The Secrets Behind Death and Reincarnation – What Happens After Death?
This article about the mysteries of death and rebirth answers these key questions: Do we have concrete evidence of reincarnation? Should we fear death? Do hell, the devil, and fallen angels really exist? What happens at the moment of death? What challenges do we face when we die? What are ghosts? Is it possible to communicate with the dead? What is poltergeist?
I regularly receive inquiries about what awaits us after death. As a practicing shaman, my role is to guide people in understanding and appreciating nature’s power, both in their surroundings and their inner world, while helping them live in harmony with their spiritual heritage. In the shamanic worldview, everything that exists – from the smallest stones to the mightiest trees, from brooks to oceans – is animated and filled with life from the universal creative force.
Part of my work as a shaman involves helping souls enter this world and supporting them in their transition when their time in physical form comes to an end.
Unfortunately, there are many misunderstandings, drama, and fear surrounding death and reincarnation – especially in religion and the modern esoteric market. Nevertheless, this is knowledge that all humans should possess, as understanding the cycle of life and death gives us a deeper insight into why we are here and how we can face the transition without fear.
Life, Death, and Reincarnation from a Linear Perspective
In this article, we explore life, death, and reincarnation from a linear perspective – a perspective that enables the intellect to understand and relate to the subject in a concrete way. However, in the deeper spiritual reality, neither time, life, death, nor reincarnation exist as we commonly perceive them.
Our entire existence unfolds simultaneously across an infinite number of parallel existences. The experience of beginning and end, birth and death, is truly an illusion and dream – a symbolic theater that your soul creates to learn and experience, which you perceive as yourself and material reality within the constraints of time and space. More about the actual structure behind reality can be found in my article series on the Primordial Shamanic Path to Unity and Spiritual Enlightenment.
The aim of this article is to provide a clear and grounded introduction to life, death, and rebirth from a linear perspective. For more in-depth information, please refer to the online course The Soul’s Incredible Journey Through Life, Death and Incarnations, which is part of the online program Awaken Your Inner Primordial-Shaman (coming soon).
My First Experience
Shortly after beginning my shamanic training in 2004, I became involved in a remarkable incident at an acquaintance’s home. The family was experiencing significant disturbances at night – both children and parents were deeply affected by fear. They heard distinct footsteps in the attic, doors and windows slamming without explanation, and a heavy, uncomfortable atmosphere pervaded the entire house. The fact that their home was located right next to a cemetery didn’t help matters…
Through word of mouth, they had learned that I was training to become a shaman, and they sought my help. As a novice, I was uncertain and humble – I had never dealt with poltergeist phenomena before – but my teacher at the time provided me with clear and detailed instructions on what to do.
As a civil engineer who had just taken his first steps into the world of shamanism, I was naturally filled with skepticism, anxiety, and a feeling of walking on very thin ice. Venturing into a dimension I had no practical experience with was an enormous challenge. Nevertheless, I dedicated an entire day to shamanic rituals and thorough energy work to restore balance to the home.
I followed my teacher’s instructions meticulously, but couldn’t shake off the doubt about whether any of this had actually made a difference…
The next morning, my acquaintance called – exhilarated and almost ecstatic. She shared that for the first time in a very long time, the entire family had slept through the night without a single disturbance. All the banging, creaking, and unrest had completely vanished. A peaceful, tranquil atmosphere had replaced the heavy energy, and the children were noticeably more relaxed. All the unsettling phenomena had disappeared without a trace.
Research on Reincarnation
There exists extensive indirect evidence supporting the theory of reincarnation. This research continues actively at academic institutions worldwide. The University of Virginia School of Medicine in the USA stands out as the most prominent research institution in the field of reincarnation and rebirth. At the faculty’s The Division of Perceptual Studies (DOPS), established by Professor Dr. Ian Stevenson in 1967, thorough studies of paranormal phenomena are conducted.
One of their most intriguing research areas involves studying young children who claim to remember past lives. These children often provide detailed descriptions of their previous lives, including specific information about residences, career choices, family relationships, and other personal aspects. Most remarkably, neither the children nor their current families have any basis for constructing these complex narratives. The research team at the University of Virginia travels extensively to document these accounts, conducting thorough investigations to verify the accuracy of the children’s claims.
Based on their comprehensive research, the scientists conclude that there is significant scientific evidence supporting the existence of multiple lives. For those interested in delving deeper into the subject, their website offers a rich collection of research materials, including video documentation, in-depth interviews, publications, and extensive research data.
From the perspective of reality where our existence comprises infinite parallel lives unfolding simultaneously, such research findings can be interpreted differently: Some individuals maintain stronger connections to some of their parallel selves – existences perceived as lying “behind” or “ahead” of them on the timeline. This resonance enables memories, experiences, and life images to penetrate the veil between parallel existences and manifest as past (or future) lives.
See also podcast Episode 17 What Happens When We Die? A Shamanic Exploration of Death, Life, and the Soul’s Journey (coming soon)
Is Death Something to Fear?
