There is among all the wonderful stories circulating about Nora Ephron in the aftermath of her recent passing, the notion that she believed in neither a higher power — nor in an afterlife. One source said it's one reason that she kept her illness a secret. She didn't want to have to explain or justify this to anyone.
It happens so often in consultations, that a (non-physical) loved one shows up to instruct my client to please tell the spouse-left-behind, to please assure him/her that we truly do not die! "Yes, it's true," they say (transmit) — "We do go to the Light! Tell your (mother/father) that there's nothing to fear!" Those clients often roll their eyes (or sigh over the phone), and then reply, "Yeah, right! You don't know my father/mother!"
Later on, if I happen to consult for that client when the remaining parent has also "dropped the body" — sure enough, that soul will show up, pantomiming/transmitting to me — "It's true! Now I get it! We don't die!"
Nora was so much about being incredibly present in life, and having an amazing and perceptive talent for looking at life (and particularly at we women) and engaging us to take another look. And then — best of all — her books, movies and essays make us laugh at ourselves and at life's idiosyncrasies. What a gift to the world.
I trust that by now, the soul we've known and loved in the physical, one that presented itself momentarily as "Nora," has received the very most precious gift of all — the realization that like her work, her radiant soul is timeless — and eternal.
Here's one of those delightful articles from Nora. She writes about regrets, aging, and denial.