Approaching Death

Subtitled 'a companion's guide to the end of life', this informative and compassionate book suggests that at a deep level, death is a birth into a new dimension. Novalis is quoted as saying, 'where a spirit dies, a human being is born; where a human being dies, a spirit is born.' The cycle of one life is complete. The book is written for carers but also those close to a loved one who is dying or has died. As such, it is full of practical information as well as human stories illustrating various scenarios. The author emphasises that the dying process is individual and that we may have to unlearn things in the process as well as learn. We certainly need to listen and remain aware of our own mortality as separate egos and the anxiety that can arise when really considering transience. In love, one first connects and then has to let go. Some essays are by colleagues, especially those focusing on care for the dying and writing about the languages of images that the threshold, music for the terminally ill and artistic therapy. The approach of death covers physiology, euthanasia, fasting and the moment of death, while the last section is concerned with issues after death, including remaining connected with those who have made the transition. In this respect, there is an extraordinary synchronicity involving a CD that switches itself on and turns out to be the favourite song of the deceased son of the family; at the same time, it happens that his brother is playing the very same CD in his car in England. A very worthwhile read.