One of our greatest challenges when facing death is the deep, often irrational fear many people carry. This fear can create significant complications during the transition phase between life and death. For over two thousand years, various religious institutions – particularly the Christian church – have contributed to intensifying this fear through concepts like hell, the devil, fallen angels, and demonic entities.
These ideas primarily function as psychological control mechanisms based on fear and have no foundation in actual reality! As an absurd side note, the Catholics’ pre-hell (yes, they had a pre-hell one had to pass through before reaching the actual hell) was abolished by the Pope a few years ago when it was deemed no longer relevant for our times!
Many are surprised when I point out that most people – regardless of religious affiliation – carry a deep, inherent fear of what happens after death. Even individuals who claim to have no religious beliefs are unconsciously influenced through culture, media, films, and symbolism that continuously reinforce these age-old beliefs. Additionally, some of this fear is transmitted through epigenetic mechanisms and our own biological lineage.
A simple method to uncover the intensity of this fear is through kinesiology tests from applied kinesiology. Such tests often reveal that our subconscious remains trapped in old belief patterns we’ve been exposed to since childhood. I have yet to encounter someone completely free from death-related fear.
However, death itself is nothing to fear. Death is a natural transition to another form of existence for the soul – a transition we have undergone countless times before. The real challenge arises when we face death with fear. This fear can disrupt the transition and, in worst cases, create a self-constructed “hell” in the intermediate state known as Bardo.
We will return to this topic later in the article.
Hell, the Devil, and Fallen Angels
The concepts of hell, the devil, and fallen angels exist primarily in the human mind. There are no “evil angels.” Angels’ role is to assist and support humanity – always respecting our free will. Throughout my years as a professional shaman, I have never encountered, nor heard credible descriptions of, angels, light beings, or power animals with intentions to harm.
What I do have extensive experience with, however, is encountering individuals who have become stuck in the intermediate state (Bardo) after their death, and who from this level can create disturbances for the living. These are often described as ghosts, “evil spirits,” or poltergeist phenomena.
The universe also contains beings that may appear frightening to us. However, the truth is that this fear is mutual: we appear just as foreign and threatening to them. When different races meet on the astral plane, their fundamental differences can create unease – especially if one isn’t trained in interacting with beings that are fundamentally different from us.
This is one of the main reasons why one should never astral travel carelessly or spontaneously to unfamiliar places. Exploration of unknown dimensions should always be conducted under the safe guidance of an experienced shamanic teacher with solid expertise and understanding of these realms.
How to Heal Fear
Healing fear is one of the most significant actions you can take for your existence, your soul, and your life path – and to avoid challenges that may arise before, during, and after death. No other forces create such substantial obstacles in life, or in the transition phases between lives, as fear and anxiety.
For all those seeking spiritual growth and desiring a deeper connection with their soul and life plan, healing fear is absolutely crucial. The more we allow ourselves to be governed by fear, the further we move away from love and the heart – the soul’s clear gateway into this world.
A shaman, healer, teacher, or guide who carries significant fear themselves will always be limited in their ability to help others. Fear – conscious or unconscious – creates disharmony, and this disharmony inevitably transfers to the people we work with. Even the most positive intention can create imbalance if fear remains unresolved in the background.
Therefore, healing fear should be at the top of the priority list for anyone seeking a harmonious, powerful, and meaningful life.
There are numerous effective methods for releasing fear. Personally, I utilize techniques taught in Change Your Life in 90 Days! and Awaken Your Inner Primordial Shaman, which can quickly eliminate fear responses stored in the subconscious – such as arachnophobia, fear of heights, or dental anxiety – often within minutes. These methods are accessible and learnable for everyone.
The most fundamental and deep-rooted source of all human fear – the primal fear – is one of the core themes we work extensively to heal in the basic training program at Yggdrasil Shamanic School.
For more insights, listen to my podcast Episode 15 Death Anxiety and Fear of Death – When Everything Falls Apart and the Soul Demands Change: How to Return to Life and Episode 16 Primal Anxiety, Fear Shamanism, and the Nervous System – How to Find Safety Within Yourself. (coming soon)
What Happens When We Die?
In the days – and sometimes weeks – before a natural death approaches, the soul and energy system gradually begin to withdraw from the physical world. This can be clearly observed in the dying person’s light body and eyes, which slowly lose their bright glow and vital radiance, appearing instead more subdued and withdrawn.
During this phase, one can often sense the presence of death angels – large, luminous beings who bring with them a remarkable peace and silence. Their presence is never threatening. On the contrary: the death angels’ task is to support, protect, and safely guide the soul from material existence into the first phase after death, the temporary intermediate state called Bardo.
The Intermediate Realm of Bardo
The term Bardo originates from the Tibetan Book of the Dead Bardo Tödröl – where Bardo means “the temporary” and Tödröl means “liberation.” The title can be translated as “liberation through listening in the intermediate state.”
When death occurs, the soul – along with parts of the energy system from physical life – is accompanied by death angels into the intermediate realm. In this temporary state, the soul’s primary task is to process, understand, and reconcile with its actions and experiences from the incarnation that has just ended.
