The 9 Circles of the Afterlife

Life is too important to be taken seriously

Though born into a family rooted in Christian beliefs and dedicated to upholding fundamental traditions, I do not follow any traditional religious beliefs — no Gods, angels, or rebirth for me.

I believe religions were crafted as initial codes of conduct to exert control over people. Messages like “Don’t do this, or you’ll face hell” or “Believe in the Lord, and your soul will find salvation in heaven” serve to simplify our lives by providing predefined answers. All this offers a convenient justification for our actions or inaction in the name of a higher power or religion.

Yet, I hold onto this notion that there’s a certain energy or force, both within us and around us, propelling everything forward. It’s something ingrained in us, a profound understanding that runs deep within our very nature, deeper than anything we can even begin to comprehend.

It surpasses any beliefs, commandments, or fears within a religion. To me, religions serve as a means to humanize and articulate the unexplainable, something that transcends our conscious understanding.

One common thread between my beliefs and traditional religious views is the existence of Heaven and Hell. However, my take on them differs significantly from the conventional portrayals we often hear about — you know, the angels soaring, reunions with lost pets, and encounters with departed loved ones. The afterlife stands as a powerful driving force and the utmost motivation in my life.

When my time comes and I shuffle off this mortal coil, here’s the scenario I envision before my soul embarks on whatever cosmic journey awaits (I mean, it’d be pretty cool to explore some alternative dimensions or galactic realms after playfully haunting my best friend for a day or two), I picture myself stepping into a room. Nothing extravagant — just an empty space with a window, a table, and a pair of chairs.

Right after I walk in, another version of me strolls in with a laptop. This guy is essentially the best version of myself, having lived the most fulfilling life I could have ever envisioned. On his laptop, he’s got all the moments I could have lived, everything I could have done, and the person I could have become.

He flips open the laptop, revealing a folder titled “The 9 Circles of the Afterlife.” With a direct gaze, he says, “Let’s see how you did, shall we? These are the nine fundamental principles meant to guide you toward being the best version of yourself and living the most fulfilling life destined for you.

These could either be the 9 circles of Heaven or the 9 circles of Hell, depending on how you navigated life — your actions, your omissions, who you were, and who you weren’t. It all boils down to whether you followed these principles or if you were merely a faint echo of your true potential.

Circle #1: Embracing the World

Let’s be honest, when you strip it all down, Earth is just a massive rock suspended in space. It spins on its axis, it orbits the sun, and we label these movements as days and years. In a nutshell, none of this really adds up, and we have no clue why or how Earth does what it does. And you know what? That’s perfectly fine!

There’s an abundance of experiences within our grasp — sights to see, textures to touch, and emotions to feel. When you travel, put down the phone and navigate solely with your eyes. Taste as many local delicacies and drinks as possible. Explore the wonders of the world. Roam through unfamiliar towns and villages.

Connect with people from diverse cultures. Immerse yourself in various music genres. Learn to greet the world in as many languages as you can. Be receptive to people and their narratives, steering clear of judgment. Don’t count dollars; count sunsets! Extend your hand, offer warm hugs, and share passionate kisses.

Circle #2: The “What could have been”

Bronnie Ware, an Australian nurse with extensive experience in palliative care, shared insights gained from caring for patients in their final 12 weeks of life. She noted a recurring theme among their regrets — nearly all began with the phrase “I wish I had…”. There were no regrets about mistakes or actions taken; the haunting “what could have been” dominated their reflections.

At your deathbed standing around you are the ghosts representing everything you wanted to do but you didn’t. The ghost of the ideas you never acted on. The ghosts of the talents you didn’t use. They came to you because you could have brought them to life. How many ghosts are going to be around your bed when your time comes? Do not to go the grave together with them!

Circle #3: Reaching your full potential

Ever heard someone profess their love for the rain, praising its beauty, yet find them hiding from the downpour? Much like that, your potential, talents, and inner gifts remain untapped until you step out of your comfort zone. Face the storm and learn to dance in the rain.

Four hundred trillion to one. That’s how rare it is to be a human being. You are more likely to win the lottery 10 times in your life than actually have a life. You’ve been given this ridiculous triple miracle. Are you going to waste it? Or will you wake up with intention, grab the day by the throat, and make the absolute most of it?

Circle #4: Forgiving yourself

Mistakes are inevitable; you’ll hurt and betray those you love, and even yourself. That’s just part of the human experience. Dwelling in regret is a luxury you can’t afford. Embrace yourself for who you are, not the idealized version you think you should be — because that’s a deception.

There is no time to regret. You move on because you should accept yourself for what you are not what you think you should be, because that’s a lie. You are a sinner. You are not your past. You’re you right now. Use your mistakes, and your sins as fuel, and say “Never again, I get what I did wrong”. You are not these mistakes. You are what you learned from them. It’s bearable if others don’t forgive you. It’s unsurvivable if you don’t forgive yourself. Life’s too short, move on!

