In the Light of Death

Subtitled 'experiences on the threshold between life and death', this book has a foreword by Pim van Lommel and an afterword by Peter Fenwick, which is a strong recommendation in itself. The author is an experienced hospice worker who helped Peter with his research in Holland. Pim sees the process of acceptance and surrender as essential to dying and a time for reconciliation and resolution by way of inner preparation. The general pattern is one of transition from one reality to another, as also reported in earlier studies. The dying frequently find themselves between two worlds, as becomes apparent from the many extracts in this book. The short chapters cover a wide variety of themes also found in Peter's earlier work that in more detail. The hospice worker has a special role to play, especially if they are aware of the kinds of experiences related in this book. An important insight is the need to slow down and become calm, something we can all apply before we face this transition ourselves, making time for silence. The experiences are charged with meaning and convey a very different understanding of death to contemporary neuroscience. In a chapter on the process of dying, I found it particularly interesting to read about departure of the five elements from the physical body as it dehydrates and is unable to maintain proper circulation. Air is the final element to leave as we breathe our last. This is a sensitive and highly informative book.