The Castle of the Rose Queen

The Castle of the Rose Queen

The Journey of the Dead

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"The promise of the rose then becomes the soul's journey after death. To us, this journey takes the soul along the path through the Underworld to the banks of the timeless river that is the boundary between this world and the next. Wide and slow-flowing, it washes away all earthbound memories and desires, leaving the spirit clean once again. Far out in this river, whose opposite bank can never been seen or reached by us under normal circumstances, is the island on which stands the three-towered castle. Perched on a rocky outcrop with a path snaking up from a desolate plain covered with stunted bushes to its gate, it is what the soul will see as it is carried there by the hooded silent ferryman. Once ashore, the soul starts walking towards the castle. Then the miracle of the Rose occurs; the wastelands start to bloom again with blood-red roses until the castle itself seems to be set in a red sea of flowers, and the soul instinctively knows that the Goddess, true to Her word, has" gathered it up home again."

--Evan Jones

It seems that most of the Mysteries of Traditional Craft revolve around death. This is partly a misconception, based on a limited understanding of the true meaning of term "death". The subject of “death” is a very important one, because it is the one event in life, to most people's perception, that carries with it true finality. Most religions and spiritual doctrines are held in such high regard by humankind precisely because they offer an assurance that we will 'survive' our deaths, somehow, in an afterlife, or in a future life.

Death, as it is, is needed for our full understanding of the Mysteries. Coming to understand the Mysteries acts to transform the whole meaning of “death”, as well as a person’s experience of death.

In some way, the fear or uncertainty we feel about death is a good thing, because if balance is maintained, it can be a good motivator to find the discipline to study the Mysteries and to seek personal understanding of what this life (and death) is truly all about.

When we study the Mysteries of the Old Craft, what is demanded is a change of perspective. For instance, many people view “time” as an unstoppable clock that moves in one direction, and which constantly subtracts duration from their lifespan, second by second, until the moment of their deaths. But when seen with the proper perspective, what we call “time” in this world is just a limited, crude way of attempting to describe the constantly changing contents of our minds and awareness. It makes more sense to say “time is you changing” instead of “time is changing you”.

Most who follow the Old Ways, or any religion for that matter, accept that there is an ‘undying’ quality or ‘force’ that underlies the mind and being of a person, and the familiar term “soul” is a broad and well-attested to example of this universal belief. After death, of course, the mind and the “human being” are not the same as they were in life, for the vehicle of gross awareness, the body, is no longer viable. But the “soul” or the mysterious, undying force that forms the basis for our “selves” still exists, and the “mind” also still exists, although in a more subtle state, not dissimilar to sleep or a deep trance.

This “deep” state is the Underworld of ancient belief, symbolized as a dark, deep land below the Earth, on the far side of a wide river, where the dead dwell and rest. This “land” can be viewed, on one level, as the Unconscious state. One can see the river as the dividing line between the personal unconsciousness and the universal unconscious realm, where the contents of the “minds” of all beings alive or dead, from any time or place, mix and flow together in strange dream-like ways.

In much the same manner that confusing, bizarre, and surreal symbols and images emerge from the subconscious mind at night in dreams, the experience of the Underworld can be a mosaic of strange and disturbing images and visions. But before this idea bothers you, turn on your television and watch the news for a few minutes…you’ll see images easily as disturbing as any walk through the dark Underworld. The point is, ALL worlds, when you really look at them, are mosaics of strange, wonderful, and disturbing images and experiences, and this one is not really that different from the Underworld, or the Worlds above.

The Universal powers of death and life, which we experience in this world everyday, in our everyday conscious state, are also present in the Underworld: the forces of life, creation and destruction exist on every level and in every world, and they fulfill a similar role, no matter where they may be experienced. Thus, the Great Mother who grants life and abundance in this world is the same Great Mother who grants life and abundance in the Underworld; and the same forces that affect death in this world are the same that do it there. The difference is how they appear to your mind, and how you experience them.

Evan Jones, a student and friend of the famous Traditional Witch Robert Cochrane, shared some very deep teachings regarding “life after death”, which he learned in his time with Robert. He was taught that the soul journeyed across the River of Time after death, to a timeless place, where it was “gathered home” to the Goddess or the “Lady of the Rose”. He also taught that it was the mind’s consent and belief that made the experience of the Afterlife a possibility, at all. That makes sense, considering we humans have a special gift, a higher capability for thought, imagination, and decision making, which allows us to choose our own destinies, and to build our tomorrow, by what we decide and do today.

