My Great Grandfather’s Crossing

By Wild Rose

Throughout my life there has, inevitably, been deaths in the family. Being the first born of the fifth living generation, my family is quiet large and the elders far removed. Over the years, I heard of the dreams my aunt would have just before the death of a loved one. I always wondered how the death of one close to my heart would effect me, not just emotional but spiritually. 

Sunday morning I awoke with a start around 2:30am. The spirits were whispering. Someone was sick. There would be a death. 

I went about my plans for that morning waiting for the phone to ring. Waiting to find out who was sick. Late that morning I stopped at my mother’s house to pick up my son who was there visiting. Her mother, my grandmother, had called that morning to let her know my great grandfather hadn’t eaten in 3 days. They expected the worst, his health was failing. 

I went to see him that afternoon. He was lying in a hospital bed that had been set up in his living room. My Great Grandmother, my grandmother, my great uncle, my aunt (the one with the dreams) and her fiancé were all there. I went over to Grandpop and held his hand. I sent him reiki, and told him I loved him. He hadn’t been able to talk for a few days and hadn’t opened his eyes in 24 hours. But he knew I was there and was happy, his breathing increased dramatically and he began to make noises in the back of his throat. 

After visiting with some more family that afternoon, my son and I started the hour long drive home. The spirits began whispering again. He wouldn’t make it through the night. I considered turning around. Going back to say good bye one last time but I had a long drive ahead of me, it was dark, and my son had school the next day.

Two hours later, home safe and sound, son in bed, I called my mother. We had spoken that morning about a book she had enjoyed and I called to tell her they were doing a special on the History Channel about it that night. It’s funny the way our lives are shaped by seemingly meaningless encounters. My grandmother called Mom’s cell phone while I was talking to her. “Come pick me up,” she said, “Cory can’t find a pulse.” 

We got off the phone and I began to meditate. I wasn’t really sure what would happen and was a little scared. I was familiar with conversing with spirits. I was familiar with navigating the “Other Side” with the help of my guides. But to go looking for someone who so recently pasted. Is this safe? Is this wise? I followed the spirits. I called out “Grandpop” and found myself inside the veil. Truly a poor descriptive name. The veil, the place between the worlds, was unlike anything I had ever experienced. It was black, utter black. No light. And it was thick. Truly, it felt like being underwater. Surround by something on all sides but not really able to reach out and feel anything. I found Grandpop, not by sight or sound or smell. I found him in that nothingness by emotion. I could feel his emotions as if they were my own. Fear and confusion. “Wear am I?” “What’s happening?” He felt as someone might if they had been swimming in the ocean and caught by a rip tide. One minute they know where they are and what is going on. The next minute they are surrounded on all sides by something, they are moving, tumbling, unable to tell which way is up and which is down, panicking, suffocating. Separating myself from his feelings, I felt like I was treading water next him. Still surrounded, still in darkness, but no confusion. I know which way is up, which is down and what lies in each direction. 

I began to talk to him, “Grandpop, it’s ok. I’m here now. Don’t be scared. It’s ok. Don’t be scared.” He started to calm down and listen. “Grandpop, you’ve past away. Below you is your body.” I created a window so he could see his body in his bed. “Above you is a white light” I created a window so he could see the light. “You can choose to go up or down. Go down and live. Live in the sick bed ridden body you were in before. Or go up and cross over to the other side.” The decision wasn’t hard. Suddenly the black began to fade to grey. We were floating up just as you would eventually float to the surface of the ocean. The darkness slowly fading to light. Half way up I stopped and let him continue floating on his own. A little ways above me he looked down and said, “Hey, I’m getting younger.” I informed him, “You will continue to get younger until you are reborn on the other side.” Then he asked if he would ever see me again. “You can find me on the other side,” I replied and returned to my own living room.

Grandpop did find me a few days later on the other side. He attended his funeral and really was rather jovial. Unusual compared to the solemn man he had been in life. But he carried great burdens on this planet with government classified security clearance. He was free of that burden now and happier for it.

As I am writing this, Grandpop heard his name and stopped in for another visit. He wants me to tell you that I was shining with a blue white light that day when I came to visit him. Everything else was dark.

And I want to thank Grandpop for an experience I will never forget.

Dedicated to Ralph Tinari, Sr. - Still waters run deep and your ripples continue on.

(To my readers, please do not attempt to aid a crossing on your own. There was a true danger of crossing with him. Without knowledge, experience, and fantastic guides, a spiritual journey such as this would not be safe or effective.)