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Weiser Books 1995, 2005 ISBN #1-57863-336-2 One of the greatest things that we can do for ourselves is to republish and make available to the general public classic works of import. Dion Fortune's Book of the Dead (first published as Through the Gates of Death in 1930) certainly falls into this category, as part of the Western Mystery Tradition. The western world has never dealt with the topic of death and dying in a manner that either recognized the true process, or the parts that both the living and the dying play. Fortune takes us through the process of dying, shedding light along the way on the esoteric value of some of our funeral customs, and how they are in reality an integral part in the journey of the soul to the light. In the introduction, we take a look at what is termed the "death-care" industry, and its focus on big bucks, as opposed to assisting in the journey of the deceased. One of the things that I found interesting here is that embalming is not required by law. If you think about it - once embalmed, how long is it going to take the physical body to go back into its natural elements? Psychiatrist Elisabeth Kubler-Ross addressed the issue of dying in her book On Death and Dying. One of the issues that she addressed was the practice of not telling patients with a terminal illness, nor their families, what their true statues was. The editors of Weiser Books, the gentlemen who wrote the introduction, place Book of the Dead in the same category as The Egyptian Book of the Dead, or the Tibetan Book of the Dead. All of these books act as guidebooks to take us through the process of dying. I was very interested to read about the custom of placing both candles and flowers in the room of the deceased. It is much more than a nice gesture - it has to do with the withdrawal of the soul from the etheric double, and supplying it with a source of etheric vitality. If this is not done, that vitality will be taken from anyone in the vicinity. Fortune also states that the living have two tasks to perform: 1. "We must see to it that dust returns to dust as swiftly and harmoniously as possible, giving rise to none of those happenings which may be termed the pathologies of death." 2. "We ought to follow up the departing soul with the right kind of telepathic communication until it is safely established on the Other Side." Directly addressing this second point is prayer. The purpose of prayer for the deceased is to help them through the light, and to help them become comfortable on the Other Side so that they can begin the work that lies before them. How very much help would this be if it was generally known that the living have a responsibility to the dying beyond care of the physical body! Fortune talks of the cycle of birth/death/rebirth. Life is ever evolving, and not nearly as filled with shadows as we think that it is. She talks of two kinds of death: natural and violent, and two kinds of passing: peaceful and unpeaceful. On the subject of communicating with the dead, Fortune lays down some steadfast ground rules. Some of the things to take into consideration are not tying the soul of the deceased to the physical plane with repeated communications, and the timing of the communications: it is easier for the soul of the deceased to communicate fairly soon after they have died (but not immediately, because they have not completely crossed over), and more difficult as time goes on, because they need to complete their transition. In connection with this is the subject of bereavement, and the bonds of physical, emotional, and spiritual union. There is also a discussion of the role played by the four Archangels of the Elements: Raphael, Michael, Gabriel, and Uriel. It is to these spirits that the physical body is released. Fortune also discusses the timing of death, and why someone who is ill appears to get better directly before their death. I worked as a Medical Technologist in large and small hospitals for many years, and often saw what I considered to be an anomaly - the very ill becoming "healthy" immediately before dying. It was also true that as health care workers, we were able to discern when a patient was going to allow themselves to die. And that is exactly what it seemed to be - coming to peace with the process and allowing themselves to die. Towards the end of the book Fortune has included a ritual for those who have died a violent death, to bring peace to their souls. In these modern times, this type of death happens far too often. What grace to be part of a ritual to bring peace to these souls. For those that wish to understand the process that the soul goes through in passing from life into death, the responsibilities of the living, and the responsibility that we all carry to face death with honor and dignity, rather than fear, I highly recommend this book.
Bonnie Cehovet
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