The Wisdom of Dying: Practices For Living

About this book

Death catches us unprepared. Overwhelmed by not knowing what to do or say we may hold our breath until it passes only to be consumed later with regrets and suffering that we pass on down through generations. Michael Murphys approach to death is both astounding and compelling in its simplicity. Abundant with fascinating references to ancient myth and legend essentially it suggests a return to the celebration of joy in death of the ritual and passion central to the traditional Irish wake with the loved one present for music dancing and storytelling. It is about recovering what we have lost before we die: the innate wisdom apparent in children before they are trained in soul-lessness by the prevailing culture the capacity to care to give freely to love and be loved. Interweaving the intensely moving stories of those who have met death and those who have accompanied them with stories from ancient myth and legend and insights gained from the authors decades of experience in guiding others on their journeys toward death this remarkable book may well change your approach to life as it reveals how we can focus on our conscious dying to open ourselves to more conscious living; listen to our inner feelings and to those of the people we love; change patterns of relationships to enhance our connection with ourselves and others; use the powerful models of storytelling myth and ritual; and finish what needs to be finished let go of what needs to be let go.