A Celtic Book of Dying

"Drawing upon both Celtic and Christian traditions, The Last Ecstasy of Life: Celtic Mysteries of Death and Dying is a metaphysical exploration of death as a transition of the soul's boundaries. Thoroughly accessible to readers of all backgrounds, The Last Ecstasy of Life offers insights on how to help those who are dying, learning to accept death as preparation for what lies beyond, sample Celtic blessings and poems, and much more. The Last Ecstasy of Life is a comforting browse and resource for anyone going through the difficult process of saying goodbye to a loved one, or confronting their own final days. It should be noted for personal reading lists that this book is also available in a Kindle edition ($9.99)."

“When Phyllida Anam-Áire speaks, writes, or sings, she takes you on a soul’s journey! A Celtic Book of Dying will take you to a deeper understanding of Celtic consciousness that encompasses conscious dying as well as conscious living, as the one cannot be understood without the other. Everything Phyllida teaches comes out of her own experience and is therefore always authentic. I am deeply grateful for the wisdom she is passing on to us and for encouraging us always to embody this wisdom and to live it instead of understanding it intellectually.”

“Phyllida draws from the deep well of her own life journey and the wellsprings of the ancient spiritual and mythological wisdom held within the ancestral memory of Ireland. Our ancestors embodied a nondualistic perspective concerning life and death that emerged from their close connections with the natural world and its rhythms. Life was understood as a river of presence that flowed in and out of many different forms, and death was understood as a natural part of the continuum of life, death, and rebirth. Earlier cultures saw death as a transformation of form rather than the end of life. These insights are urgently needed in our death-phobic culture. This book is a wonderful spiritual, philosophical, and practical resource to educate and guide people who are dying and those who are journeying with them. With insights, practices, prayers, and blessings to support the journey for everyone involved, this book offers all of us an amazing opportunity to grow in awareness, in consciousness, and in unconditional love and acceptance.”

“Phyllida writes with a natural flowing style that invites the reader in. A Celtic Book of Dying is a gift for those wishing to know more about the dying process and an invaluable aid in assisting a dying loved one. I highly recommend it.”

“This sacred book contains an extremely precious sharing of a deeply rooted knowledge and wisdom, focussing on both the biological as well as the spiritual process of dying. It offers us an opportunity to approach death with open hearts and with less fear, so we can be more present for our own death, for being a witness or sitting with another who is dying, and in supporting those whose loved ones are dying. Working with Phyllida you find yourself in a powerful cauldron in which to face all aspects of yourself, including those that may have previously been cut off or denied, so that you can welcome all of yourself home, sit in the fullness of you, and live the whole of who you are. Life becomes an amazing and vibrant journey of preparation for death.”

“Although this book is entitled A Celtic Book of Dying, it is very much about the living and how to live. Phyllida is our loving and empowering guide upon The Path of Love in the Time of Transition, as the subtitle says. Deep insights are communicated with honesty, passion, and practicality. Poetry, song, stories, and rituals are interwoven in a comforting and reassuring way. It is written with great compassion and has an authority that is always rooted in true experience. I don’t believe that one could read a book like this and not be changed by it. I know these teachings helped me to accompany my father in the dying process, because they freed me to truly listen to myself and to him, and, as a result, I have a beautiful memory of the gift of his passing. I also know that there is enough teaching in this book to keep my heart and soul inspired for the rest of my life.”