And a Sword Shall Pierce Your Heart: Moving from Despair to Meaning After the Death of a Child

by Charlotte Mathes

Jungian psychoanalyst Charlotte Mathes experienced a parent’s worst nightmare—the death of her child. In this book, she describes her experience of struggling to find meaning and wholeness in one of the most shattering of experiences. That journey led her to Jungian archetypal psychology and to a heartfelt desire to help others come to terms with the profound sense of grief and loss that follows such an event. The author tells her story of “personal knowing from walking the path of mother grief,” while establishing a background that guides the reader through the steps and archetypes that mark the process of mourning. Through personal experience, myth, and stories, she shows how one can gain a renewed sense of inner and outer wholeness in life. Charlotte Mathes helps parents discover the “myth” they have been living and shows ways to greater self-awareness, understanding, and wisdom. She also suggests practical resources such as movies, books, and music that help parents regain perspective and learn how and where to reach out for help. This invaluable guide is written from experience and a profound psychological perspective that puts it all together in a holistic way that is accessible and helpful in a time of personal tragedy.

Genres: Psychology

299 pages, Paperback

First published September 30, 2005

Reviews

[Pat]

I am on my 2nd time through, reading this book. I've read many, many books on 'death of a child'. This book is a good one, when you are a couple of years out from the death. Early on, I would recommend 'how to I get thru this' kind of books.

This book looks at death of a child in universal terms in that mothers have dealt with their children's death throughout the ages, how to we come thru it and continue to live 'a life'.

Mathes, a bereaved mom, looks at archetypes, universals, and gives the reader a chance to ponder, and decide philosophically, spiritually how am I going to live the rest of my life, after this tragedy.

Again, I would not recommend it to the early griever. But, it will be a book that I will read again, and again, as I make my way thru the rest of my life, without my dear son.