Simply Be; The Full Worm Moon

Do you ever think as a hearse goes by,

that you may be the next to die?

They wrap you up in a big white sheet

From your head down to your feet.

They put you in a big black box,

And cover you up with dirt and rocks.

All goes well for about a week,

Then your coffin begins to leak.

The worms crawl in, the worms crawl out,

The worms play pinochle on your snout.

(the Hearse Song)

As children, we loved this singsong, driving each other insane with the glibly gross lyrics. Driving our parents to scream "Stop it!" We didn't think much about death. Coffins and graves were Halloween decorations. Ghosts were friendly and named Casper.  Death was a cartoon skeleton in a dark cloak.

Then we got older and if it was not personal for us yet; we at least understood death and the pain it brings by the evening news, by history lessons, by our parents' losses.  The singsong wasn't funny, but death didn't happen to US.

Oh, how wrong we were! Death arrived without any fun candy or pranks. Death just arrived. Dressed as cancer. Dressed as diabetes. Dressed ever so cleverly as Parkinson's, Multiple Sclerosis, ALS, or AIDS...diseases that took away life way before death really set in.  

Wait! Anubis insists on getting a word in here.  "Death is just a transformation, much as birth was and life is.  It is not the end but the continuing."  He sadly shakes his head. "You see death all wrong" he chides.

Imagery enters my head of Egypt. Jars of resin, cloth and sarcophagus. Mummification. Anubis frowns.  "No.  Not a different version of Halloween.  Just transformation."

Grave stones breaking in half with centuries of wear and over grown grass.  Tree roots which grow so big as to devour entire graves.  Names etched off by acid rain.

"NO!" Anubis growls.  "Just transformation."  Here he sits, beckons me to sit as well.  A sitting Anubis is an odd sight indeed.  I try not to stare. 

"What you believe is death is just the Ego ending.  People placing flowers, recalling you fondly, visiting your grave...this is all of the Ego.  Your soul has a name but it sure as hell isn't Brenda.  You can't understand because you can't see beyond your ego. But you will transform.  As did your ancestors, as did your parents.  

Do not be afraid.  Were you afraid to be born?  You simply were.  You will simply be again."