Death Omens: Are They What We Really Think?
Death omens can be found all around the world, but they vary depending on belief, culture, and tradition.
While omens, in general, are mostly considered negative, death omens tend to strike a different kind of chord with people. This is because death is a fear that many have, although is not something that we admit.
Regardless, death is something that is with us constantly. Whether the death is physical or a metaphorical death it is a necessary part of life.
Before we dive deeper into the subject though, let's look at what a death omen is.
What is a Death Omen?
A death omen is considered to be a sign or message from the universe or the spirit world, telling us that death is near. Most death-omen messages tend to involve animals in some way, especially black animals.
Some of the most common death omens are mirrors, cats, owls, ravens, crows, cracks on the floor, breaking specific objects, plants dying or blooming, beetles, etc.
This message of death that these animals or objects bring can vary. In many cases, it can mean an end to something like a situation, relationship, experience, an era, and even life.
When you look into death in the spiritual world, you realize that when it comes to something ending, it gives way to something else. In most cases, these deaths tend to lead to something better for the person who is experiencing them.
This is why many people in the spiritual world tell us not to fear but instead flow with these deaths. Because, almost always, there is something better, a relief on the other side of it.
My personal experience
I believe that even though there may be some general death omens, there are also very specific and personal ones that vary from individual to individual.
I know this because I and other members of my family, experienced it when my grandmother died. Each one of us, even though we are from the same family, saw and felt something different.
But, all of it was signaling the end of my grandmother's life and there was no mistaking it.
My paternal grandmother died on September 29, 2018, on the eve of my birthday. She died during the night, after suffering from two heart attacks in the hospital.
That night, my parents had gone to her to drive her to the hospital due to her neighbors alerting them that something was wrong with her. I had decided to stay home that night, so I was alone when my mother called me.
I was distraught, of course, but I had to be strong and help call the rest of our relatives to let them know of the passing. Needless to say, it was the worst birthday of my life.
It was very strange though, while I mourned my grandmother's death, I was also at peace with it. As if part of me had known that it would happen.
Then I remembered something that had happened that morning. Like I always do, that morning, I was making up fake scenarios and conversations in my head.
In this particular conversation, I was telling my grandmother that she had to take her health seriously and get better because I didn't want her to die. She still had so much to teach us, to teach me.
You see, during her life, my grandmother had learned and certified herself on many subjects. She was a seamstress, a designer, a baker, an artisan, a painter, a sculptor, a gardener, a jewelry maker, and so many other things. She also had a degree in law and accounting.
She had been great at everything, she even played instruments like the Quattro, the guitar, wrote poems and stories. My grandmother even knew how to ballroom dance.
She had accomplished many things, it was sad to see her go. It felt like her death had been too sudden.
At first, I was angry that I hadn't had any warning signs that she might go or that she was already in transition until I heard three different stories from three different family members.
What they told me made me realize that there had been signs, I just hadn't been there to experience them or I hadn't been paying attention.
Besides the mock conversation in my head, these were the three signs that my family saw at her passing:
1. The dream
My mother has always had the ability to see snippets of future happenings in her dreams. Although most times, the messages aren't referring to the people she dreams about but they are for other people close to her.
The night before my grandmother's passing, my mother dreamt about her own father. In the dream, he told my mother that my maternal grandmother had passed away.
My mother told me she had woken up sweating and with a sinking feeling. But, since her dreams are never about the person she dreamt about she knew that her mother wouldn't be the one passing away. Still, she knew someone else would.
2. Sewing Machines Breaking
My older sister, like my grandmother, sowed. This is why my grandmother gave her two sewing machines, so my sister could start her sewing and designing business.
Two weeks before my grandmother's death though, both machines broke one right after the other. Even though there was no reason for them to do that.
3. Blooming Orchids
One of my grandmother's many passions was gardening. And her favorite flowers to take care of were orchids.
Occasionally she would give some away as gifts. At my grandmother's service, my aunt's sister told me something peculiar.
She said that two days before my grandmother's death, the orchids had bloomed. She hadn't been expecting them to bloom because they weren't set to open so early in the season.
Death omens, like the ones mentioned above, don't always have to be a black cat crossing in front of you or an owl screeching in the dead of night.
Death omens can also be related to things and people that the person enjoyed or loved. They can also be very subtle like a made-up conversation in our heads.
The keys are to pay attention and not be afraid because there is always a silver lining. While my grandmother's passing was sad, it was also a relief to see her go as she would not be suffering anymore.
For some time she had been suffering from strokes and diabetes, she no longer has to.
The death of anything whether living or circumstantial is painful but it is truly a necessity in order for things to change for the better.
Opinions and Perspectives
Really makes you think about the connection between the physical and spiritual worlds.
This perspective on death omens as natural and potentially positive is really refreshing.
It's comforting to think that the universe might send us gentle warnings about major life changes.
The personal nature of these omens seems to make them more meaningful than traditional superstitions.
I wonder if being more aware of death omens helps us better prepare for loss emotionally.
Fascinating how these signs seem to appear regardless of whether someone believes in them or not.
The idea that death omens aren't always about physical death but can signal other types of endings is eye-opening.
