Death Rights and Rites: A Practical Guide to a Meaningful Death

by Judith Karen Fenley, Oberon Zell

Reclaim the Right to a Sacred, Sustainable Death Exploring the spiritual and legal aspects of alternative death-ways, home funerals, and green burial Death Rights and Rites presents practical information and questions for approaching death and dying with a sense of sacred meaning. You will discover ideas for navigating the spiritual and legal issues related to home-based dying, home funerals, and alternative burial methods. Reverend Judith Karen Fenley offers insights into approaching relevant legal frameworks with respect while assisting your loved one in ways that support the best medical care, the natural environment, and the emotional needs of the community. Explore ideas for memorial services and ways to be open to spontaneous rituals for letting go, preparing for death, being at peace, and more. It is possible to manifest your deepest values before, during, and after death. Death Rights and Rites shares examples and provides support as you explore final transitions that are environmentally conscious and spiritually meaningful. Includes a foreword by Jerrigrace Lyons, founder of Final The Institute of Conscious Dying, Home Funeral & Green Burial Education and an epilogue by Oberon Zell, cofounder of the Church of All Worlds

Genres: Death, Witchcraft

276 pages, Paperback

Published November 8, 2020

Reviews

[Dawn Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Death Rights and Rites by Judith Karen Fenley with Oberon Zell


9780738748818

312 Pages
Publisher: Llewellyn Publications
Release Date: November 8, 2020

Nonfiction (Adult), Religion & Spirituality

In these uncertain times, it is appropriate to prepare for end of life. I have found myself very ill and made lists of important things for my husband in the case of my death. I have also been doing internet searches on what and how I should organize things for him. This book has some of the topics I have been looking into. It is important to leave detailed instructions for your loved ones to follow. These are the sections in the book.

Section 1: Grounding Exploration
Section 2: Legal Ground & Breaking Ground Rules
Section 3: Practical Ground
Section 4: Creating Sacred Space
Section 5: In Closing

While final preparations are personal and are hard to talk about, they are important and should be discussed in detail. We do not want our loved ones to make decisions while they are grieving. Last year I lost a dear friend and I still miss her. She told me in the months before her death that she had made all her arrangements and even wrote letters for her daughter and granddaughter to open at future events. I think that is a loving tribute.

The book is written in story format from personal experiences. This book answers questions about caring for your body before and after death. It also discusses whether a funeral service is needed, and the legal aspects. The authors speak and write so eloquently on the subject. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to prepare for the future.

[Destiny Bridwell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book for a fair and honest review. I have a couple of other books about death practices from around the world and I don't see them very often so when I saw this I had to see how it compared with the books that I have read already. It was a bit of an eye opener that is for sure. Once I started to read this book it gave me a new way of looking at the end of one's life. I have dealt with a lot of death in my life and this told me things that I did not know or how to deal with those moments at the end. The book was more then I thought it was going to be and that is good. I like to be surprise when I go in to a book thinking I know what it is and it is that and more.

[Lazarone · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a fine book. Although I knew about the Tibetan book of the dead it was a new theme for me so I learned about "home funerals" but from a particular more pagan perspective. The nice chapter was how to adjust the classic magic ritual approach to the home funeral event. All places where advise is given I like but a few primers from real life are a little strange. So if you want a general and solid introduction this book will fill the purpose. Thanks.

[Lyndi Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm lucky to know the author, Judith Fenley. Before reading the book, I didn't think much about death other than I would be cremated. Her book changed my mind in a hurry. I'm now solidly in the home funeral, natural burial camp. She goes over every detail you'd ever need to know about home funeral practices -- the why, how and what. Also, I'd heard of these alternatives from living in an area where pioneers Final Passages got their start. Many resources are around Sonoma County.

[Your Common House Bat · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book to be very informative. It took on a subject that many people find touchy or hard to talk about and I feel like it was done in a very sensitive and respectful manner. Death was talked about in both a personal and practical way. Fenly drew on personal experience that gave it a more authentic feel.

[vicinthemeadow · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was interesting, informative and a positive ‘natural’ way to look at death. The way it was organized read a bit confusing for me, it felt like it dragged on a bit. It alternates between structures chapters of points about how to support people in a home funeral, to personal bits and bobs to hypothetical stories. Overall I took away some good positive death feelings though!

[CR · Rating 5 out of 5]

For those looking for a well rounded book about death rites look no further. This book does a wonderful job dealing with a hard topic. Its hard to loose someone you love as well as plan for your own death and this book does a wonderful job taking you through the journey of birth, life, and death.

[Ashley (Red-Haired Ash Reads)]

DNF 13%

This book just isn't working for me. I am not really enjoying how it is written or how it is presenting the information. I tried but this one isn't for me.

*ARC provided by Netgalley for an honest review.*

[Annarella · Rating 5 out of 5]

I requested this arc because I wanted to read something by Oberon Zell.
It's a well researched and informative book about death rights and I learned a lot and found it very interesting.
It's strongly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine