Is death really “the end”?

We say that phrase so casually—the end—as if it’s settled, obvious, beyond question. But what if it isn’t?

In this deeply intimate and searching episode of Life in Jest, Selene Castrovilla and Pascale Laforest step into one of life’s hardest and most universal questions: What happens after we die—and what happens to those left behind? What begins as a philosophical exploration of metaphysics becomes something far more personal, as Selene shares how the loss of her son, Casey, propelled her into a profound inquiry about grief, consciousness, and whether connection truly ends at death.

This episode weaves together philosophy, lived experience, humor, and vulnerability as Selene unpacks metaphysics in plain language, explores why humans across cultures report ongoing connections with loved ones after death, and introduces the ancient concept of alchemy—not as magic, but as transformation under pressure. Grief, she argues, is a kind of alchemical process: not something that disappears, but something that changes form.

Selene also discusses her personal experiences of continued connection with Casey, framing them not as belief or doctrine, but as lived reality—offered honestly, without asking anyone else to agree. The conversation touches on grief that doesn’t calcify, love that doesn’t end, and meaning that is still being forged, even after devastating loss.

Important note for listeners:

A short segment in which Selene visually demonstrates communication using divining rods has been removed from the audio version, as it doesn’t translate without visuals. The complete, uncut episode—including that visual segment—is available on YouTube, where you can experience it in full context.

Here's the link to the video: https://youtu.be/0NF1HXw_VnY

As always, Life in Jest balances depth with warmth, seriousness with humanity, and inquiry with laughter—because sometimes the truest things are spoken, quite literally, in jest.

🎧 Topics include:

• Is death the end—or a transformation?
• Metaphysics explained simply
• Grief, loss, and the human need for meaning
• Alchemy as emotional and psychological transformation
• Why shared human experiences matter more than belief systems

This episode isn’t here to tell you what to think. It’s here to invite you to think—and to feel.

Thank you for listening and for your support. As we head into 2026, we're feeling the love, and we're so grateful! XOXOXO

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