Jeltje Gordon-Lennox is a psychotherapist, author and independent researcher in the fields of psychotraumatology and emerging secular ritual. She has edited Emerging Ritual in Secular Societies. A Transdisciplinary Conversation (2017), the first book of its kind to discuss the importance of secular rituals for cultural and personal growth. She has written five practical guides for crafting non-religious ritual: Three guides in English published by Jessica Kingsley Publishers, London, UK and two guides in French published by Labor et Fides, Geneva, Switzerland. She writes on psychotrauma and emerging ritual in both languages for publication in art expositions, catalogues and theological journals.

Focuses on why people 'do' ritual in times of loss, separation and terror

Reveals hidden connections between fear, trauma, creativity and ritual making

Presents a new model of ritualising developed by Stephen W. Porges, originator of polyvagal theory

Chapter 1. Introduction: Ritual, Dignity, and the Fragility of Life (Jeltje Gordon-Lennox).- Part I: Trauma and Ritual in Other Times and Places.- Chapter 2. Deeply Human: Archaeological Traces of Rituals for Coping with Death, Adversity, and Trauma (Liv Nilsson Stutz and Aaron Jonas Stutz).- Chapter 3. Ancient Rituals, Contemplative Practices, and Vagal Pathways (Stephen W. Porges).- Chapter 4. Coping with Social Trauma in Ancient China: The Healing Power of Meditation, Ritual, and Music (Ori Tavor).- Chapter 5. Processions and Masks: Facing Hardship in Ancient Europe (Matthieu Smyth).- Part II: The Role of Ritual in Healing Trauma.- Chapter 6. At the Sharp End of Medical Care: Healing and Reconnecting Through Ritual (Robin Karr-Morse).- Chapter 7. Dinka Community Case Study: Healing Post-Conflict Trauma Through Ritual (Alex N. Kamwaria).- Chapter 8. Memory Boxes: Ritualising Memory in Transitional Justice (Sophia Milosevic Bijleveld).- Chapter 9. Networked Solidarity: Online Rituals of Mourning Following Public Death Events (Sasha A.Q. Scott).- Part III: Global Threat, Trauma, and Ritual.- Chapter 10. Challenging Global-Dislocation Through Local Community and Ritual (Bruce K. Alexander).- Chapter 11. Ritual in an Age of Terror: From Taliban to Trump (Lisa Schirch).- Chapter 12. Nuclear Disaster, Trauma, and the Rituals of Scientific Method (Mae-Wan Ho).- Chapter 13: 'Dead Land Dead Water' - Nowhere Left to Go (Jeltje Gordon-Lennox).