At the end of 2022, I gifted myself the life changing experience of deactivating my social media. I wasn't all that surprised that since reactivating, I have noticed a significant increase in my anxiety and a decrease of my mental capacities. I want to focus on the positives here though - the space I created away from the screen allowed me to re-kindle my love of libraries and books and increased my desire to reclaim my attention span. I am following the urge to share some resources, some that may support you too.
As much as I love libraries for sussing out such an array of people's musings on paper, I also love purchasing books. Just the ones I love so much because I want to return to them over and over and more often than not, the book becomes a boomerang between friends and we learn more about each other based on what the other person has underlined. It's a special kinda magic, book sharing.
There appears to be a bit of a theme around these books I'm about to share. I promise, every now and then I dive less deep and enjoy the (sometimes) shallow waters of fiction books too.
The Wild Edge of Sorrow - Rituals of Renewal and the Sacred Work of Grief
by Francis Weller
I have been waiting a long time for this book. Mentioned to me many moons ago, I recently found the note I had enthusiastically made myself of the book recommendation and then promptly did nothing with. Time is a funny thing. Now I feel very ready to bathe in the poetic wisdom that is Mr Francis Weller. I am currently reading a pristine library copy and 11 pages in I already want EVERYONE TO READ THIS BOOK. I am about to order my own copy because there are simply so many gems, it simply must become a part of my collection of books that provide buoyancy when I find myself adrift.
"Each one of us must undertake an apprenticeship with sorrow. We must learn the art and craft of grief, discover the profound ways it ripens and deepens us. While grief is an intense emotion, it is also a skill we develop through a prolonged walk with loss.
Facing grief is hard work...It takes outrageous courage to face outrageous loss.
This is precisely what we are being asked to do."
The Top Five Regrets of the Dying - A Life Transformed by the Dearly Departing
By Bronnie Ware
I had been introduced to Bronnie's work some time ago and I have found the 5 regrets she speaks of, really stirs something in me (rebellion perhaps?). Reading the book (as opposed to studying her findings) has been such a surprisingly delightful read. Bronnie has a beautiful way of honouring those she has been close to at end of life with her sweet and reverent storytelling.
Awakening from Grief - Finding the way back to Joy
by John E Welshons
In full transparency - I have only read the chapter of this book On the Death of a Parent! However, there was something about it that did not sugar-coat nor minimise the initiation process of becoming Fatherless that truly felt like honey to my aching heart. I trust there is plenty of gold dust scattered through the pages that touch on grief in all her shape shifting forms.
Belonging - Remembering ourselves Home
By Toko-Pa Turner
This was a boomerang book! I borrowed a very well loved copy from a friend so loved they had even bathed together. A happy accident indeed, the book had taken on a rather full bodied, delightfully crinkled appearance. There was something so lovely about the cover, in look and feel that before I knew it, I was ordering my own copy to have and to hold and to scribble in and share. Some books I pick up and can't put down. This book has been such a reliable source of strength, softness and understanding. Just every now and then, I would open the book up and read the next chapter. There was always so much beauty in the way the words were woven together that this book also feels a little like medicine.
Letting Go - How to plan for a good Death
By Dr Charlie Corke
I try to veer away from terms like good death as it suggests bad deaths and I don't want to perpetuate any feelings of us humans failing at yet another life experience. Drawing on many years of experience as an intensive-care specialist, and writing with great insight and compassion, Dr Corke shows us all the ways in which people can make a mess of dying — and, more importantly, in doing so, he teaches us how we can do it better.
Hopefully something among this collection inspires you to get back to the books, in whatever form delights you the most.