Sacred Dying: Creating Rituals for Embracing the End of Life

This is one of the books I recommend as a "must read" for all human beings! I only wish I had found this book years ago when I was helping a loved one navigate her own death. I was so ill equipped, mentally and emotionally. I would have done things so differently-- this book has made me view the dying process (and the possibilities for making it incredibly special) in a whole new way. Megory Anderson is the modern day Elizabeth Kubler-Ross. I now give this book to friends on a regular basis.

Sacred Dying offers that hard to find balance: compassionate advice on a very emotional topic written in a clear, clean and easy to understand style. The stories of patients and families are very moving and uplifting. There are lots of practical guidelines for those of all faiths to make the end of life experience what it should be - beautiful!

In Western societies today, the amazing feats of technology have led to a view of death as a medical failure, rather than an absolute spiritual transition. Ms. Anderson helps us to see how we can make this transition into the unknown in a spiritualized and sacred way, no matter what our belief system may be.Ms. Anderson has done amazing work in her life and in this book. Her passionate style and use of personal anecdotes, creates a wonderful synthesis of exposition and storytelling.

As one exposed to multitudes of books since the age of 5 or 6, I am now much less impressed with content or style than with the impact of a text on human persons and human lives. Having labored with Megory on the final edit of this book, I found that it held a very human size and scope in my imagination, and for some reason, I resisted writing a review until I had an opportunity to watch it 'work.' Recommending it to friends who were dealing with painful end-of-life transitions, and seeing the power it wielded for those grieving, I can now speak to its ability to do the 'work' for which it was created."Sacred Dying"is not a book to help you 'figure-it-out,' or gain the kind of facile comfort that comes with glib metaphors or promises of other-worldly realms. It is a testament of stories, and ways of being and doing in the presence of those near the end of life. It will make you smile; it will make you cry; but above all, it will make you know that in your love for the dying, you can help create the sacred space that is all about life and human connection.Thomas Moore, in his introduction, remarks,"This is one book to keep at hand, because you can be sure that one day you will need it." I can only add that on the day you need it, you can rest assured that it will do its work.

Megory Anderson has provided us with a beautiful, thoughtful book that will be a comfort to many people. It is accessible without being simplified, and intelligent without being pretentious.I highly recommend Sacred Dying to anyone who is in need of it.