The question of what constitutes a good death is intriguing because it has many variations. However, the reality is that your death is likely to be beyond your control. If you are fortunate enough to live a long life, you may experience a prolonged dying process that can last weeks or even months. One of the first indications that an older person is nearing the end of life is often hospice qualification. To simplify, this means a doctor has determined... Read more
As I write this on Beltane eve, I sit and consider the clouds and impending storm to come. When your dog give you a "WTH" look.... you know its bad. I realized that my living space, next to my bed, had become so messy that when my dog came to inform me it was time for a walk, she had trouble finding room to turn herself around. She made me see the mess I was allowing to accumulate. I hadn't put anything away recently and books, pens, clothes, jewelry, makeup, dishes and other things were basically strewn about. I live in a very small space. Read more
I’ve written before about how setting goals can be a beneficial process. A goal is about attaining something that is currently out of reach and will take time, work, dedication and often sacrifice, to achieve. It’s possible to focus so intently on the actions involved in the process that once we accomplish the goal we can feel a bit empty and numb, perhaps even lost and without purpose. Read more
The only way to help others with death is to choose to wrestle with that shadow yourself. As I’ve stated probably in EVERY article, tomorrow is not promised; therefore, by not preparing yourself for these situations you may loose a valuable opportunity. Read more
Holding space for Death is a growth experience. My ultimate goal is to have a good death and all my other goals reflect that. Read more
In my chosen spiritual tradition, we observe Yule/winter solstice, honoring the darkest night and welcoming in the birth/return of the life-giving light. The personification of Darkness and Death as well as that of The Light and Birth take center stage as we honor the turning of the wheel of the year. Although seasonal affective disorder is acknowledged, much of modern culture disassociates from nature so completely that we don’t consider whether daylight, cold and the increased darkness affect our physical,... Read more
You had no control over your birth experience and yet, while we can prepare ourselves and our families and friends for death on financial, spiritual, and emotional levels, most are not interested in developing that practice. Read more
"Liminal Spaces" is a phrase that elevates the process of making decisions into the sacred practice that is Living. Read more
Spiritual retreats are for seekers who are looking to deepen their life experiences and open new levels of consciousness, psychedelics, like psilocybin and ayahuasca are alternative therapies used to help alleviate the fear of death, as well as heal trauma, deepen self-acceptance, open one's personal perspectives and create new avenues. Read more
Religious and faith differences can become major issues when people come to their final days before they pass or if they have not made proper preplanning for their funeral. Gender fluidity, Pagan vs Christian, and Traditional vs Evolutionary become more prominent in many aspects of estate planning. The funeral industry is probably one of the most Victorian holdovers in Western Civilization. There are many atrocities that happen at the hands of the family when religions and belief systems clash. Make... Read more
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