The Pagan Book of Living & Dying: Practical Rituals, Prayers, Blessings, & Meditations on Crossing Over

Author(s): Reclaiming Collective Staff
Publisher: Harper San Francisco
Release Date: 10/01/1997
Available formats: Paperback - Trade Paper (ISBN: 0062515160)
Number of pages: 384

reviewed by Jia Starsong

Let's be realistic. Whether we want to accept it or not, eventually we will all loose a loved one; a parent, a spouse, a child, a friend. Eventually at some point we will lose someone we hold dear, and eventually each of us will die. We need to be prepared. We need to know how to help those around us, and ourselves, through what can be a most difficult time.

Starhawk, author of "The Spiral Dance", "The Firth Sacred Thing" and others (along with members of the Reclaiming Collective), has compiled a resource that deals with the realities of death. Inside its covers you can find a collection of advice, stories, prayers, songs, rituals, meditations and more.

Quoting Starhawk herself "this book is a collection of resources for those who are assisting a dying person, grieving a beloved, or planning a funeral or memorial service". "The Pagan Book of Living and Dying" covers death in its myriad faces. It speaks about sudden death, death after a long illness, suicide, the death of a child, and even the loss of a pregnancy. I cannot think of anything that was not at least touched on in this title.

It weaves personal experiences with practical advice. You will read about how individuals dealt with the losses of spouses, parents, and children. You will read about planning a funeral service. You will be guided through the painful process of grief.

It speaks to death being a part of the cycle of life, that while it may bring grief it is simply another change, another turning of the wheel. It must be experienced, but it does not have to be wrought with fear. This alone does not make this a unique title. Volumes have been written for the purpose of assisting people with their grief. However, this is the only book I know of to address this topic from a Pagan, or earth-based, perspective;

The book itself is written in a free-flowing manner and much of it has a conversational tone. I can only compare it to sitting in a circle of friends. Each of them has been where you are. Each of them has a lesson or some kind of advice to give. This is a worthwhile read, an invaluable resource, for anyone.

In October of 1997 I lost a most wanted pregnancy. Three weeks later I lost my mother to cancer. However, it was not until about a year later that I found this title. It allowed me to move past my sorrow into peace and acceptance. It also provides me with the tools I will need to cope with future losses, and to help others heal as well.