Yup yup, I agree with Tei, Nettie and Sop. I feel that their energy has moved onto a higher plain (so to speak) but that doesn't mean that they're not still with us, they always will be there, just.... different than before.

Argh I know what I wanna say but I can't find the words to explain it.
Well, that's pretty close to how I would say it.

I personally believe this... That we come into this world with a contract - an agreement of what we will serve, what we will acheive, what we will learn, what we will teach. What we'll experience.

This is the cycle. So when we have fulfilled our contract it's time for our Earthly body to "die". But I also believe that we have a Karma - a karmic contract to fulfil. So every single person whom we've touched or interacted with helped to fulfil that contract. So we all agreed to this before we incarnated in this lifetime.

So if we take it to Lucy & my personal beliefs which are only my own & not right or wrong! Lucy came in with a contract and she had fulfilled that & her body died. Before her incarnation she agreed to what she lived. Her children agreed in their incarnation to suffer the loss of her. Her own mother the same. Not because we all want pain but as spiritual beings we are aware from deep pain comes our most perfect wisdom.

So we all contracted - group karma to share parts of our lives together.

I believe when someone dies there is a time when they are very close -soon after death. Where they kinda make sure that all is okay - perhaps they help to direct the way things happen, inspire the ones left behind to do what needs to be done with spiritual wisdom that they can tap into because they are closer to Source when they don't have a body...

I could go on and on but that is my belief... xxx
I have read this somewhere before, and it is one of those ideas that resonated with me. I have taken it on as part of my mixed bag of beliefs.

What do I think.... all kinds of things.... I had an argument with a friend of mine, years ago, after losing (another) dear friend; I said that I thought really grief was a selfish kind of emotion, that the soul that has moved on is in a better place, on a higher plane, and just where they are meant to be. our grief is all about our loss; our missing them. She thought I was saying that it was ok that they had died, and I said no that's not what I meant... but then again, it is part of life & death & the whole circle,and I DO believe that the soul who has departed is much better off than those of us who are left behind.
ETA - I truly hope that's not offensive to anyone here, and I hope I've explained it properly

In working with energy... for me, it supports the idea of a soul that moves on after the physical death.. that energy doesn't just cease to exist. It's still there.

I find the Pagan way is generally whatever way you've decided for yourself (not being told by an 'authority') and what feels right and in tune with the cycles of nature (seasons, life/death/rebirth, dark/light, etc). So if you're nodding reading that, you're Pagan!
That might just make me pagan