I've noticed that pets often seem to pick up on these signs before humans do.
The article makes death seem less frightening somehow, more like a natural transition.
This actually helped me process some experiences I had during my father's passing that I couldn't explain before.
I think it's beautiful how these signs often provide comfort rather than fear when properly understood.
The breaking sewing machines story really demonstrates how personal these omens can be.
My family has similar stories about signs before deaths. It seems to be a common human experience across cultures.
The concept of personal death omens versus universal ones is intriguing. Makes me wonder about my own potential signs.
I particularly connected with the idea that endings make way for new beginnings.
The grandmother sounds like she was an amazing person. Perhaps the multiple signs reflected her multi-faceted personality.
Wonder if modern society's disconnection from nature makes us less able to recognize these signs.
The article made me reflect on signs I might have missed in my own life. I'll be more attentive now.
I think we often dismiss these experiences because we're afraid of what they might mean.
The story about the orchids blooming early is particularly beautiful. Nature often seems to participate in these moments.
Why do you think some people are more receptive to these signs than others?
I appreciate how the article balances personal experience with broader cultural perspectives on death omens.
The part about the imaginary conversation really hit home. We sometimes know things on a deeper level than we realize.
It's fascinating how these signs often appear to multiple family members, each in their own meaningful way.
The idea that death omens can signal positive change is something I've never considered before.
I've always been skeptical of death omens, but this article makes me think twice about some experiences I've had.
This reminds me of the Mexican tradition of Día de los Muertos, where death is seen as a natural part of life's cycle.
The personal nature of these signs makes them more meaningful than generic superstitions.
Wish the article had explored more about why certain animals are universally considered death omens across different cultures.
I found the connection between the grandmother's passions and the omens particularly moving. Even in death, she communicated through what she loved.
Not sure about death omens, but I do believe in intuition. Sometimes we just know things without knowing how we know.
The silver lining perspective is important. Sometimes death truly is a release from suffering.
I'm curious about how different generations interpret these signs. My grandparents were much more attuned to them than my parents.
This article really challenges the traditional scary view of death omens. They can actually be quite beautiful and meaningful.
The concept of personal death omens makes more sense than generic ones. We all have our own unique connections to the spiritual world.
It's remarkable how these signs seemed to manifest differently for each family member, yet all pointed to the same event.
Reading this reminded me of all the little signs I missed before my own loss. Sometimes they only make sense in retrospect.
The idea that death omens can signal the end of situations or relationships, not just physical death, is really thought-provoking.
Anyone else notice how animals often seem to sense death coming before humans do? My cat always knew when something was about to happen.
I find it comforting that these signs often come with a sense of peace, like the author mentioned.
That birthday must have been so difficult. Life has a way of mixing joy and sorrow in unexpected ways.
Would love to hear more about other cultures' perspectives on death omens. Every society seems to have their own interpretation.
The article helped me process some of my own experiences with loss. Sometimes understanding comes long after the event.
I never thought about how death omens could be specific to an individual's interests and life story. That's a fascinating perspective.
Interesting that the mother's dream wasn't literal but still served as a warning. Dreams can be such complex messengers.
The part about her grandmother's multiple talents really touched me. It's like the universe acknowledged her creative spirit through these various signs.
This feels like confirmation bias to me. We remember the coincidences that fit but forget all the times nothing happened.
I work in hospice care and I've seen countless examples of patients and families experiencing similar premonitions or signs.
The article makes an important point about not fearing these signs. They're not always predicting something terrible.
Has anyone else noticed how death omens often seem to involve the things we're most passionate about in life?
What a beautiful way to honor your grandmother's memory by sharing these experiences. It really shows how death affects different family members uniquely.
I'm still not convinced. We tend to look for meaning in random events after something significant happens.
The connection between personal objects and death omens makes so much sense. Of course the sewing machines would be significant for someone who loved sewing.
Does anyone else find it fascinating that the author had that imaginary conversation about their grandmother's health on the very day she passed?
This reminds me of how different cultures view death. Some see it as a transition rather than an ending.
I actually experienced something similar with my mother's passing. Our family clock stopped at the exact moment she died, and it had been working perfectly before that.
The idea that death omens aren't always negative is refreshing. I never thought about them as potential signs of positive change.
What strikes me most is how the grandmother was so accomplished in so many fields. We don't see that kind of renaissance spirit much anymore.
I disagree with the skeptics here. There are too many instances across cultures and throughout history to dismiss death omens entirely.
My grandmother also had prophetic dreams like the author's mother. I wonder how common this ability really is?
I appreciate how this article approaches death omens from both a cultural and personal perspective. It's not just about the traditional black cats and broken mirrors.
The part about the orchids blooming unexpectedly really got to me. Nature sometimes seems to know things before we do.
While I respect everyone's beliefs, I find it hard to accept death omens as anything more than coincidences we notice after the fact. We're pattern-seeking creatures by nature.
Really interesting how the sewing machines breaking turned out to be a sign. I've had similar experiences where seemingly random occurrences made sense later.
I found this article fascinating, especially how death omens can be so personal and unique to each individual or family. The author's experience with their grandmother's passing was touching.