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Lessons from Ancient Egyptian Death Beliefs: What Death Can Teach Us About Living







What if we didn’t fear death—but welcomed it as part of our journey? 

Those who lived in ancient Egypt did just that. They saw death not as an ending but as a transition—something to prepare for, honor, and even celebrate. 


In my work as a death doula, I often sit with people as they approach the end of their life. We talk, we reflect, and we create rituals that feel personal and meaningful. One client told me he wanted to celebrate his final chapter. He wasn’t afraid—he was curious. He saw it as the last part of his journey and wanted to be present and fully experience it. We created small, beautiful rituals to honor his life and prepare for what came next. It was one of the most human, joyful, and holy things I’ve ever witnessed. 


We may not all be buried in tombs lined with golden offerings, but we can take inspiration from the Egyptians: to live and die with intention, and to hold space for the sacred in both. 


The Soul’s Journey in Ancient Egypt 

The ancient Egyptians believed the soul wasn’t a single thing, but a beautiful collection of parts. There was the Ka, the life force that needed nourishment in the afterlife. The Ba, representing one’s personality and essence, was often shown as a bird flying between the worlds. And when all these parts came together in harmony, they formed the Akh—a spiritually transformed being ready to enter eternity. 


But entering the afterlife wasn’t guaranteed. The soul would first pass through the Hall of Judgment, where it would face a series of questions—called the Negative Confession—designed to assess the person’s integrity. “Have you caused anyone to weep?” “Have you denied food to the hungry?” The soul’s heart was then placed on a scale and weighed against the feather of Ma’at, the goddess of truth and cosmic order. If the heart was light—unburdened by wrongdoing—the soul could pass on to the Duat, a realm of peace and pure potential. 


Even then, the journey was not made alone. Anubis, the jackal-headed deity, would guide the soul. Thoth, the keeper of wisdom, recorded each step. It was a deeply relational vision of death—one in which the divine supported the human soul through its transformation. 


Ritual, Mourning, and Connection  - Ancient Egyptian Death Beliefs

The ancient Egyptians didn’t shy away from death—they planned for it. They believed that how a person was cared for after death directly affected their journey into the afterlife. Mummification wasn’t just about preserving the body; it was a sacred act, performed with intention and prayer. The body was washed, anointed, and wrapped with care. In some eras, tiny scrolls were tucked between the linen layers—“cheat sheets” from the Book of the Dead—to guide the soul through its trials. 


Rituals continued long after the burial. Families returned to the tomb again and again, leaving food, incense, and words of remembrance. They believed the Ka—the life force—needed nourishment, and the deceased still needed love, memory, and presence from the living. Tombs often included a “false door” where offerings were placed, allowing the soul to symbolically enter and receive the gifts. 


There’s something deeply moving about this. These weren’t grand performances for others to witness; they were acts of connection, of continuity. Mourning wasn’t about “moving on” but staying in the relationship.  


In my work, I often encourage families to create rituals—no matter how simple. Light a candle. Say their name. Share a story. These small acts can be powerful. They remind us that grief isn’t a process to finish but a connection to the person that continues to evolve. Just like the Egyptians, we need ways to remember, to tend, to stay close. 


What We Can Learn Today 

The ancient Egyptians lived with the awareness that death was not separate from life—it was woven into the fabric of their days. They planned, they prepared, and they imagined what came next. But they didn’t do it out of fear. They did it out of love. Out of reverence. Out of the belief that how we live—and how we die—matters deeply. 


There’s something incredibly grounding in that. Today, we often treat death as something to avoid or delay rather than something to meet with presence. But what if, like the Egyptians, we viewed it as a sacred transition? What if we made space for reflection, ritual, and spiritual preparation—not just at the end but all along the way? 


I’ve seen how powerful it is when people approach the end of life with intention. When families take time to honor, to witness, to be present. When grief is shared rather than silenced. When death is allowed to be human and holy. 


We don’t need pyramids or golden sarcophagi to do this. We just need to be present. We need moments of connection, honesty, and care. 


Ancient Egyptian death beliefs remind us that death is not the opposite of life but part of it. And if we let it, it can teach us how to live with deeper meaning, gentler hearts, and greater love. 

 

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