Death as an Initiation: The Archetypal Journey of Dying and Living Through Loss

Across cultures and spiritual traditions, death is not viewed solely as an end but as an initiation—an initiation into another realm of existence for the person who is dying, and a transformative experience for those who remain behind. The concept of death as a rite of passage or transformative process has existed for millennia, woven into myth, lore, and religious practices. To understand the archetypal journey of death and dying is to witness not just the transition of a soul, but the profound impact it has on the living.

Death as a Threshold

The threshold between life and death has long been associated with a passage or crossing from one state of being to another. In the hero's journey, an archetype defined by Joseph Campbell, death serves as a symbolic crossing of a threshold—sometimes literal, sometimes metaphorical—that leads to a transformation of the self. For the person who is dying, this journey can be seen as their final initiation of the present incarnation before a return to a primordial source or the crossing into an unknown mystery.

Many traditions describe this threshold as a journey to the underworld, a concept often found in myth. For the ancient Greeks, the underworld was ruled by Hades, a dark and complex realm where souls were judged and could not return. Similarly, in Norse mythology, the afterlife exists in the realms of Hel, where souls journey after death. In these stories, death is not simply a loss of life, but an entry into a deeper understanding of existence, an initiation into a broader, more complex reality.

The archetypal journey of the dying individual is one of self-discovery, of shedding the old self in preparation for the transition into the next phase. It is a process that calls upon the individual to reckon with their past, to confront the choices they have made, and to embrace the inevitability of their fate. As they face the unknown, they are called to let go of the ego, of attachments both material and relational, and of the fear of the unknown.

The Call to the Living: A Transformation

Just as death is an initiation for the dying, it is equally a transformative process for those who remain. The living must cross their own threshold of transformation, one that requires deep introspection, change, and growth. The presence of death in our lives awakens something primal—an urgent confrontation with the fragility and impermanence of life. It pushes us to look inward, to confront our own fears and mortality. This initiation often brings forward a reevaluation of our values, priorities, and spiritual beliefs.

In many ways, the process of grief mirrors the initiatory journey itself. The living, like the dying, are required to surrender—to let go of the person they once knew and loved. This transition can often feel like a dark night of the soul, where the familiar world becomes fractured and alien. The grief that comes with loss is a powerful catalyst for transformation, much like the descent into the underworld that the dying person experiences.

While the physical body of the deceased is no longer present, the living must reckon with the metaphysical presence of death. There is the reckoning with the emotions of loss—sadness, anger, guilt, or relief—but also with the spiritual implications of the event. Death forces the living to confront the question: what does it mean to live, to love, to die? This questioning can lead to deep spiritual and psychological transformation, providing an opportunity to shed old ways of thinking, reevaluate one's purpose, and move toward greater meaning.

The Role of the Guide

In the initiation of both the dying person and the living, there is often a guide—either a person, a set of teachings, or an inner force that helps navigate the journey. In certain mythologies, the dead are guided to their final resting place by psychopomps, or spiritual guides who shepherd the soul through the underworld. In Greek mythology, this guide is Hermes, the messenger god who leads the souls of the deceased to the realm of Hades. Similarly, in Native American traditions, there are shamans or spiritual leaders who assist the dead in their passage.

The living, too, may find themselves guided through their grief and transformation by external or internal forces. Spiritual leaders, counselors, family members, or close friends often serve as guides for the grieving, offering wisdom, comfort, and support through the difficult journey of loss. However, it is equally common for the living to experience an internal guide—an intuitive understanding or a spiritual awakening—that helps them make sense of the transformation that death demands.

In both cases, these guides serve as reminders that while the journey is difficult and fraught with challenges, it is not taken alone. Both the dying and the living are supported by a larger, unseen hand that offers reassurance, wisdom, and hope in the face of darkness.

The liminal space between life and death

I like to view the liminal space, where life and death intersect, as a sacred window where opportunity for profound transformation can occur. It is neither fully life nor fully death, but a realm of ambiguity and potential. For the dying person, it is a passage into the unknown. A deep introspection into the soul often emerges here, before a shedding of the created persona, in preparation for what lies beyond, can occur. Von Franz describes this introspection upon the eternal Self (or soul) beautifully when she says:

“The experience of the Self brings a feeling of standing on solid ground inside oneself, on a patch of inner eternity which even physical death cannot touch.”

For the living, it is a time of uncertainty, where grief and loss blur the lines between the past and present, requiring emotional and spiritual growth. In this space, boundaries dissolve, and the opportunity for profound transformation exists—whether in the form of personal healing or the release of what no longer serves us.

Death itself is often portrayed as a form of rebirth. From a spiritual perspective, death is not the final end, but a transformation—a shedding of the old in order to make way for something new. In the archetypal story of the phoenix, the bird is reborn from its ashes, symbolizing the cyclical nature of life and death. The dying individual sheds their earthly attachments, and the grieving person sheds their old sense of self, ultimately emerging from the ashes of their sorrow into a transformed state of being.

Death as a Sacred Journey

The archetypal journey of death and dying offers profound insight into the process of transformation that occurs when life and death intersect. For the dying, death is an initiation into the unknown, a crossing of a threshold into mystery and self-realization. For the living, death serves as a catalyst for transformation, offering an opportunity to confront our fears, reevaluate our priorities, and embrace a deeper understanding of life and love. The mythological and archetypal images that surround death remind us that death is not an end, but a passage—a sacred journey that calls us to let go, to be reborn, and to emerge into a new form of being. In facing death, we find the opportunity to live more fully, more authentically, and more deeply.