Psychopomp Stories:
Contemplating Death in a Spiritually Diverse Society
Doctoral Dissertation by Laura Strong, PhD
Table of Contents
CHAPTER
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
See Also:
