As the Last Leaf Falls: A Pagan's Perspective on Death, Dying & Bereavement

by Kristoffer Hughes

Overview

Move Beyond the Fear of Death and Integrate Its Powerful Energy

As the Last Leaf Falls is a guide to death and the mysterious world beyond. The rituals, meditations, and exercises are designed to bring you on a journey of discovery through the most profound of all human transitions. Filled with insight and practical guidance, this book shows you how to honor family and friends in spirit and discover the life-affirming aspects of every state of existence.

Join renowned Druid priest Kristoffer Hughes as he explores the three Celtic realms of existence—the realm of necessity, the realm of spirit, and the realm of infinity—and illuminates the reality of spiritual continuation. Challenging many status quo beliefs about the afterlife, this illuminating volume supports the important work of confronting death and absorbing its meaning into the core of your spirit.

(This book was previously published as The Journey Into Spirit.)

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780738770000
Publisher:	Llewellyn Worldwide, LTD.
Publication date:	11/08/2020
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	312
Sales rank:	830,885
File size:	3 MB

About the Author

Kristoffer Hughes (Wales) is Chief of the Anglesey Druid Order, a Mount Haemus Scholar, and a member of the Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids. He is a teacher, writer, workshop leader, and guest speaker at Pagan conferences, camps, and festivals throughout the United Kingdom, Europe, and North America. Hughes worked professionally for His Majesty's Coroner for over thirty years. He is a Welsh language television presenter and actor. He's the author of From the Cauldron Born, The Book of Celtic Magic, As the Last Leaf Falls (previously titled The Journey into Spirit), and Cerridwen, as well as the creator of both the Celtic Tarot and the Yuletide Tarot. Visit his Facebook page for news and events. You can also visit him at www.AngleseyDruidOrder.co.uk.

Table of Contents

Contents

Author's Note xiii

Introduction 1

Antemortem: A Light in the Darkness 9

PART 1 The Realm of Necessity
The Circle of Abred 15
The Call of the Reaper 19
NAIN'S STORY: First Loss 35
Approaching the Halls of the Dead 41
HAYDN'S STORY: When Life Is Too Much to Bear 67

PART 2 The Realm of Spirit
The Circle of Gwynvyd 77
The Path of Pain and Feeling 81
The Seasons of Grief 91
DAD'S STORY: Unwilling to Die 123
Swimming in Spirit 131
Being Spirit 147
MYFANWY'S STORY: The Acceptance of Death 165

PART 3 The Realm of Infinity
The Circle of Ceugant 173
Towards Infinity 177
The Mystery of Divinity 193
RACHEL'S STORY: Seeing Through Tragedy 207
Reaching for the Soul's Meaning 213
MILLIE'S STORY: Losing an Animal Companion 231

PART 4 Ritual and Practice
As the Last Leaf Falls: Preparation, Practice, and Ritual 239
A Vigil for the Dying 241
Preparation of the Body 247
PETER'S STORY: Funeral for a Druid 253
Saying Goodbye 263
Samhain: Days of the Dead 267

Postmortem 281

Glossary 285

Bibliography 287

Acknowledgments 291

Editorial Reviews

Praise for As the Last Leaf Falls:

"Never has the delicate balance of life and death been so beautifully expressed. Kristoffer Hughes speaks clearly and powerfully about experiences that we all will go through, demonstrating how spiritual, emotional, and physical truths combine to allow us to move forward."—Cat Treadwell, Druid priest and author of Facing the Darkness

"[As the Last Leaf Falls] reads surprisingly fast and easy for such a deep subject and—in fine Druid fashion—it can be accessed on multiple levels. … There are rituals to support the dying, rituals for funerals, and rituals to honor the dead. And there are exercises and practical suggestions to help the reader prepare for the inevitable reality of death. … If we have any interest at all in what comes after death, they are ideas worthy of our consideration."—John Beckett, author of Paganism In Depth

"What a gift this book is. From the lyrical quality of Kristoffer Hughes' writing, not often present in nonfiction, to the sensitive and thoughtful wisdom he imparts, [As the Last Leaf Falls] gives the reader a compassionate space to rethink beliefs about death."—Susan Starr for Spiral Nature Magazine

"An insightful, uplifting yet thought-provoking account of the complex nature of living a life in service to the dead."—Carla Valentine, Technical Curator, Barts Pathology Museum, London

"Hughes encourages the reader to explore the mystery of death for themselves; illustrating that we can become our own wise and trusted guides, and in doing so, find an authentic understanding of death's greater mysteries, one that has meaning and relevance for us personally."—Jana for Druidry.org

"This book's strength lies in the inner journey it takes us on. By reflecting on death and our beliefs about what happens to us after we die, Hughes guides us to shine a light on ways to better live. … Anyone who deals with death and its consequences—which means all of us—should read this eloquent and sensitive book."—Nikki Starcat Shields for TrueNorth.net

From the Publisher