“They have an efficacious totem-way to learn from death (and hardship) in life, a way that I feel emulates the wisdom of the sages and philosophers who recognize Death as a teaching force or being.

They call her Mother Death, and speak of her as a source of protection, wisdom, and an agency of transformation and transportation at death.

‘She will take you across in the right way and protect you. We pray to her and listen to her’.

They wear tatoos of her image, keep effigies nearby, burn offerings to her, and generally observe venerations toward her.

I sense these women may be wiser than they appear. There is something in their seemingly superstitious practices, something any intelligent person could learn a great deal from, were they so disposed.

And if they were not? Well, eventually, they will be. But by then the opportunity for preparations will have elapsed.”

— an anonymous informant