannot creep in. Humans wither on the vine of life without giving and receiving the care of others. If you give it will always be given back and there will be no room for darkness as your Soul will know you are fulfilling your life's purpose.

John Selby