In Consideration of Death
A M. Macha NightMare Legacy Project
Thanatopsis* is a group of diverse Pagans who are working together to improve death literacy and to provide resources and information for Pagans interested in or facing choices surrounding death and dying. These include support and vigil for those passing, honoring the body that houses the deceased, memorializing, and grief support.
Thanatopsis seeks to provide education, support, and practical Pagan-oriented and interfaith approaches to all matters concerning dying, death, body disposition, memorializing, and grieving resources, including art and music.
Thanatopsis will adapt to the changing needs of Pagan community as it evolves and stands to help those with matters involving death and dying.
*Than·a·top·sis (thăn′ə-tŏp′sĭs) n. A meditation upon death. [Greek thanatos, death +opsis.] Thanatopsis (ˌθænəˈtɒpsɪs)n. a meditation on death, as in a poem [C19: from Greek thanatos death + opsis a view]
Thanatopsis Coordinators
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M. Macha NightMAre
M. Macha NightMare (Aline O’Brien, M.Div.(h.c.)) is a ritualist, both solo and collaborative; an interfaith activist; and an internationally published author who has contributed to anthologies, encyclopedia, textbooks, and periodicals. She co-authored, with Starhawk, The Pagan Book of Living and Dying: Practical Rituals, Prayers, Blessings, and Meditations on Crossing Over. She has taught workshops called “Meeting Death/Grieving Loss” throughout the U.S. since 1997, an is a co-founder of Thanatopsis: In Consideration of Death. Much of her work in recent years has been in the liminal realm between the magic and the mundane. She serves on the Advisory Boards of Cherry Hill Seminary and the Sacred Dying Foundation, and represents the Covenant of the Goddess and CHS in the American Academy of Religion, Marin Interfaith Council, Marin Interfaith Climate Action (founding member), and at interfaith symposia throughout the U.S. A co-Founder of Hematite Inmate Ministries, Macha currently serves the inmates of the Wiccan circle at San Quentin State Prison.
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Rev. Kathleen Reeves
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Lilith Pearson