THE LIMINAL FIELD: A Social Theme - The elderly and death

Short Description A reflection on the fear of death and the difficulty of confronting it without exorcising it. The text explores the absence of perspective on the afterlife, the personal experiences people rarely share, and the existential need for dialogue about what may lie beyond physical existence. Abstract A Social Theme examines the widespread fear of death, especially among the elderly, and the tendency to avoid confronting it. The text distinguishes between the fear of losing the physical body and the fear of ceasing to exist altogether. It argues that the lack of perspective on the afterlife prevents meaningful reflection and dialogue. The work highlights personal experiences—such as vivid dreams or subtle energetic perceptions—that many people keep private, and suggests that discussing these experiences could help explore the possibility of an existence beyond physical life. The text concludes that the afterlife may not be a physical place but a state of being not yet acquired or contemplated. OpenAIRE Description This work addresses the existential fear of death and the social reluctance to discuss it. It explores the distinction between physical disappearance and the cessation of existence, emphasizing the absence of perspective on the afterlife. The text highlights personal testimonies, vivid dreams, and subtle energetic perceptions that suggest a possible continuity beyond physical life. It argues for the importance of dialogue and shared reflection to examine the possibility of an afterlife understood not as a physical location but as a state of being. Relevant to studies of consciousness, death and dying, phenomenology of interiority, and experiential accounts of non‑ordinary perception. Extended Description A Social Theme offers an in‑depth reflection on the fear of death and the difficulty of facing it without resorting to avoidance or exorcism. The text begins by noting that the fear of death affects everyone, particularly the elderly, who may see death as the definitive end of life and lack any certainty that existence could continue in a non‑physical dimension. Many avoid even considering the question, as if ignoring it could neutralize both death and the fear associated with it. The work distinguishes between two fears: losing the physical body and ceasing to exist altogether. It argues that the absence of perspective on the afterlife prevents meaningful reflection. Although elements are lacking, this does not mean the question should be avoided. The text suggests that many people privately hold experiences—such as near‑death accounts, subtle sensations like caresses or breaths from “nowhere,” or vivid dreams that remain real even after many years—that hint at a possible continuity beyond physical life. These experiences are often unspoken due to modesty or fear of being judged, yet they emerge when genuine dialogue begins. The text highlights the intimate connection between dreams and a possible beyond, suggesting that perception and sensitivity play a role in recognizing what one has not yet conceived as real.