QUESTION: Masters, since my mother left this world 4 years ago, I have been troubled by the events of her last days. I feel that because of the devastation I felt by her impending death that I did not give enough comfort to her in her final hours & feel cowardly for just wanting to run away from it all. Shortly after my mother died I heard the sound of a music box playing a Russian melody. I could not find the source for the music — was this my mother letting me know she was home & OK? Also, during his life, my father & I were never very close. Since his death 25 years ago I have come to understand his pain & problems somewhat better & feel closer to him now because of that. Is he home & happy? ~Gloria, USA
ANSWER: When a soul is ready to leave the physical body it has occupied, a lot is going on all at once. If the transition is rapid from an accident or sudden physical fault, such as a stroke or heart attack, there isn’t too much that the soul is aware of after departure but the destination. If a soul has been aware that death is approaching, and it has a couple of days, its consciousness generally is in and out of the body as it makes plans for the future. Your mother transitioned very rapidly and peacefully. The music was a message from her that all was well.
Part of your life lessons involved dealing with difficulties in life, abandonment, sadness, and loneliness. The departure of your father so long ago was the first part of that lesson. He greeted your mother as she came home and they are catching up on the intervening years. He is glad you were able to work out the issues his life entailed. With regard to those things he acted as an example of life lessons for you.
Never blame yourself for the emotional responses you had to your mother’s death. The first reaction to devastating problems, particularly concerning death, is denial. The easiest way to deny what is happening is to run away so that it can’t affect you. You then enter into a layer of guilt, thinking you should have done something else. You reacted just as you needed to in order to be where you are now in your understanding.