This integration phase typically lasts from several weeks to two-three months but can become significantly longer in cases where the soul carries intense fear or particular karmic burdens.
It is entirely possible to communicate with souls in Bardo – and they can also communicate with us when conditions are favorable. Once the process of acceptance and integration is complete, the soul can turn again to the death angels, who then guide it further on the final stage of the journey toward the Realm of Light and the next life.
The Realm of Light
In the Realm of Light, we reunite with our soul, our soul family members, and our spiritual guides. Here, the soul engages in a profound planning process together with selected members of its soul family and special light beings who serve as guides. Together, they design the blueprint for our next incarnation: the learning experiences we will undergo, the challenges we will face, and the life path that best supports our current phase in the incarnation cycle.
When the time is ripe for a new incarnation/dream, the soul consciously seeks the setting that will best support its purpose and learning tasks in the upcoming life. In other words: as souls, we choose our parents. This choice is often guided by our karmic flow in relation to the soul’s learning themes and our meta-incarnation cycle See my podcast episode 9 – What Does Your Soul Really Want, Why Is It Here, and How Do You Find Your Life Mission? (coming soon)
Challenges Related to Bardo
The greatest challenge at the moment of death is the fear of the unknown. When this fear dominates, the soul can become “trapped” in Bardo and create its own anxiety-filled state – a self-constructed hell shaped by unresolved conflicts, grief, and unprocessed life experiences. If one avoids confronting what is happening in the present moment, or what has occurred in the life being left behind, the soul may remain in a kind of timeless paralysis in the intermediate realm.
I have assisted souls who have been bound to Bardo for several decades – and in some cases much longer. Often, these souls attempt to seek out power places or locations with strong energy, hoping that someone with the right expertise can help them move forward.
When working with clients seeking support during the transition between life and death, I collaborate closely with death angels and the client’s own soul to ensure a peaceful and smooth transition. This is also why I recommend that every family has at least one well-trained shaman in their circle – someone who can safely welcome new souls and guide them forward when the time of transition approaches.
What are Ghosts?
Ghosts are, in essence, deceased individuals who remain in the Bardo state. Sometimes, people who die have difficulty letting go of their physical existence – an attachment that binds them to the material world longer than necessary.
The reasons for this can be numerous. Some cling to their homes, partners, or children. Others harbor a strong need to control their surviving loved ones or carry a deep fear that their beloved ones won’t manage without them. In some cases, the grief over losing their closest relatives becomes so intense that it prevents the soul from moving forward toward the Realm of Light.
I regularly meet clients who experience discomfort or unexplainable phenomena in their homes where deceased individuals still reside. In most cases, it’s sufficient for me to establish contact with the soul, explain that their time in the material world has ended, and show them why peace can only be found by letting go and moving forward. When they understand and accept this, I work with the death angels to safely guide them from Bardo to the Realm of Light.
However, sometimes I encounter souls who adamantly refuse to move forward – regardless of how much understanding and guidance they receive. In such situations, I employ specialized shamanic tools to dissolve the bond between the soul and the material world, allowing both the living and the dead to find peace.
Can We Talk to the Dead?
As long as a departed soul remains in the transitional state of Bardo, communication is possible – provided one has the proper training and experience. However, a crucial question must always be asked: Why do we truly wish to contact the deceased? Wouldn’t it be more compassionate to grant them the peace they need to complete their journey and transition to the Realm of Light, where they can find true rest and tranquility?
The stronger our emotional need to hold onto those who have passed, the more challenging we make their transition. When the deceased witness our grief and pain, it can be so overwhelming for them that they choose to remain behind in an attempt to comfort and support us – even though they no longer have the ability to ease our suffering. The grieving process is ours to bear, and no departed soul can complete it for us.
It’s crucial to understand that their time in the physical world has concluded, and our inability to let go can prevent them from moving forward. Even when death comes suddenly or under traumatic circumstances, we must undergo our own grieving process – an inner journey that fundamentally involves letting go – so that both we and the departed can be liberated. Only then can the soul conclude its stay in Bardo.
In my work helping clients through the transition from physical life to the Realm of Light, often the greatest challenge isn’t the soul’s transition itself – but supporting the bereaved in releasing their grip in a loving way.
Therefore, it deeply saddens me when I hear stories of people who, years after a death, maintain contact with the deceased and wear it as a badge of honor. What the dead truly need is not attention or curiosity – but an experienced shaman who can guide them to the Realm of Light, where they can finally find peace.
Our Relationship with Death
Death is a natural and inevitable transition – a transformation from one state of existence to another – that all living beings on Earth experience time and time again. When we learn to accept and understand the many facets of death, we simultaneously open ourselves to the deeper wisdom behind change and transformation. This insight can enrich all aspects of life – from how we face grief to how we navigate through major shifts and life changes.
See also my podcast episode 10 – Gaia: The Soul’s Elite University – A Deep Conversation About Life as the Soul’s Training Ground and episode 11 – Soulmates, Soul Family, Karmic Relationships and the Great Misunderstanding About Twin Souls (coming soon)
Here you’ll find an overview of all my published articles about shamanism.
