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Books for Healing
Facing the end of life—either for ourselves or someone we love—can feel overwhelming and uncertain. I’ve found that reading thoughtful, compassionate books can offer guidance, peace of mind, and meaningful perspective. The titles I recommend for advanced planning explore topics like legacy work, conscious dying, and how to prepare for this sacred transition with intention and grace.
If you’re navigating anticipatory grief or the loss of a loved one, these books can also provide comfort and support. They’ve been carefully chosen to help you process emotions, honor your connections, and find a path forward with compassion. Whether you're preparing for what's ahead or seeking healing in the aftermath, I hope these resources offer a gentle companion on your journey.
Little Birdie Buddies of Love
I first met the author of Little Birdie Buddies of Love at a local event where we instantly connected over our shared belief that love continues long after someone has passed. When I read her book, I felt seen in my grief—it beautifully captures the quiet ways our loved ones stay close, like a cardinal at just the right moment or a feather found when you need it most. The hand-drawn illustrations and heartfelt reflections reminded me that these signs aren’t coincidences—they're love notes from beyond. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is grieving. It’s a gentle, comforting companion in those moments when you’re missing someone deeply.
Recommended Reading
The In-Between by Hadley Vlahos, R.N.
A compassionate memoir from a hospice nurse sharing powerful stories from the bedside. Offers insight into the emotional and spiritual experiences that can unfold at the end of life.
The Five Invitations by Frank Ostaseski
A contemplative guide offering five “invitations” drawn from decades of sitting at the bedside of the dying — teaching us how embracing death’s presence can deepen how we live, love, and face transitions.
A Beginner’s Guide to the End by BJ Miller & Shoshana Berger
A compassionate, all‑in‑one handbook for facing the end of life, full of practical advice — from handling paperwork and healthcare decisions to emotional, relational, and spiritual support.
The Second Half of Life: Opening the Eight Gates of Wisdom by Angeles Arrien
A spiritual guide that frames aging and midlife as powerful initiation. Dr. Arrien introduces eight metaphorical “gates” through which we grow in wisdom, character, meaning, and acceptance—preparing us not just for elderhood, but for conscious endings and living fully in whatever time remains.
Die Wise: A Manifesto for Sanity and Soul by Stephen Jenkinson
A profound and lyrical meditation on death, grief, and what it means to live well. Drawing from decades of working with the dying, Jenkinson challenges cultural denial of death and urges us to learn the “skills of dying”—seeing mortality not as an enemy, but as a necessary teacher.
The Four Things That Matter Most by Ira Byock, M.D.
Drawing on his work with dying patients, Byock shows how saying “Please forgive me,” “I forgive you,” “Thank you,” and “I love you” can heal relationships, ease regret, and deepen connection—important lessons for living fully and facing mortality.
By Your Side: A Guide for Caring for the Dying at Home by Barbara Karnes, RN
A practical, compassionate guidebook for family caregivers providing end‑of‑life care at home. It covers how to tell when death is approaching, how to manage comfort and pain, dementia care, advance directives, funeral planning — and also how caregivers can tend to their own well‑being.
The Art of Dying Well by Katy Butler
A practical guide for creating a “good death,” drawn from stories, medical insight, and spiritual reflection. Butler shows how to live as fully as possible even in aging or illness, how to navigate the medical system, prepare emotionally and practically, and shape death into a meaningful rite of passage rather than just a medical event.
The Death Doula’s Guide to Living Fully and Dying Prepared by Francesca Lynn Arnoldy
A reflective, hands‑on workbook that helps you explore your values, plan your end‑of‑life wishes, build connections, and design a meaningful final chapter—gentle prompts, journaling, and legacy work to live with intention and die with peace.
The Wild Edge of Sorrow by Francis Weller
A lyrical and deeply human guide to grief, this book frames sorrow not as something to “get over” but a sacred territory to walk through. Weller introduces "five gates of grief"—from personal loss to ancestral grief—and shows how ritual, community, and attention to what we usually avoid can lead to healing and renewed connection.
