On November 20, 2025. I had a conversation with a lifelong friend, Dr. Larry Brazley, who casually mentioned the concept he called ‘Post-Existence’ in a text and began to explain the term in more detail. What he conveyed was eye-opening regarding my references to life and death, and what falls in between. This learning experience prompted me to research the subject more broadly, enabling me to share what I learned in greater depth. Throughout history, humanity has grappled with the mysteries of origin and destiny, where we come from, why we are here, and what becomes of us when we depart. Whether through ancient mythologies, philosophical inquiry, religious doctrine, or modern scientific exploration, the stages of pre-existence, existence, and post-existence form a timeless framework for examining the human journey. This article provides an objective overview of these three stages, offering a foundational understanding of each within both metaphysical and practical contexts.
Pre-existence, as it relates to ‘before the beginning,’ refers to the state or condition before a person or thing comes into being. It raises fundamental questions about identity, consciousness, and the origin of life. In our ancient history, Plato believed the human soul pre-existed in an ideal realm before entering the physical body. ‘Hinduism and Buddhism’ propose a cyclical existence, in which the soul reincarnates across lifetimes based on karma. Whereas ‘Christian Theology’ has debated the pre-existence of souls, though mainstream doctrine generally holds that God creates the soul at or before conception. As for a ‘scientific perspective,’ modern science doesn’t address pre-existence in the spiritual or personal sense. However, it can interpret pre-existence as a state of potentiality, in which genetic material, environmental conditions, and cosmic processes converge to set the stage for individual life.
Existence, regarding the ‘state of being,’ is the span of an individual’s conscious and biological life. It encompasses physical development, experiences, relationships, and the ongoing formation of identity.
In short, to avoid getting too deep into this thing called life, create a possibility for yourself that conveys what you should know before assuming what you know so little about. Life, and what makes life work, is understanding the ins and outs of what life brings to you. To learn is to place you in a better space that ignites the power of learning. If you continue to avoid conversations that offer a deeper wealth of critical knowledge, you’re missing out on opportunities you may never capture again.
Post-Existence refers to what, if anything, follows physical death. It is perhaps the most speculative and diverse aspect of this continuum. The religious and spiritual perspectives I chose to break down, not in full, but in part, of what this term identifies. For example, ‘Abrahamic religions such as Christianity, Islam, Judaism, describe an afterlife, heaven, hell, or other realms of judgment and reward. ‘Buddhism’ focuses on liberation from the cycle of rebirth through enlightenment. On the other side of this spectrum lies ‘Spiritual Beliefs,’ which proposes that consciousness persists in an ethereal dimension or as an ancestral presence.
If this article serves as some mapping mechanism for further clarity, I encourage you to examine thoroughly what all of this means for you.