Circle #5: Having a positive impact

Chances are, you won’t likely invent or discover something groundbreaking for humanity. You may not break any records or achieve widespread fame. In fact, it’s probable that after 100 years, nobody will remember you existed. But that doesn’t mean you can’t have a positive impact on the people you encounter during your life.

Make someone laugh. Make someone feel loved. Make someone feel safe. Make someone feel understood. Make someone’s eyes sparkle. Make someone shiver. Reach out to someone in need. Help someone see their potential. Help someone reach their potential. Be someone’s favorite song. Be someone’s favorite place. Be someone’s favorite date.

For me, this is the simplest and most delightful aspect. I have a genuine affection for people, and I love it when they laugh and feel good about themselves. My self-irony, whether it’s about my beard-less state at 27 or my romantic escapades, never fails to bring a smile.

Circle #6: Being Afraid of “Going All-In”

You know how as soon as kids see a loved one, they throw their waffle on the ground, let the balloon fly, leave their toys in the sandbox, smile ear to ear, and start running as fast as they can. They stumble. They fall. They get up. And they run again. Then they throw themselves on his neck, pinch his cheeks, and hug him so hard they take his breath away. This is love without restraint.

Love is the only thing worthy of a fearless dive. When you sense even the subtlest nuance of it, trust it without doubts or second thoughts. Falling in love mirrors the thrill of leaping from a plane, let love be your parachute and enjoy the view while you are there.

The perfect love story can happen in one day. Real, tangible love. Twenty-four-karat love. Even with a stranger. Love is unstoppable. How can you negotiate with a tsunami? And who cares if love ends or fades away? It’s the only thing worth living for.

Circle #7: Pitying yourself

The most destructive vice, if you like, that a person can have is self-pity. It’s the worst possible emotion anyone can have. It destroys everything around it, except itself. Self-pity will destroy your relationships, your potential, and anything good in your life. It will fulfill all the prophecies it makes and leave only itself.

It’s so simple to think that things are unfair and that you are underappreciated. You’ve been unlucky, the people around you were unfair to you. You would be happier if only this or if only that. And some of this may well even be true, but to pity yourself as a result it’s an enormous disservice.

Nothing that happens to you is either good or bad, it’s how you react to it. The same boiling water that softens the potato hardens the egg.

Circle #8: Taking life too seriously

I’m sure you’ve heard of the near-death experience. In the end, in a moment of reckoning, there’s a cinematic reel of your entire past, a playback of the most significant moments in your life. If this holds true, it might be the brain’s final endeavor to revive the body, triggering a surge of adrenaline and dopamine.

This is why the replay won’t capture those late nights at the office overshadowing quality time with your loved ones. It won’t showcase instances when you did things against your desires merely to meet others’ expectations. The scenes that won’t unfold are those that you weren’t meant to care so much about.

You’ll witness moments of genuine happiness, times when you felt like you could soar. The instances in your life that sent shivers down your spine. Those times when laughter resonated so deeply that your stomach ached. The moments when you ventured into the ‘wrong thing,’ yet it turned out to be the most fulfilling experience. What you’ll see are the instances when you weren’t just existing — you were truly living!

Circle #9: Feeding your soul

Soul sustenance isn’t tangible; it can’t be touched or bought. It’s found in those moments of complete harmony with oneself, where the world pauses, and nothing exists but the present moment — a moment you become one with.

The soul’s food can’t be ordered or served. It arrives in the small things, bringing profound satisfaction, peace, and elation like nothing else. It might be the full moon illuminating your path home at 3 am, merging with the city. It could be a sunrise witnessed from a cliff. Or the roar of your favorite team’s fans when you clinch the cup final.

It might be a three-hour conversation on a bench, with someone whose eyes transport you beyond this world. In every heartbeat, a profound yearning emerges — the intense desire to feel the touch of this person, to savor an affectionate kiss, if only for the briefest of moments.

These moments are beyond your control and seldom duplicated. So, when you sense you’re in one of these moments, devour it as if it were the last time. Grab handfuls, for these are the moments truly worth living for.

Nothing in this life is truly ours; we merely borrow it while we are here, and then it all fades away. The only things we genuinely own in this life are moments in time and experiences, and these cannot be erased. All material possessions, even the temple that is our body, are destined to disappear, but what’s inside lives on forever.

And, as always, remember not to take everything in this article mot-a-mot. All of this is simply the result of another brainstorming session in my Gemini mind. If you’re curious about the ongoing storms inside my head, check my other articles, and hit that follow button for a front-row ticket to the madness. Let’s keep the conversation rolling!