[.ca] The Pagan Book of Living and Dying: T/K (ISBN 0062515160)

From Amazon.com:
The Pagan Book of Living and Dying is the pagan omnibus on death, much more than just a history of various cultural rituals and beliefs regarding death. This collection of essays, prayers, and songs is a living document that draws on the resources of today's entire pagan community and fills the void left by ancient sacramental rites lost over the centuries. Designed in such a way as to benefit both the leaders of the pagan community as well as the individual reader, The Pagan Book of Living and Dying encourages preparation under the obvious, but often neglected, understanding that death is seldom expected nor convenient but happens to everyone. The Pagan Book of Living and Dying discusses all aspects of death, from pagan thealogy (from thea meaning goddess, rather than theo meaning god) to the dying process itself, and it even covers sensitive subjects like helping children cope with death. Congenial essays such as Sharon Jackson's "Crash Course in Being Present with the Dying" and insightful perspectives like Diana Paxson's "Preliminary Thoughts Toward Midwifing Your Own Passage" offer a written spiritual resource for assisting and comforting the dying, and advice on facing one's own passage. The Pagan Book of Living and Dying is simultaneously a practical guide, a comforting liturgy, and a new heritage that shows how to appreciate life through a closer relationship with death. --Brian Patterson

Powerful:
This is a book that goes beyond 101. Wrestling with the issues of living and dying from a Pagan perspective, this book gives many ideas and real stories in what it means to live and die.

Inspiring and essential:
Using essays, poetry, songs and rituals, Starhawk shares with us this wonderful collection that deals sensitively with the issues surrounding death. Touching on issues ranging from SIDS to AIDS, this book contains beautiful and comforting words for both Pagans and non-Pagans. The use of prayer and meditation is strongly recommended in the book, which may put off the non-religious person. However, being as the book is aimed largely at the Pagan population, it may be a moot point. I found the commentary compassionate without being patronizing, a task that is difficult within itself. "Living and Dying" is certainly a book we've needed for a long time. So rarely is death treated with such respect and objectivity. Death is a reality, a part of life that we need to embrace, and not fear. And while I'm nowhere near the state of embracement, I can, with the help of this book, at least reconcile the fact that "inevetable" should not mean "hopeless". I recommend this book, for many reasons - the dialogue, the topic coverage, the compassion - and I'd include it as "essential reading" for any Pagan.

Will use it again and again.:
I can't say enough good about this book. Thank the goddess there is a book from a Pagan perspective. That celebrates the diversity of pagan belief and addresses loss and death. From how to help children deal with the loss of a loved one (bird or teacher or...) to how to conduct a home-made cremation to mourning rituals and healing songs to advice for being with a loved one who is dying. My only complaint is that it isn't long enough. Deep enough. Hopefully it is only the first volume of future books...

Found this book lacking.:
I've done quite a lot of reading and experiencing of death the past few years, recently buying Starhawks book for reference. There are some nice rituals for the pagan community or self healing, but nothing that covered the ritual of dying and how to work a "death watch." I would not recommend this book as the only reference guide to anyone who I wish to help me pass on into the next life. It was written more as a healing tool for the authors than as a guide for pagans (or so it seemed). If you are not going read any other book on death, then this should serve you well.

A MUST HAVE!:
I do not want to reiterate what everyone else has written but... It'snot just for the pagan community but for the world at large. Allrituals in this book, as well as those in The Spiral Dance, are not designed as "gospel" but to give you a frame-work to take, expand and modify to make it work for you, make it your own -- whatever the circumstances!