The concept of the afterlife in Wicca is known to be diverse, individual, and personal. Wiccans typically believe in the concept of reincarnation, which is the belief that after death, the soul is reborn into a new body. This view is based on the belief in the cycles of nature and the idea that energy cannot be destroyed but rather transformed. Wiccans view death as a natural part of the cycle of life, and they do not fear it as many other religions do. They see it as a transition from one life to the next, similar to the changing of the seasons. The afterlife, therefore, is not seen as a final destination, but rather as a continuation of the soul's journey.
Wiccan Afterlife Beliefs
Wiccans believe that the physical body that we are currently occupying is just a host for our soul. After death, Wiccan’s believe that life continues and their soul travels to a realm that is referred to as Summerland (Cantrell, 2011).
In the literature, Summerland is described as a peaceful, paradise that is shaped by our own individual wants and desires. This is usually depicted by a beautiful land of eternal summer with beautiful rivers, and enchanting forests (Cantrell, 2011). Others see it as a non-physical realm, where the energy of many souls collects and interacts with one another (Chamberlain, 2014).
Unlike many other religions where there is a ‘Heaven’ or ‘Hell’ (heaven for the good, hell for the bad), Summerland welcomes everyone (Chamberlain, 2014).
In Summerland, the individuals soul is said to eventually participate in three things:
Reunion: I n Summerland our souls are said to be reunited with the souls of others who physical bodies have died and souls have traveled over. These can be the souls of our friends, family and even the gods and goddesses.
Reflection: R eflecting on ones past life, learning from lessons and attempting to understand which lessons still need to be learned in the next life.
Reincarnation: W hen the soul has learned what they need to and understand what lessons need to be learn and what accomplishments need to be achieved in the next life they can choose to either stay in Summerland for a while longer or to be reincarnated and continue on with their quest to perfect their soul. The length of stay in Summerland is up to the soul (Cunningham, 2007; Cantrell, 2011).
Reincarnation
Reincarnation is the belief that when someone dies that only their physical body is lost, but their soul lives on and is reborn into another body (Cunningham, 2007).
The goal of reincarnation is to perfect ones soul. And that one lifetime is not long enough in order to gain all the knowledge, wisdom, and experience in order to do so. So for that reason we live many lives where we are taught many lessons. Each life one step closer to perfection (Cunningham, 2007).
After the soul has accomplished its goal of perfection they are able to break the cycle of life and death and join the gods and goddesses for eternity (Cunningham, 2007).
Cantrell, G. (2011). Wiccan beliefs & practices: With ritual for solitaries & covens. St. Paul, MN: Llewellyn
Chamberlain, L. (2014). Wicca for beginners: A guide to the Wiccan beliefs, rituals, magic and witchcraft . Lexington, KY: Occult Shorts.
Cunningham, S., & Nightingale, K. (2007). Wicca: A guide for the solitary practitioner. St. Paul, Mn: Llewellyn Publications.
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Life after death means chance to heal, make amends
I get asked quite often what our beliefs are about death and the afterlife. Since we just left the season of death this past Ostara, now is a perfect time to go into depth as to what we, as Wiccans, believe the afterlife holds for us.
Before I get started, I will say that not every Wiccan and Pagan have the same concept of death; there are many different forms of paganism. There are some Pagans who do believe in the Abrahamic concept of heaven and hell after reincarnation. And there are Asatru-pagans who believe something more like the Norse concept of the afterlife, which would include Asgard, Valhalla and Helheim. So on and so on. These among others will be saved for a later time, because I am going to tell you the lore of the Summerlands.
In our beliefs, death is not something to be feared. In fact, we know it is inevitable and not eternal damnation. Death is a peaceful process that should be celebrated as a vital part of soul growth and treated as a sacred crossing.
