There is no death, only the illusion of death, just as there is no birth, but only the appearance of it. The passage from being into becoming seems to be birth, and the return from becoming into being seems to be death.
— Apollonius of Tyana
Although birth and death are two great mysteries, our concern with death seems to outweigh our concern with our entry into life. Yet birth is an event at least as important as our departure from the physical body. The entry of a soul into a new body can be explained by timeless concepts such as reincarnation, evolution and the law of cause and effect.
The long period between lives is in a way like the hours between meals: a period of digestion and assimilation as necessary as the meal itself. The Ageless Wisdom teaches that between lives the soul extracts and assimilates the essence of the experiences of its previous physical life, and that this affects the conditions of the new incarnation.
The Twofold Mystery
Birth involves a twofold mystery. The first is the mystery of the growth of the embryo, which arises from the physical union of the parents' genetic codes. The embryo develops into a complex and uniquely formed human baby. The second half of the mystery is the union of the soul with the physical body.
Drawn by an inner urge to seek new experience on the way of return to its divine source, the soul returns to physical life again and again. Theosophical teachings hold that the soul draws to itself not only a new physical body but also emotional and mental "vehicles" suited to its new incarnation. The characteristics of an individual's nature are said to be the result of experiences in past lives. Thus old thoughts, desires and actions affect the conditions and the environment into which one is born.
Guiding Intelligences
The phrase "guardian angel" is often used when a child comes through a dangerous adventure unharmed. Theosophy speaks of the existence of spiritual intelligences that guide the working out of karma from the past. These beings help bring the soul into an environment where it can best balance the consequences of its past actions and find new opportunities for self-expression. It is also suggested that the child's new circumstances may continue relationships from past lives. Unfortunately, in some cases past ties are not harmonious; these karmic ties need to be transformed into ties of love and understanding.
The Drama of Birth
Much has been written about the abandonment of the physical body at the moment of death; perhaps we should discover more about the needs of the newborn baby at the moment of birth. The process of birth is as dramatic for the baby as it is for the mother. Some babies plunge eagerly into life, while others resist entering a new incarnation. The French doctor Frédérick Leboyer and others have stressed that babies should be delivered in a quiet setting with dimmed lights. This can provide the gentlest possible transition from the soothing environment of the womb to the very different conditions of physical life.
Poets and mystics have suggested that children carry memories of a pre-natal existence. But as the new physical life unfolds, these memories are quickly forgotten. As we mature and grow in spiritual wisdom, we begin to understand our evolutionary purpose more fully.
The Responsibility of Parents
Parenthood is much more than taking on the care of a child. The physical baby is the expression of a soul that the parents are charged with nurturing for a short time. Modern psychologists stress that from the moment of birth a child needs love and a sense of security. Many parents are deeply aware of the responsibility they take on in helping a soul to be born into a new body. They understand the importance of creating an atmosphere favorable to the soul's physical, emotional and mental development. They see the opportunity to contribute to the soul's growth by helping the child overcome inborn weaknesses while developing its strengths and hidden talents.
Parental support given in an atmosphere of love and respect gives the child great strength when it opens out to a wider world and meets inevitable difficulties. Birth is an experience we do not normally remember consciously. Yet the atmosphere into which a child is born may be one of the most important experiences parents can offer, for a harmonious and positive environment lays the foundation for steady growth.
A Traveling Soul
The newborn child provides a vehicle of experience for the soul advancing on its path of development. Wise parents look for the best ways to help the child recognize its emotional nature and turn its mind in positive directions, and so encourage it to develop spiritual wisdom. According to the ancient teachings, the journey that begins with birth is a universal one, repeated many times; its aim is the eventual return home and reunion with the divine source.
