Book Review: ‘Life After Death’ by Damien Echols

I wanted to share some thoughts on the book ‘Life After Death’ written by Damien Echols, who in 1994 at age eighteen, was falsely convicted for the tragic murders of three young boys. With his alleged accomplices, Jason Baldwin and Jessie Misskelley, Jr, the group became known as the West Memphis Three and spent roughly eighteen years behind bars, until they were released in 2011.

I can’t say how I came across the story of the WM3 as there were so many people rallying for their defense, be it Eddie Vedder, Metallica or Henry Rollins among others or whether it was through watching Paradise Lost, the film documenting the case. It might have also been coverage in the Shambhala Sun and the piece “Roshi on the Row” Regardless, be it thorough musical or Buddhist channels, I heard the message.

He’s someone I identified with. Similar age group. Love of metal, hard music, skateboarding and horror movies. At the time of his arrest, he looked different and didn’t fit into his small town.  As I read his story, so much resonated with me and what was so scary was that it would have been so easy for his story to have been my story - any of our stories.

I turned to Zen out of desperation. I had been through hell, traumatized, and send to Death Row for a crime I did not commit. My anger and outrage were eating me alive. Hatred was growing in my heart because of the way I was being treated on a daily basis.

The book comes mainly out of the journal entries that Echols kept starting in 1994 when he was sent to Death Row and provides a glimpse into his life before the murders occurred and then captures a exceptionally descriptive view of life behind bars and the conditions of the prison system. It is a story of someone who has endured so much and survived. The story of a kid with the wrong haircut, the wrong clothes, liking the wrong music and finding themselves forced into a very adult circumstance in which he was completely powerless.

On an average day there is nothing kind, generous, caring or sensitive within these walls. The energy directed at you is hatred, rage, disgust, stupidity, ignorance and brutality. It affects you in mind body and soul, much like a physical beating. The pressure is relentless and unending.

There is so much spirituality infused within the pages of the book and demonstrates Echols’ interest in magick and religion. His writing is poetic and truly transports the reader into the small space where he physically and mentally spent many years. His terror and pain is spilled out on the pages as is his compassion and humour. His descriptions are vivid - some raw and horrifying when he speaks to violence or the troubled souls he’s witnessed and other descriptions are so gentle and tranquil as he paints such beautiful images of winter and the magical seasons and sensations he missed while behind bars. It is poetic at both ends of the spectrum.

He is now working his way through a world that has changed so very much since his wrongful incarceration. He’s experiencing many things for the first time and no doubt this is both exhilarating and frightening. With his dedicated, devoted and fierce wife Lorri who worked tirelessly for his release, he’s now finally home.

I feel  ‘Life After Death’ is best described as the first memoir of Damien Echols, because I believe his true potential now that he is free is about to be realized and we are only starting to now see the blossoming of this brilliant and strong man. His creativity is free and I’m happy and grateful he’s now able to share his work with us.

I look forward to his second memoir given his second chance at life - a life after a death sentence.

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Giclee Print by Damien of the “Medicine Buddha”

In mystical traditions of Buddhism,the Medicine Buddha is always portrayed with blue skin. He represents healing energy,and is worked with for all physical,emotional,and spiritual healing.

I received transmission of the Medicine Buddha practices from a teacher in the Tibetan tradition of Buddhism while I was on death row. There is almost no medical care on death row because they aren’t going to spend much time and energy taking care of someone they plan on killing. During times when I became very ill or was in extreme pain,meditation was all I had to get me through.

This picture of the Medicine Buddha was made as a focus to aid me in those meditations.