Once we pass, the veil is lifted from our soul as dark space is cleared from our sight. This veil separates the physical, astral and spiritual realms. After we pass the gatekeeper, who determines if we are ready to cross over or not, we are then taken to the Summerlands, a place of neither good nor bad. Summerlands is described as the land of eternal summer solstice as is compared to the Fields of Eleusis, a place of paradise and relaxation to reflect on our life before. In crossing, we leave all physical aspects of our bodies behind; we have no name, no desire. We are our soul in its purest form, emotional and vulnerable. We can no longer hide in the shell which we call a body. We are greeted by those we have lost in the last life, our ancestors and those we know astrally through travel and flight. These greetings are of positive nature, tears of happiness, cheering, hugs. We are often held and comforted until the trauma of our physical passing has gone.
In common beliefs, Summerlands is where we walk with the god and goddess in their many forms. We are given a chance to make amends with the souls of those we have wronged or have been wronged by in the previous life, to come to terms with our mistakes and reflect on the lessons we were given to learn, as we are placed in a physical nature to learn and grow. During this time, we walk the path of what our own personal paradise would be until we are ready to move on. If we are given another reincarnation, our souls will stay in Summerlands until ready to cross back over into a physical existence — after we feel we have gotten the relaxation and resting period our souls need and deserve. This could either be back on Earth or another planet or dimension. After this, we are taken to our next life by either our loved ones or the Horned God. In some cases, we are sent through the well of souls if Earth is where our next life cycle will be.
If not given another reincarnation cycle, we are to either stay in Summerlands to help those after us cross over and live in eternal paradise or in some beliefs we are given the choice to return to wherever our soul calls home.
Another commonly asked question in relation to death is usually “What happens if someone does something horrific like murder or abuse? Is there a punishment?” Yes, in theory, it depends on how you as an individual looks at the concept. Going back to reflection on the previous life, you most always have to have some form of shadow work, facing your negative aspects, accepting and working through them, accepting yourself as a whole. Since Summerlands is neither good nor bad, emotions are what will create our afterlife. A good life will bring paradise in the beginning, whereas the guilt of wrongdoing will bring sorrow. But this is not eternal damnation. Remember, mistakes and self-inflicted trauma are not a bad thing; it’s all about processing and learning until you are able to do better.
Raven Ebonywing serves as the Microsoft Teams events coordinator for Aquarian Tabernacle Church International. She is a second-year student at Woolston-Steen Theological Seminary and student of Lady Belladonna Laveau. She also serves as the high priestess in the WISE tradition of Creation’s Grimoire Church of Wicca in Bentonville and is a member of the Benton County Interfaith Alliance. Email her at [email protected].
Pagans, Death and the Afterlife
Patti Wigington is a pagan author, educator, and licensed clergy. She is the author of Daily Spellbook for the Good Witch, Wicca Practical Magic and The Daily Spell Journal.
Updated on June 25, 2019For many modern Pagans, there is a somewhat different philosophy on death and dying than what is seen in the non-Pagan community. While non-Pagans see death as an ending, some Pagans view it as a beginning of the next phase of our existence. Perhaps it is because we view the cycle of birth and life and death and rebirth as something magical and spiritual, a never-ending, ever turning wheel. Rather than being disconnected from death and dying, we tend to acknowledge it as part of a sacred evolution.
In The Pagan Book of Living and Dying, author Starhawk says, “Imagine if we truly understood that decay is the matrix of fertility… we might view our own aging with less fear and distaste, and greet death with sadness, certainly, but without terror.”
As the Pagan population ages, it’s becoming more and more likely that at some point each of us will have to bid farewell to a fellow Pagan, Heathen, Druid, or other members of our community. When that happens, what is the appropriate response? What can be done to honor the person’s beliefs and send them on their way in a way that they themselves would have valued, while still managing to maintain sensitivity in dealing with their non-Pagan family members and friends?
The afterlife, therefore, is not seen as a final destination, but rather as a continuation of the soul's journey. The details of the afterlife in Wicca can vary among practitioners. Some believe in a Summerland or Otherworld, a beautiful realm of peace and joy where the soul goes after death.
