Rituals for Life, Love, and Loss

From the joy of naming a child or blessing a home to the sadness of ending a marriage or the dignity of a simple funeral, here are the words and settings needed to value and commemorate life’s transitions and milestones. Rituals for Life, Love, and Loss provides rituals and meditations for today's world, for times of celebration and commitment, for new beginnings, and for periods of grief. Dorothy McRae-McMahon, internationally renowned for her work with ritual, has created meaningful ceremonies for all people, regardless of their faith. Presented in three parts — Celebrations, Changes, and Letting Go — these rituals are comprised of simple, direct language and include guidance for what to say, suggestions for music, and ideas for group participation and incorporating symbolic objects. Rituals for Life, Love, and Loss is for everyone who wishes to mark and honor those significant occasions along life’s journey.

Dorothy McRae-McMahon is a retired Minister of the Uniting Church in Australia but she continues to preach at an inner city Uniting Church in the parish of South Sydney. She is an internationally recognized creator and writer of religious rituals, and the first woman to be the Moderator of the World Council of Churches Worship Committee. She holds an Honorary Doctorate of Letters from Macquarie University for her work with minorities and her contribution to the spiritual life of her community. In 1977, McRae-McMahon was awarded a Jubilee Medal by the Queen for her work with women; she has also received the Australian Government Peace Award (1986), and the Australian Human Rights Medal (1988). Sydney Barbara Metrick has authored several books including Crossing the Bridge, I Do, The Art of Ritual, and Art from Ashes. Her masters’ degree is in transpersonal counseling psychology and her doctorate is in expressive arts therapy. For more than 25 years, Dr. Metrick has specialized in supporting people through various life transitions by creating personalized ceremonies or using therapeutic techniques. Dr. Metrick is also a professor at the Eisner Institute for Professional Studies, where she teaches graduate classes in psychology and coaching. She lives in El Sobrante, California

Introduction
Using These Rituals
The celebration
Blessing a Home
A Marriage Ceremony
Commitment for Two People
The Birth of a Child
Naming a Child
For a Child with a Disability
Compassion for Yourself
A Milestone Birthday
A Citizenship Ceremony
Our Heroes and Heroines
Celebrating Our Country
The in between
Forgiving Yourself
Forgiving Someone Else
A Termination of Pregnancy
Surviving Domestic Violence
Surviving Sexual Abuse
The End of a Marriage
Sending Someone into Care
Facing Illness
The grieving
Facing a Miscarriage
A Funeral for a Baby
Grieving a Missing Person
Farewelling a Loved One
Grieving a Suicide
A Simple Funeral
Burying or Scattering Ashes
The Death of a Pet
Grieving Violence
After the Fires
Facing the Drought