Most Helpful Customer Reviews
16 of 19 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Ges's Take, October 4, 2008
This review is from: Walking the Twilight Path: A Gothic Book of the Dead (Paperback)
Death is a subject hidden behind fear and ignorance, and our society at once strives to glorify death and shield use from its truth, but some believe death should be embraced. This book opens the way for readers to walk "The Twilight Path", a path accepting of the truth, nature and inevitability of death. Death is not an end, but a point of transformation, from the moment we are born, we are dying, and transforming, the most profound transformation occurring when you give yourself up to death and the otherside. This book leads you, gradually to begin the Twilight Path, something easily integrated into any spiritual tradition that does not deny life after death, through a sacrifice of yourself, creating Sacred Space for Death in your life, spirit work, and cemetery work, all of it culminating into an initiation death/rebirth ritual. This book treats death respectfully without being a "Dark Book of Darketty Darkness", yet treats it natural and with gentle humour without denying its gravity. The book draws heavily on Michelle's personal experience with death and dying, and the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, as well as Egyptian, Greek and Shamanic traditions. The book contains a good selection of thoughtful journal questions to help you think through your connection with death, as well as a very detailed and visual description of what happens as your body decays (it took me a lot of reading to find that out a few years ago, this would have been much easier), and even interesting tidbits like interesting epitaphs of famous people. A thought provoking read, with a lot of good suggestions, rituals, journals and information, highly recommended to anyone who isn't going to shy away from a bit of corpse and death.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
14 of 18 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A key book on death and dying--a rare gem indeed., September 29, 2008
This review is from: Walking the Twilight Path: A Gothic Book of the Dead (Paperback)
My 'official blurb' below. And I mean every word of it. This book brought me to tears. It's one not to be without, methinks: Death is a topic not to be avoided, and is one of utmost importance to the serious spiritual seeker. In this profoundly deep necromantic-shamanic tome, death is neither glamorized nor idealized, but looked at in a realistic, intelligent, and spiritual light. Michelle Belanger explores numerous aspects of death and dying, and readers are encouraged to enter the world beyond the veil--and learn from it--at their own pace. Indeed, the realm of death is immaculately intertwined with our own. I can say with certainty that Walking the Twilight Path is an indispensable book for those wishing to advance, actualize, and intensely deepen their spiritual practice.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
After some thought, I decided to re-review., February 25, 2009
This review is from: Walking the Twilight Path: A Gothic Book of the Dead (Paperback)
As someone who has been studying this exact same subject for the past 8 years, I have to say that if I had this book when I began I would have saved much time and spared myself many frustrations- frustrations with other books that promise and don't deliver, I mean. This lady knows what she is talking about. Do not miss your chance to learn from her. I may not agree with everything she writes, but she has more than earned my respect and regard for her humble tone in writing, her obvious knowledge from both study and experience, and her diligence in providing excellent material for those who need a nudge (or more). Revision, 03/18/10... I mean this sincerely- the book is excellent. The only reason I am taking it down from 5 stars to 4 (and if I could, I would rate it 4 1/2) is because once my initial enthusiasm for the work faded, there were some methods that I (personally) did not agree with. I am not saying that they're wrong, because they obviously work excellently for the author- I just don't think they would work well for everyone. Of course, one could say this about most (if not all) techniques, but while I felt the greater part of the rituals were just wonderful, there were a few that made me question if the means offered was the best way to go about reaching the ends. I hope I do not insult the author by saying so, but there's something a little Typhonian about some of the rituals, and while this isn't a bad thing in itself (I happen to like some of the Typhonian work), it's not for everyone. Nevertheless, despite my criticisms, I highly recommend this book. All of the rituals are powerful and well researched, the information sound and obvious won through both study and experience. You will not be disappointed.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
|
|
Most Recent Customer Reviews
|