Views of the Afterlife
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Many Pagans believe that there is some sort of afterlife, although that tends to take varying forms, depending on the individual belief system. Some followers of NeoWiccan paths accept the afterlife as the Summerland, which Wiccan author Scott Cunningham described as a place where the soul goes on to live forever. In Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner, he says, "This realm is neither in heaven nor the underworld. It simply is—a non-physical reality much less dense than ours. Some Wiccan traditions describe it as a land of eternal summer, with grassy fields and sweet flowing rivers, perhaps the Earth before the advent of humans. Others see it vaguely as a realm without forms, where energy swirls coexist with the greatest energies—the Goddess and God in their celestial identities."
Members of non-Wiccan groups, particularly those who follow a more Reconstructionist slant, may see the afterlife as Valhalla or Fólkvangr, for those who adhere to a Norse belief system, or Tir na nOg, for individuals who participate in a Celtic path. Hellenic Pagans may see the afterlife as Hades.
For those Pagans who don’t have a defined name or description of the afterlife, there is still typically a notion that the spirit and the soul live on somewhere, even if we don’t know where it is or what to call it.
Tawsha is a Pagan in Indiana who follows an eclectic path. She says, “I don’t know what happens to us when we die, but I like the idea of the Summerland. It seems peaceful, a place where our souls can regenerate before they reincarnate into a new body. But my husband is a Druid, and his beliefs are different and focus more on the Celtic view of the afterlife, which seems a little more ethereal to me. I think it’s really all just different interpretations of the same place.”
This realm is often depicted as a lush and abundant landscape, reflecting the ideals of nature and the spiritual connection Wiccans have with the Earth. Others believe in the concept of a veil, where the soul passes through after death before being reincarnated into a new body. This veil is seen as a place of rest, reflection, and spiritual renewal. It is believed that during this time, the soul can reconnect with loved ones who have passed away or receive guidance from the spiritual realm. Some Wiccans also believe in the existence of Spirit Guides or Ancestors who can assist and guide the soul during its journey through the afterlife. These Spirit Guides are seen as benevolent beings that offer wisdom and support to those in need. Ultimately, the Wiccan afterlife is seen as a personal and individual experience. Each soul's journey is unique, and the afterlife is seen as a continuation of personal growth and spiritual evolution. Wiccans believe in the importance of living a fulfilling and meaningful life in the present, knowing that death is not an end but a new beginning..
Reviews for "Navigating the Wiccan Underworld: Exploring the Shadow Realms in the Afterlife"
1. Robert - 2/5 Stars
I found "Wiccan afterlife" to be highly unrealistic and unrelatable. The characters were poorly developed, lacking depth and complexity. The plot felt contrived and predictable, lacking any real surprises or tension. Furthermore, the writing style was clumsily executed, making it difficult to fully immerse myself in the story. Overall, I was highly disappointed by this book and would not recommend it to others.
2. Sarah - 1/5 Stars
I couldn't even finish "Wiccan afterlife" due to its poor writing and lackluster storyline. The author seemed more concerned with describing the characters' appearances than actually developing them. The dialogue was stilted and lacked authenticity, making it hard to connect with the characters or care about their journey. Additionally, the pacing was incredibly slow, making the book drag on without any real purpose. I would not recommend wasting time on this book.
3. Emily - 2/5 Stars
"Wiccan afterlife" fell short of my expectations. The concept had potential, but the execution was lacking. The writing was overly simplistic, making it difficult to become fully engaged in the story. The plot felt disjointed at times, with unnecessary subplots that didn't contribute to the overall narrative. The romantic elements also felt forced and lacked genuine chemistry. While the book had its moments, it ultimately left me feeling unsatisfied and uninterested in reading any future works by this author.
4. Mark - 1/5 Stars
I struggled to understand the purpose of "Wiccan afterlife". The plot lacked direction and failed to answer essential questions, leaving me confused and unsatisfied. The characters were poorly developed and lacked depth, making it impossible to empathize or connect with their experiences. The pacing was also uneven, dragging in certain parts and rushing through others. Overall, this book was a disappointment and not worth the time or effort. I do not recommend it.