The experience of death also included a vision of Truth: a vision of the Greatest Mystery revealed to the mind of the deceased, in which a blinding white light and a vision of the Lady herself appeared. The Mystery, which was shown in the Whiteness, and the living, active means by which it finds expression, the Great Lady herself—for truly, the two cannot be separated—form the direct experience of the dead, by which they enter into the mysterious and timeless state.

This state is the realization that time and death have no power over the true Self: and this is the keynote of the true experience of “Eternity”. It is this mysterious state, which is identified with the “interior” or the “heart” of the Land, that the dead may one day re-emerge from, when the soul’s desire to experience the Mystery in a deeper way, or to explore it in another form, becomes too great.

“The Castle of the Rose Queen” refers to the Timeless Halls of the Lady, visualized as being on the far shores of the River of Time, and beyond the ken of the living. And yet, true to the nature of the Mystery, the eldritch, numinous presence of this force, and indeed, all forces beyond, wrap and swirl about us at all times, barely below the surface of awareness, and on certain nights of the year, they overflow this world’s boundaries and become tangible.

The metaphorical journey to the Castle of the Rose Queen is another way of stating that the mind or spirit is returning to the “Truth” of its condition, for in the time immediately following death, the mind-state becomes deeper and more subtle until it is reduced to its immortal and unchanging essence; and at this point, the person can be said to have “crossed over” the river of Time and into the Mystery beyond.

In this state of deep consciousness, the forces of reality are directly experienced in a new way. In our world, we use symbolic terms to communicate to each other what will be experienced and “seen” at such a time. Terms like “Castle” and “Lady” and “Whiteness”, are simply that- terms. The eternal reality behind these words is what the dead will experience, while it is the words that we living hear and understand. Death, then, makes the experience of life whole. It shows to us the “Truth” of all things.

As has been said before, the realm of the dead, those ‘unconscious’ worlds or states of being, are not simply void. Do not make the mistake of thinking that “unconscious” means “dark and void”. Even when you are unconscious, you are aware. Think of sleep. Think of dreams. In this state, the contents of the mind emerge as visions and intuitive knowledge. And it is this phenomenon that we must discuss now, for it forms an important part of understanding the role of the mind and of a person’s actions in the ‘afterlife’ experience.

When the life is over, the body stops working, and dies. The five senses, and all the sensory input that they once afforded the mind, are likewise gone. With the five senses, and all of the outward sights, sounds, and impressions vanished, all that is left to the dead person is what is inside them, the internal contents of their deep minds. It is these things that arise after death and become the “new experience” or “reality” of the deceased. This is another way Truth is manifested to the deceased: in death, you have no choice but to see and experience who and what you TRULY are inside.

Your memories, your actions, the things you thought and felt, all of the stored experience and information that you collected and based your “self” on in life, will be revealed to you, and with no ‘eyes’ to ‘look away’ from it, you will have to accept it. Those who were loving, kind people, who have contentment with themselves, will have a very positive experience of death, while those that filled their minds with hatred, hostility, and who have deep rooted jealousy and negativity will not have such a pleasant experience of the Truth of themselves.

This is part of what I like to refer to as the “Resolving of the Heart”. When one dies and begins the journey to Universal Truth, to the Castle of the Rose Queen, the first thing one must experience after death is Personal Truth. This is done in the deep, personal experience of the contents of one’s life and mind. Depending on the person, this experience can be hellish or it can be blissful. Perhaps this very experience is what has given rise to the myths of “heavens” and “hells” that are so prominent in other religions.

The process of coming to terms with personal truth can be enjoyable or very long and painful. The stories of “ghosts” who remain not being able to accept death or “let go” of something painful which binds them to this life is a good example of what could happen to those who have trouble in this stage. Also, by ones actions in life, certain forces may have been set into motion which must be resolved before one can truly come to terms with ones actions and with ones mind. These forces can act as binding forces- and often do.

