Psychopomp Stories:
Contemplating Death in a Spiritually Diverse Society

Doctoral Dissertation by Laura Strong, PhD

Table of Contents

CHAPTER 1
Introduction

• Introduction
• Methodological Background
• Review of the Literature
• Organization of the Dissertation

CHAPTER 2
Death in the West: A Difficult Reality to Deal With

• An Historical Overview
• The Beginning of the End
• A New Day for Death

CHAPTER 3
What Will Be Left When I Die? A Cross-Cultural Look at the Soul

• Western Concepts
• Mythic Symbols of the Soul
• Contemporary Influences and Ideas
• Destinations After Death

CHAPTER 4
The Return of the Psychopomps: Twentieth-Century Guides to the Afterlife

• Jungian Depth Psychology
• The Tibetan Book of the Dead
• Shamanism
• Near-Death Experiences
• Psychics, Mediums, Channelers, and Other Contemporary Explorers

CHAPTER 5
Psychopomps: An Archetypal Primer

• Hermes, The Origin of a Myth
• Hermes Becomes a Guide and Psychopomp
• Other Incarnations of Hermes
• Archetypal Attributes of the Psychopomp
• Definition of a Psychopomp

CHAPTER 6
The Search for Psychopomps: Mythic Afterlife Guides from Around the World

• Barnumbir: The Australian Morning Star
• The Aurora Borealis: Lights the Way for Labrador Eskimos
• Animal Guides: Avian, Equestrian, Delphinoid, and Canine
• Anubis: Egypt’s Jackal-headed God
• Daena: The Zoroastrian Self-Guide
• The Valkeries: Northern European Battle-Maidens
• Jizo: Japan’s Compassionate Bodhisattva
• Angels: Azrail, Archangel Michael, and Other Angelic Beings
• Summation of the Search

CHAPTER 7
The Mythological Advantage: Using Myths to Approach Such Difficult Subjects as Death

• Some Universal Benefits of Myth
• Myths Speak to Many
• Myths and the Transition to the Afterlife

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See Also:

• Abstract
• Ch1 - Introduction
• Ch1 - Methodologial Background
• Ch1 - Review of the Literature
• Ch1 - Organization of the Dissertation
• Bibliography

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