Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this read. All opinions are my own.
Time passes by so quickly the older I get, and this book found me at a place of wanting to remark on the regular but still extraordinary events of life. I appreciate the thoughtful approach to milestones and rituals. Perfect for anyone looking to introduce introspection and deeper meaning into their regular daily lives by embracing the "transformative threshholds" we encounter along the way.

Events shape our lives, stirring up emotions, bringing transitions, and forcing changes. These moments — a birth, health crisis, marriage, job transfer, the loss of a pet, leaving for college — tend to get lost amid routinely busy days with their unending demands.

Day Schildkret, artist and author behind the Morning Altars movement, believes we need ritual to observe, sanctify, and make sense of these transitions. Being mindful of them, being willing to honor these times with purpose and meaning, provides a sense of stability and reminds us there is always something we can do, say, make, or thank to acknowledge these life events.

Drawing from his Jewish heritage, wisdom, experiences, and hundreds interviews, Schildkret offers instructions for seventy-five rituals to mark thirty-six of life’s thresholds. Often introduced with a story or other information, the second part offers a customizable ritual, ending with a list of questions for introspection.

“Hello, Goodbye” offers ways to stop and mark each of these moments special and sacred. There are morning and evening rituals, seasonal rituals, rituals for times of crisis and for stages of life, and rituals that are celebrations and expressions of grief. They can be done by anyone, alone or with others, for they are not religious or difficult, and they can be modified as needed.

For instance, a ritual for a miscarriage calls for gathering together objects that symbolize what was loved and lost from the pregnancy, and burying the bundle; a divorce ritual acts to “undo” the ancient Celtic hand-fasting by unbinding the couple — both before witnesses. After receiving a diagnosis, one ritual suggests spreading a blanket outside, lying down, looking up at the sky and repeating affirmations while another works with three bouquets of roses to draw out the anger and grief.

From morning to night, from spring to winter, and from birth to death, there are rituals that will help denote events that are not routine.

I highly recommend this book. It will help elevate the moments society tends to ignore, giving them meaning and significance, and urging readers to slow down, process what has happened, and tend to its memory. Big or small, an ending or a beginning, we are more grounded when we remember to remember.

Day Schildkret describes himself as “a queer, Jewish cis man.” In addition to speaking from his experience, he held hour-long conversations with two hundred people willing to share a moment in their life that forever changed them. He is the author of “Morning Altars: A 7-Step Practice to Nourish Your Spirit through Nature, Art and Ritual.”

Reviewed by Lynn Woike (The Witch on Wheels) of PaganPages dot Org

I had an issue with my e-reader getting wet which resulted in my not finishing this book as quickly as I had hoped, but I absolutely plan to purchase it at my earliest convenience.

The rituals outlined in this fabulous book, while influenced by the author's own faith, are secular and fully syncretic to anyone's personal practice. The author encourages group involvement in addition to solitary work, and calls the book itself a sort of "cookbook for ritual: to drop what doesn't work, to adapt and change as needed, but more importantly not to read it cover to cover like a novel." Sound and beautiful advice.

Many of us have lost the cultural traditions and rituals needed to observe, sanctify, and make sense of the transitions of life. This loss has left many of us seeking ways from other cultures, oftentimes overstepping boundaries in doing so. While the author may borrow lovingly from the ideas of open cultures, overall he helps invent new ways of being mindful to all events in one's life. We are reminded to be willing to honor these times with purpose and meaning, and the author offers a sense of stability in doing so, reminding us there is always something we can do, say, make, or thank to acknowledge these life events.

I received a copy of this book from Tiller Press, S&S/Simon Element care of NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. #HelloGoodbyeRituals #Netgalley

This is a beautiful title and I enjoy the fluidity of it. There are suggestions for rituals, but enough freedom to find what works for you. I will be gifting this to myself and others. What a wonderful way to practice presence.

I simply cannot recommend this book highly enough! If you are in any way inclined toward the spiritual, or introspection, or gatherings and community, you will enjoy it as much as I did. I am a fan of the authors natural mandalas work and this book is rich in cultural lore as related to our personal lives. There is much background here as to rituals in different parts of the world, as well as the importance of rituals to invoke meaning in our lives.

For me, the best part of the book was the biggest part of the book… The actual rituals themselves! The author has included a treasure trove of rituals that anyone can use in their lives. There are morning rituals, evening rituals, rituals to welcome and release the seasons. There are also rituals for letting go- from something as small as a child losing a tooth… To some thing as big as letting go of a job or a person. Has included rituals for many kinds of new beginnings, and many kinds of loss/grief. Finally, rituals to use in times of crisis, plus a good section of resources.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and publisher for an advanced reading copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.