The Psychopomp Mermaid

[water splashing] Before we get into the meat of this episode, let's discuss semantics real quick.

All right? If you've been listening to this season, y'all know that we gotta discuss semantics for all these things.

So let's, let's just do this.

Let's just do this, okay? For the purpose of this episode, I will be using the term, quote, "psychopomp mermaid," unquote.

Before we continue, we need to discuss what the term psychopomp means real quick.

The word psychopomp is a Greek word that basically describes a spiritual guide that guides souls to the place of the dead or the afterlife.

The psychopomp is a figure that appears in religions and mythologies from across the globe.

So even though the term is Greek, this archetype appears in cultures, spiritual traditions, religions from across the globe.

Right? And the figure of the psychopomp even appears in certain sects and c- you know, classes of psychology.

Spiritually speaking, though, a psychopomp is a spirit that transports departed souls from one location to the other, from the realm of the living to the spirit world.

That is what a psychopomp is spiritually.

Psychopomps are a class of spirits that fall under the broader category of spirits of the dead, which is a whole spiritual category itself and is another conversation for another day.

We'll talk a little bit about this.

Like, you'll hear me mention spirits of the dead a couple times throughout this episode, so do know that spirits of the dead is its own category of spirits, the same way water spirits is its own category, the same way earth spirits is its own category.

Right? Spirits of the dead are their own category of spirits.

We're not gonna get too deep into it today because that is a whole other conversation.

But understand that psychopomp is a class of spirit under the broader category of spirit of the dead.

Also, understand that psychopomp is both a category of spirit of the dead and is also a job and function, meaning that a whole lot of spirits can be psychopomps because it's a job.

I'll give you an example.

Deities like Anubis, you know, from Kemetian spirituality, AKA ancient Egyptian spirituality, as well as deities like Hermes from Greek spirituality and mythology both served as psychopomps.

They're both gods, but they're also psychopomps.

But other spiritual beings like the Greek ferryman Charon that transported souls to the underworld or the Norse Valkyries also serve as psychopomps.

In certain spiritual traditions, particular animals like dogs or ravens or crows or owls or vultures or even horses serve in the role as a psychopomp.

Many modern theologists would also even argue that Archangel Michael or even Jesus also serve in the roles of a psychopomp.

We even have, quote-unquote, "human psychopomps." Often those are people that take up shamanic roles or death doulas, even some being psychic mediums that stay with the dying and help them transition to the other side.