Do I Have to Wear Black?: Rituals, Customs & Funerary Etiquette for Modern Pagans

by Mortellus, Amy Blackthorn (Foreword by)

Overview

A Guidebook for the Modern Pagan Funeral

Explore death and dying from the perspective of magical and Pagan communities. Filled with rituals, meditations, legal considerations, and practical advice, this book provides profound insights into death as a spiritual process.

Within these pages, you will discover more than fifty rituals for funerals, memorials, and remembrances as well as meditations for mourning and letting go. Each chapter shares the beliefs and specific rituals of a distinct tradition, including British Traditional Wicca, Dis-cordianism, Eclectic Wicca, Heathenry, Hellenism, Druidry, Thelema, and more.

You will also discover hands-on advice for creating shrouds, coffins, and death masks as well as tips for advanced planning, wills, and power of attorney. Whether you want to share this book with a non-Pagan funeral professional, learn what to expect at a Pagan funeral, or develop a ritual for a loved one's passing, the wealth of material within is designed to help readers experience final transitions in a spiritually meaningful way. With contributions from a variety of practitioners across many traditions, Do I Have to Wear Black? delivers a multitude of magical rites and detailed explanations in one thorough manual.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780738765402
Publisher:	Llewellyn Worldwide, LTD.
Publication date:	02/08/2021
Pages:	344
Product dimensions:	7.50(w) x 9.25(h) x 0.81(d)

About the Author

Mortellus is a lineaged Third Degree Gardnerian High Priestex of the Long Island Line. They are presently busy at work on their third book for Llewellyn Worldwide, with the second, The Bones Fall in a Spiral: A Guide to Necromancy and the Magic of Death set to arrive on shelves September 8, 2022. In addition to their role as High Priestex, Mortellus is a Mortician and holds degrees in Design, Education, Fine Arts, and Mortuary Sciences. Their areas of expertise include necromancy, necrobotany, mediumship, and the funerary rites of minority faith groups. They currently reside in Western North Carolina on three acres that doubles as the Covenstead for the Coven of Leaves with their spouse; four-year-old twins; and one really, really ridiculous dog.

You can visit Mortellus online at https://linktr.ee/acrowandthedead and https://www.mortellus.com/.

Amy Blackthorn is a professional intuitive and author of Blackthorn's Botanical Magic (Weiser Books, 2018), Sacred Smoke (Weiser Books, 2019), and Blackthorn's Botanical Brews (Weiser Books, 2020). She has a certification in aromatherapy and incorporates her experiences in a traditional witchcraft with her horticulture studies. Amy's company, Blackthorn's Botanicals, creates tea based on magical herbal formulas. She has appeared in print as well as on Coast to Coast AM, HuffPoLive, and Netflix's Top Ten Secrets and Mysteries in an episode about supernatural abilities.

Table of Contents

Rituals & Exercises by Section xiii

Disclaimer xvii

Acknowledgments xix

Foreword xxiii

Introduction: Why We Need This Book 1

Part 1 Views of Death and What Comes After

Chapter 1 The Underworld 7

Chapter 2 Myths and Cycles 15

Chapter 3 Views on the Afterlife 23

Part 2 Mortuary 101

Chapter 4 The Modern Funeral 29

Chapter 5 Advanced Planning 45

Chapter 6 Restorative Arts and Crafts 53

Part 3 Customs and Funerary Rites

About This Section 65

Chapter 7 British Traditional Wicca 69

Chapter 8 Crypto-Paganism 85

Chapter 9 Discordianism 103

Chapter 10 Druidry 111

Chapter 11 Eclectic Wicca 123

Chapter 12 Heathenry 135

Chapter 13 Hellenism 149

Chapter 14 Kemetism 169

Chapter 15 Thelema 191

Part 4 No Two Deaths Are the Same

Chapter 16 Companion Animals 211

Chapter 17 A Long Goodbye 223

Chapter 18 Unexpected Death 231

Chapter 19 Loss of a Child 237

Part 5 Grief and Everything After

Chapter 20 Pagan Mourning 251

Epilogue 267

Contributors 269

Glossary 273

Bibliography 287

Index 301

Editorial Reviews

"Do I Have To Wear Black is a deeply personal and yet utterly relatable book that guides the reader through a process that many in the modern world fear: Death. From dying and the afterlife, to planning funerals and funerary rites, to the grieving process this book is an essential guide to everything we usually look away from. Here we are invited to dive deep and find comfort in what for many is the most frightening part of the cycle of the soul. Truly a must read."—Morgan Daimler, author of The Morrigan: Meeting the Great Queens and A New Dictionary of Fairies

"Do I Have To Wear Black? is a much-needed guide to navigate the many choices encountered when a loved one dies. I think it will also inspire you to have discussions about what you and the people in your life may wish for the concluding chapter in their story. Mortellus speaks from her personal and professional experience which brings a sense of comfort and strength to the book that makes difficult material accessible and inviting. The best time to read this book is long before you need it. The second-best time to read this book is in your time of need."—Ivo Dominguez, Jr., author of Spirit Speak, Practical Astrology for Wiccans and Pagans, Keys to Perception, and Wiccan Elder

"This book fills an important need in Pagan literature. Unique in its point of view, Do I Have to Wear Black? is a vital guide for Pagans on a road we will all, eventually, travel."—Deborah Lipp, author of Tarot Interactions and Magical Power for Beginners

"Mortellus escorts us behind the veil of our own primal fears and our modern squeamishness, sharing guidance and hard-won wisdom with grace, sensitivity, and gentle humor."—Misha Magdalene, author of Outside the Charmed Circle: Exploring Gender & Sexuality in Magical Practice

"Do I Have to Wear Black is a comprehensive and unique collection of rites and rituals for the death and dying process, specifically for Witches, Wiccans, Pagans, and death workers. Mortellus touches on the uniqueness of our spirituality in a way that is accessible and easy to understand. Truly an excellent book for any human that will be touched by death."—Phoenix LeFae, author of What Is Remembered Lives

"There's practical information on the funeral industry here, tremendous insight into Pagan views on death, and several heartfelt and complete passing over rites for a number of Pagan traditions. This book is a must for Pagan clergy and coven leaders."—Jason Mankey, author of Transformative Witchcraft

"A diverse, practical, and much needed guide to the funerary mysteries of death, dying, and bereavement."—Christopher Orapello, coauthor of Besom, Stang & Sword

"Can a book about death and dying be uplifting? This one certainly is! This book is a much-need guide to the mythology and ritual around death in the pagan religions. It covers everything a pagan and his/her family, the funeral director, clergy and guests could need or want to know when planning, conducting or attending a pagan funeral."—Nicole Evelina, USA Today bestselling author

"Mortellus's gorgeous prose is both informative and moving, filling a significant gap in Pagan literature and promising to serve as a critical reference for years to come. A must for Pagan clergy as well as those interested in that age-old question: what about when we die? And who isn't curious about that?"—Thorn Mooney, author of Traditional Wicca

"From rituals to an in-depth look at mortuary science, Do I Have to Wear Black? is a valuable resource for readers who follow Pagan and earth-based spiritual belief systems."—Patti Wigington, author of Badass Ancestors

From the Publisher