Bones and the Bereaved
Bones and the Bereaved is a creative guide for those on the end of life journey. Whether you are actively dying, a carer of the dying, or if you are feeling a death of something in your life. These gentle DIY’s can guide you back to a birth of your creative archetype.
About the author, Rachael Rantz is a widow, an end of life doula, certified yoga instructor, and creative soul. Her purpose is to bring light and awareness to the dying process. She longs to guide other's through grief by moving through creative portals showing us that there can be a glimmer of light while flowing through the deep waves of grief in the death portal.
This hardcover book is a slow-made companion for those living alongside grief, loss, and the realities of dying. Created with my husband in our death nest, and continued beyond his last breaths, this book weaves together end of life education, ritual art practices, and contemplative reflections to be met gently, in your own time.
Inside, you’ll find guided DIY projects designed for the end of life, practical and accessible teachings around death and dying, and quiet spaces to pause and breathe after each creation. Our lived experience is gently woven throughout the pages, offering a lived knowing that death may hold beauty and creating can be a sacred practice.
This is not a book to rush through. It is meant to be returned to. To be held, marked, and worked with over time. Whether you are navigating the loss of a beloved human or animal, preparing for death, a carer for someone who is dying, or tending to anticipatory grief, this book offers gentle medicine for moving through the threshold of loss.
This book was created over five years as a living legacy between Brian and I. Its pricing reflects the real costs of printing, editing, and the choice to publish through a woman-owned press rather than a large publishing company. Purchasing the book directly supports me as I continue to grieve and live alongside this work.
A small offering: If the cost of the book feels out of reach right now, you’re welcome to email me at thespiritofray@gmail.com. I’m open to connecting and exploring what might be possible.
Reno locals: use code RENOLOCAL43 for free delivery or pickup - Pick up location + date TBD
A select number of copies are available for immediate shipment. Once those are claimed, additional copies will ship with approximately 2-4 weeks as I restock.
As an independent author, I personally fund each print run of this book. That means I restock in smaller quantities, ordering what I am able to invest in at a time. Unlike traditionally published releases backed by large print budgets and warehouse distribution, this book is printed and restocked intentionally and sustainably.
Ordering directly through me ensures that the greatest portion of your purchase supports my work as an independent author and helps sustain this heart-led creation.
If you need a copy sooner or live outside the U.S., it’s also available through Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Thrift Books , and Bookshop.org with their standard shipping times.
Thank you for your patience and for supporting an independent release… it truly makes a difference.
Reviews
“Rachael! I got the book a few days ago but was waiting for a special moment to open it. I cried reading the forward and am so moved by this labor of love. I will be spending a lot of time pouring over this one. Thank you for putting this work out into the world!”
Kaitlyn - Los Angeles“I think your book is a great gift to give someone who is caring for someone dying. Like invaluable. I mean it’s good for everyone. At any stage. But wow. For someone actively in it. I could just see them holding onto it so tightly.”
Christina - Oregon “It’s so aesthetically beautiful and so incredibly nourishing and heartwarming. A grief book filled with crafts, mantras, poetry, and wisdom. I’m obsessed.”
Former Customer
Your thoughts + reflections are always welcome + so appreciated…
