The Pagan Book of Living and Dying

557 Pages·2013·8.764 MB·English

by  Starhawk

HarperCollins e-books
The
Pagan
Book
° f
Living
and
Dying
♦
Practical Rituals, Prayers, Blessings, and Meditations on
Crossing Over
Starhawk, M. Macha NightMare, and The Reclaiming
Collective
9
HarpcrOnc
Dedication
the memory of Bertha Goldfarh Simos
and Nicholas Pappas
Contents
Dedication
List of Rituals. Prayers, Songs. Chants, Poems, and Medi­
tations
How This Book Came to Be: Reflections on My Mother's
Death
How to Use This Book
Introduction
Part One—Pagan Tradition
i: The Sacred Cycle
2: Current Practice
3: Practices and Meditations
4: Myths of Descent and Return
Part Two—The Pagan View of Death
5: Lessons from Death
6: The Land of the Dead
7: Karma and Reincarnation: Embracing the Wheel of
Birth and Death
Part Three—The Dying Process
8 : Preparing for Death
q: Working with the Dying
io: The Moment of Death
u: What We Must Do for the Dead
12: Funerals and Memorials
Part Four—Death Has Many Faces
13: Children, Violence, and Sudden Death
a id s.
14: Death and Choice
Part Five—Carrying On
15: Making Room for Grief
16: Practical Work
Appendix A: How to Make a Mask
Appendix B: Books on Death and Dying for Adults and
Children
Appendix C: Example of a Living Will Declaration
Appendix D: Example of a Health Care Proxy/Durable
Power of Attorney
Glossary
Contributors
Acknowledgments
About the Author
Copyright
About the Publisher

Charge o f the Cod dess
TRADITIONAL BY DOREEN VALIENTE, AS ADAPTED BY
STARHAWK
Listen to the words of the Great Mother, Who of old was
called Artemis, Astarte, Dione, Melusine, Aphrodite, Cer-
ridwen, Diana, Arionrhod, Brigid, and by many other
names:
Whenever you have need of anything, once a month, and
better it be when the moon is full, you shall assemble
in some secret place and adore the spirit of Me Who is
Queen of all the Wise.
You shall be free from slavery, and as a sign that you be
free you shall be naked in your rites.
Sing, feast, dance, make music and love, all in My pres­
ence, for Mine is the ecstasy of the spirit and Mine also
is joy on earth.
For My law is love unto all beings. Mine is the secret that
opens the door of youth, and Mine is the cup of wine
of life that is the cauldron of Cerridwen, that is the
holy grail of immortality.
I give the knowledge of the spirit eternal, and beyond
death I give peace and freedom and reunion with
those that have gone before.
Nor do I demand aught of sacrifice, for behold, I am the
Mother of all things and My love is poured out upon
the earth.
Hear the words of the Star Goddess, the Just of Whose feet are
the hosts of Heaven, Whose body encircles the universe:
I Who am the beauty of the green earth and the white
moon among the stars and the mysteries of the waters,
I call upon your soul to arise and come unto me.
For I am the soul of nature that gives life to the universe.
From Me all things proceed and unto Me they must re­
turn.
Let My worship be in the heart that rejoices, for behold,
all acts of love and pleasure are My rituals.
Let there be beauty and strength, power and compassion,
honor and humility, mirth and reverence within you.
And you who seek to know Me, know that the seeking
and yearning will avail you not, unless you know the
Mystery: for if that which you seek, you find not with­
in yourself, you will never find it without.
For behold, I have been with you from the beginning,
and I am That which is attained at the end of desire.
,
List o f Rituals, Prayers Songs, Chants, Poems,
and Meditations
(Material not otherwise attributed was created by Starhawk.)
RITUALS
Funeral or Memorial Sendee
For Children—Elsa DieLowin
Spell to Comfort and Assure That the Donor Will Have
What Is Needed in the Afterlife—Dennis Irvine
Ritual to Free the Donor s Essence from Her Organs—
Beth Elaine Carlson
Abortion: A Healing Ritual—Vibra Willow and Minerva
Earths child
A Ritual for Cutting the Cord—Patricia Devin
A Ritual for Healing After Cutting the Cord—Patricia
Devin
PRAYERS
TO SAY WHILE SOMEONE IS DYING:
Embrace the Change
Carry Only Love
FOR THE DYING PERSON TO SAY:
Listen People
For All the Gifts
Birth. Growth. Death, Rebirth