The American Book of Living and Dying

Table Of Contents

CONTENTS

Preface to the Paperback Edition – viii

Introduction – 1


Part I. The History

Hospice

The Original Hospice: The Art of Dying Well – 13

A Vision from the Past: God’s Hotel – 14

Our Cultural Bias: Death Is the Enemy – 17

Hospice in America: Gift and Challenge – 19

Ancient Books of the Dead

The Heritage – 21

• Egyptian Book of the Dead: A Greater Light
• Celtic Books of the Dead: Spiritual Midwifery
• Gnostic Books for the Living and Dying: Bridge between East and West
• Tibetan Book of the Dead: Coaching the Soul
• Monastic Books of the Dying: Prescriptive Care

What the Books of the Dead Have in Common: Lessons for Us Today – 34

Spiritual Pain

Pain versus Suffering: The Human Condition – 37

Diagnosing Spiritual Pain: Asking Courageous Questions – 39

Responding to Spiritual Pain: A Psychospiritual Relationship – 42

• Meaning Pain: The Painful-Blissful Encounter with the Truth
• Forgiveness Pain: The Common Cold of Spiritual Pain
• Relatedness Pain: Leaving the Familiar Behind
• Hopelessness Pain: Death as Healer

Becoming an Anamcara – 55

• Ten Commandments for the Anamcara


Part II. The Stories

Annie: the Perfectionist
Will you love me even if I get it wrong? – 63

Henry: the Helper
Will you love me even if I can’t love you back? – 81

Sara: the Achiever
Will you love me even if I am not successful? – 95

Heather: the Dreamer
Will you love me even if you know who I am? – 111

Park: the Thinker
Will you love me even if I lose everything in life? – 125

Maria Elena: the Loyalist
Will you love me even if I break the rules? – 143

Andrew: the Adventurer
Will you love me even if I cry? – 159

Dorothy: the Asserter
Will you love me even if I am weak? – 175

Larry: the Peacemaker
Will you love me even if I disagree with you? – 189

Story Archetypes – 202


Part III. The Tool Chest

Art Therapy – 205

Breath Work – 209

Coma Therapy – 213

Dream Work – 218

Energy Therapies – 223

Forgiveness Exercises – 227

Guided Visualization – 231

Healing and Assistance from Ancestors – 236

Healing Religious Abuse and Images of God – 240

Intercessory (Nonlocal) Prayer – 244

Journaling – 248

Life Review Exercises – 252

Meditation Practices – 257

Music Therapy – 262

Religious Rites and Sacred Writings – 267

Rituals for the Bedside – 270

Rituals of Release – 273

Vigil Rituals and Rituals for Remembering – 277


Bibliography – 285

About the Authors – 294