The Tibetan Book of the Dead divides the process of dying into four stages. The first stage is known as “earth sinking into water”. During this stage the whole body is overcome by weakness and helplessness, and the limbs become limp. Sight is no longer clear and you see blurred images. You stop distinguishing reality and begin to see spirits. You may feel as though you are falling or floating, or even hanging weightless, and it can feel as if pressure is crushing you. The second stage is called “water sinking into fire”. It seems to you that it is dark one moment and very hot the next, and your thoughts wander as if you were about to fall asleep. A very strong thirst and a dry throat may appear, along with a loss of sensation and orientation. The third stage is called “fire sinking into air”. This is when a person feels as though their body is breaking up into tiny particles. Sparks of light appear behind the eyelids. Breathing becomes difficult and the body grows colder and colder, yet you sense that you could leave your body and feel a great sense of freedom. The fourth stage is called “air dissolving into ether”. In this stage the soul leaves the body, and the person watches in amazement their own form, no longer material but made of energy.
First published (Polish original): 23 November 2009. Written by astrologers and esoteric specialists working with our editorial team; edited and translated for HOROSCOP.SPACE. © All rights reserved.