Deceased humans who are bound to certain places or times, or to certain other people or even spiritual beings, through oaths that they took in life, will have to resolve those powers before they can really “move on”. The concept of the human “Guardian”, or even of the non-human guardians of certain ancient locations, is tied up with this logic and this phenomenon.

Either way, once a person has come to terms with themselves, they can continue on and cross the River of Time, which symbolizes the experience of “coming to terms”, for it ‘washes’ a person clean of their former pains and passions, leaving the soul and mind “pure”, that is resolved, or liberated from the limited ideas and attachments that stop it from perceiving the greater Mysteries beyond. This is the transition from the personal to the transpersonal.

From here, the Soul can proceed on to greater awareness, and cross into the Wasteland, which blossoms suddenly into the Rose-Field, showing the true wonder: that death is not the end, and that the experience of "being" is FAR from over.

This is why the Rose is a symbol of immortality in the Old Craft. The Rose is also a symbol of the Lady herself, and of the Mysteries. By choosing to believe in Her, one is choosing to accept Truth; and She, the Rose Queen, will see that the Rose blossoms for the faithful who entrust themselves to her arms. It will blossom easily for those who love Her and all that She is: the World, Life, Beauty, Fear, Creation, and Death. To love her is to love Truth and to accept Truth in all its forms. All shall be seen clearly and resolved, if one accepts Wisdom, and the Promise of the Rose.

The Soul’s final destination is the Castle of the Rose Queen herself, Hyldor-Aelda, the symbol of her dwelling place, or her very presence. It is here, in the universal Well of True Forms and Awareness, that all is revealed, that all things are made whole, and that all mysteries, as well as the final longing of the Heart, find their resolution.

Does the story end there? Well, that question is a touch irrelevant; for as the Castle is a timeless location, that experience of “Truth” is going on right now, as we speak, to all of us. That is the heart of the Mystery. Look around you. What you see is Truth. See a rose on a bush… that is Truth’s signature in Nature itself.

Does a soul leave the Rose Queen and choose to undergo limited perception and live again? That is a mystery, as well, and it is thought that perhaps the soul can decide to do this, if it wishes.

Why would it wish to? I think that perhaps for some, the experience of Truth in the beyond may be in some way conditioned by the Soul’s own personal desires, stopping it from perceiving the Mystery in its true and final wholeness, and leading it to seek for it again, elsewhere.

I mean, why not? From the perspective of the soul, life and death are irrelevant; time is likewise irrelevant; why limit one’s self? The real answer to the question may be “Why NOT live again?”

But who knows? There is much evidence to suggest that our ancestors believed in re-birth. Perhaps being a part of a family, of a clan, of sharing blood in this world, leads to a flow of forces that necessitates further involvement with this world and your ancestors and descendants here in the flesh. Perhaps love for your true family leads back into this world, to share the same level of perception and experience with them. Love is the key to this particular mystery- Love, the inter-connectedness and motion of all forces, is great enough to cross oceans of time and mortal deaths, to reach its destination.

One thing is for certain: the Forces that grant life and birth- the ever-giving, generative and renewing power of the Mother herself- will give freely to all who seek it, in any world. To live again is a certainty to all who seek such a thing: the power of the divine Cunning Fire in our minds, that power to shape and name our own destinies, can very easily choose a future as a living person again, should the mind and soul wish it, or even if the soul simply allows it.

Maybe the whole reason that souls search across any world or any place has everything to do with a basic mistake in perception: the idea that there is a “final destination” or experience to be reached, a “mystery” to be found, a final “end’ to searching. The reality seems to be that there are no beginnings and endings, and that the Mystery is HERE, with you NOW, and that the Road IS the Destination. This is why the Grail Knights could never find the Grail by searching for it outside of themselves.

Acceptance of where and what we are here and now could be the secret that grants the peace that leads to the soul’s release from the never-ending quest. Look around you now. Look inside. See the Mystery. It’s as clear as the Roebuck in the Thicket! Nothing truly Begins or Ends- except limited perceptions. Death makes a person’s perceptions whole again.

For those of us in the Craft, who seek the Mysteries now, we make the decision to experience that “death” of limited perception and that re-gaining of “whole perception” while we still live, before we “die”. That way, when death does come, it shall have no power to unsettle or disturb us.

Site last updated: November 2, 2005