Synopses & Reviews
From the joy of naming a child or blessing a home to the sadness of ending a marriage or the dignity of a simple funeral, here are the words and settings needed to value and commemorate lifes transitions and milestones.
Rituals for Life, Love, and Loss provides rituals and meditations for today's world, for times of celebration and commitment, for new beginnings, and for periods of grief. Dorothy McRae-McMahon, internationally renowned for her work with ritual, has created meaningful ceremonies for all people, regardless of their faith. Presented in three parts Celebrations, Changes, and Letting Go these rituals are comprised of simple, direct language and include guidance for what to say, suggestions for music, and ideas for group participation and incorporating symbolic objects.
Rituals for Life, Love, and Loss is for everyone who wishes to mark and honor those significant occasions along lifes journey.
Synopsis
Rituals for Life, Love, and Loss provides rituals and meditations for today's world, for times of celebration and commitment, for new beginnings and times of grief. Dorothy McRae-McMahon, internationally renowned for her work with ritual, has created meaningful ceremonies for all people, regardless of their faith. From the joy of naming a child or blessing a home to the sadness of ending a marriage or the dignity of a simple funeral, here are the words and settings needed to mark and honor lifes journeys and make the everyday sacred.
In her introduction, McRae-McMahon says,
[M]any people think their life events are relatively insignificant. A ritual says that is not so - that our life journeys and events are to be honored, respected, grieved and celebrated because they are special. Although rituals do not solve things, they are acts where we gather support around ourselves, name what is happening and create a sort of salvation moment that can be remembered in our tough times.”
The book is in three parts: Celebrations — Changes — Letting Go. All the rituals are presented in simple, direct language; often, helpful information and resources are added. Guidance is provided for what to say, there are suggestions for music, ideas for group participation, and instructions on how to incorporate symbolic objects such as plants, cloths, and bowls of water. The wealth of suggestion and flexible design of the rituals make this book a valuable resource for clergy, chaplains, civil celebrants, funeral directors, social workers, counselors, therapists, or groups of concerned friends and an important resource for all who long for ritual in their lives.
In addition to family and extended family rituals, there are sensitive personal rituals for forgiving others and oneself, and for healing from abuse or violence. These include meditations that can help the individual focus on the event privately, before or after the ritual. There are a variety of rituals for enhancing life together as a community, such as a ceremony recognizing local heroes and heroines, rituals for the aftermath of drought, fire and other natural disasters, and rituals for acknowledging the history and dignity of indigenous peoples.
The author places her extensive experience with rituals and her deep knowledge about their importance at the service of the reader. She encourages the creation of personal moments in a ritual and to value and commemorate those occasions that feel significant, whether or not they are recognized as such by society. For her, the most important aspect of rituals is that they invite people to dedicate time and attention to reflect on and express feelings about what is happening in their life.
The rituals are written to be non-religious but McRae-McMahon allows room for a sense of the spiritual and of mysteries of love and healing, of that which lies beyond the personal. Many are written so that they can be easily adapted to include religious terms. Whether they are for celebration or for grief, whether held in public or in private, the reader will find the rituals in this book are life-affirming. To quote the Author - I hope that everyone who uses these rituals and meditations will be profoundly affirmed in the dignity of their human journey.”
Understanding that for centuries human beings have been able to express ritually what they would otherwise never share with each other, this book was written for anyone wishing to use ritual and ceremony to bring more of the spiritual into their life. The power of these rituals is based in their simplicity, silent moments, symbols and invocation of grace.
About the Author
TOUR/TV/RADIO/BOOKSTORE EVENTS • Author lives in Australia - available for radio appearances? • Pitch to Radio shows with a focus on well-being, spirituality, self-help, caregiving, book reviews: Dr. Pat, The Valder Beebe Show, The Book Report, Authors Corner, Listen to Life, Aware, The Allan Hunt Show, The Reading Life, Amplify, Soul Series, Turn On Your Inner Light, Advice Line, Saturday Morning Brunch, Conscious Talk, The Cleverley Show,
PRINT • Advance galleys to trade journals (Publisher's Weekly, Kirkus, LJ, SLJ, Booklist, ForeWord) • National review pitches to magazines with a focus on well-being, self-help, caregiving, funerals, social work: Well Being Journal, Yoga Journal, Woman, Ladies' Home Journal, AARP Bulletin Today, Today's Caregiver, Amazing Wellness, Life:Beautiful, Experience Life, Journal of Ritual Studies, Integral Yoga Magazine, Cosmic Voice, The Director, FCCFA Magazine, The Catholic Cemetery, American Funeral Director, American Cemetery, Social Work, The Independent, The Cremationist of North America • National review pitches to general Health magazines:
Health and You, Be Healthy and Beautiful, Harvard Women's, Healthwatch, Fitness, Yoga, Let's Live, GreatLife, Natural Health, Natural Beauty and Health, Body and Soul, Prevention, O Magazine, Spirit of Women, Men's Health, Woman's Day, Women's Health, Self, The Health Journal, Men's Health Advisor, First for Women, Health for Women, Readers Digest, Health, Women's Health Weekly, Oxygen, Prevention, All You, Women's World, Body Sense, Natural Awakenings, Serendipity, Energy Times, Reader's Digest, Healing Newsletter, Creations, Real Health, Vibrant Life, • National review pitches to magazines with a focus on spirituality, religion, new age: New Life Expo Magazine, Radius Magazine, Indigo Sun, Adventist Review, World Vision Magazine, Charisma, West Texas Catholic, The Plain Truth, U.S. Catholic, National Catholic Reporter, Evangel, America, Worship Leader, Bible Study Magazine, Congregations Magazine, Catholic Digest, Good News, Christianity Today, A New Heart, Home Life, Emmanuel, Sh'ma, Islamic Horizons, The Lutheran, Savannah Jewish News, Irish American News, Spirituality and Health, Journal for Preachers, Preaching, New Urban World, The Priest, In Touch Magazine, Jewish Action, Islamic Monthly, World Magazine, Youth Worker Journal, Herald, Faith and Family Value, Sharing the Practice, Praise and Coffee, Christian Woman, WHOA Magazine, Azizah, Leadership, New Spirit Journal, Friends Journal, Stand Firm, Called Magazine, Equip to Disciple, Equip for Ministry, Humanistic Judaism, The Door Opener, Pheonix Spirit, Law of Attraction, Moment, Missions Mosaic, Jewish Book World, Circle Magazine, Thriving Family, Word and World, Jewish Book World, American Athiest, NA'AMAT Magazine, Guideposts, Turning Wheel, New Women New Church, Significant Living, Oracle 20/20, In Magazine, Outreach, Light of Consciousness, Evolve, Vision, Sage Woman,
ONLINE • Social networking through Facebook, Twitter, etc.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Using These Rituals
The Celebration
Blessing a Home
A Marriage Ceremony
Commitment for Two People
The Birth of a Child
Naming a Child
For a Child with a Disability
Compassion for Yourself
A Milestone Birthday
A Citizenship Ceremony
Our Heroes and Heroines
Celebrating Our Country
The In Between
Forgiving Yourself
Forgiving Someone Else
A Termination of Pregnancy
Surviving Domestic Violence
Surviving Sexual Abuse
The End of a Marriage
Sending Someone into Care
Facing Illness
The Grieving
Facing a Miscarriage
A Funeral for a Baby
Grieving a Missing Person
Farewelling a Loved One
Grieving a Suicide
A Simple Funeral
Burying or Scattering Ashes
The Death of a Pet
Grieving Violence
After the Fires
Facing the Drought