A Gentle Death: story (slideshow) about a community of Sisters of St. Joseph

This thoughtful slideshow just came out through the The New York Times. It is about the Mother House of the convent of the Sisters of Joseph, a Rochester home specifically built for sisters who are preparing for the end of their lives. They are supported through their end of life with special care that suits their needs at this unique time. When you have the chance, do have a look.

Dying does belong at home, and in community. (As Rabbi Zalman Shachter-Shalomi reminds us, we've pathologized death by taking it to the hospital in the last 100 years.) And it means so much when older people can have the spiritual and moral support they need directly in their homes and residences when they need it. Aging people who live in community with loved ones and people they can trust, remember that they are loved and cared for. Therefore, they can relax better, and even have less pain and suffering. What a beautiful way to model for our society what is possible!

Thank you, Sisters of Joseph, for opening up your home and life for us so that we can have a glimpse of your beauty, wisdom, and gentleness. May your compassion and hope be seen by and touch many.

Infinite Peace and Healing, Dancing heart~~~

p.s. If you are in the Seattle area, I'll be presenting my book at Barnes & Noble (Crossroads, Bellevue) this Sat., 2-3PM, and at EastWest Bookshop (Bothell Branch) on July 31, 7:30 PM. See details here.

Also, for more articles on the body-mind-spirit healing modalities, see my articles on Examiner.com.

The Deep Compassion that Hospice Workers Share

I've just been getting my feet wet again in some hospice counseling work. It's surprisingly very good to be back at doing this work; and one of the main reasons is that I'm working with a team. I'm being reminded how important it is to have a group of people that one works with. It's been way too long that I've been trying to do things "by myself" -- not by intention so much as that's just the way it's turned out. And now I know that I need teammates. I'm determined to find others to work with and help me in my business(es).

Meanwhile, I'm so impressed by the compassion that my teammates share with their hospice people and families. I recently made a joint visit with one of my nurse colleagues. Her behavior with a gentleman who was struggling with some dementia and congestive heart failure (and who knows what else) was so touching that I was moved to tears. She gave such wonderful care to this man that it was as if she was a member of his family herself! Even though he was not able to respond that actively to her, she kindly talked to him during the whole visit. She also touched him in gentle and very appropriate ways, as she diapered him and wrapped his weeping legs with the gauze and bandages. I truly was amazed and impressed by her love and care.

We humans are so unique and so special. And no matter what is going on in our lives, we deserve to be treated with dignity, love, and gentleness. I'm convinced more than ever before that hospice is a vitally needed and quietly powerful and transforming organization in our world today.

If you have not considered it, I would invite you to consider becoming a volunteer for hospice. This experience will powerfully transform and grow your life through love -- guaranteed!

Blessings of Love and deLight, Dancing heart~~~

p.s. By the way, I read some interesting material on Karen Bishop's WINGS update re Michael Jackson's death and his "higher level energy". Check out the last seven paragraphs of this link, if you'd like to read more.

If you're interested in Body-Mind-Spirit Tools for Healing, see Dancing Heart's website's Link Page.

And if you enjoyed this article, you may be interested in taking a look at my Examiner.com site for more articles on related topics.

Do Celebrity Deaths Happen in Threes -- as My Daughter's Friend Suggests?

This week was a week to remember in America: Three of America's cultural icons, Michael Jackson, Farah Fawcett, and now Billy Mays took their last breaths on this precious earth. Michael, the King of Pop, and Billy Mays, the television pitchman, were only 50 years old; Farah the knockout with the glamorous hair, was 62. Interestingly, Michael and Farah, who both died on June 25th, struggled with ravages of the body, one in the form of issues with the physical heart, the other with the ravages of cancer. Billy Mays is suspected to have died due to some head trauma that had occurred yesterday, at the end of a bumpy flight when something hit him very hard on the head.

Our hearts go out to the extremely talented and eccentric, genius of a singer, dancer, and performer, Michael Jackson, who among other things, brought deep hope and glory to his hometown, Gary Indiana. He also was adored and appreciated by many, along with his brothers, to help collapse and ease old racial barriers and Heal the World (We Are the World).

We also mourn the loss of the beautiful, sexy Farah, well known for her role as "the pretty one" in Charlie's Angels, leaving a legacy of determination to prove that she could play against her image and defy expectations ("The Burning Bed" and "Extremities"). She became a role model for actors who have been typecast and every star whose talent has been questioned.

And we mourn the loss of Billy Mays. Discovery Channel spokeswoman Elizabeth Hillman commented about Billy saying, "Everyone that knows him was aware of his larger-than-life personality, generosity and warmth. Billy was a pioneer in his field and helped many people fulfill their dreams. He will be greatly missed as a loyal and compassionate friend."

Michael's and Farah's lives were cut short, in part because they became caught in the pressure cooker of being in the limelight of notoriety. They had to live their lives in fishbowls, often without the privacy or freedom that they may have desired. Their lives were in many ways paradoxal, and their shadow sides and demons that they struggled with remind us of our own. At this time, it would seem that Billy's life was cut short by a coincidental accident.

Most of all, however, their loss reminds us of the fragility of life. We never know when life will end for us on this fragile earth. We often think we're invincible, we tend to take our bodies for granted and work them very hard; and we imagine that we're "in control." However, in the end, we are not in control. Probably we are never in control. Life happens to us; and life does not always go the way we think that it will, or imagine that it could. We need to be prepared for the last adventure of life at all times, for we know not when it will come.

This is an opportunity for us all to take a deep breath, while we give thanks for the life that we have be given. Life is good! Life is sacred and very special. May we honor and hold close to our hearts all those who have gone before us. And as we grieve and mourn the loss of these gifted, yet fragile human lives, may we resolve to make the most of our lives, shining the Light and Love -- who we really are! Thank you, Michael, Farah, and Billy, for the Love & Light that you shone and now shine on... Thank you for your magical, healing ways. May you live on in bright and beautiful ways, giving hope, joy, and determination, especially for those who must pick up the pieces and move on in their lives without you.

In deep gratitude for the gift of life itself, and for the unique, precious gift of each unique and special one on the planet, Dancing heart~~~

For another look at the "synchronicity" or coincidence of Michael's and Farah's deaths, see Toni Elizabeth Sar'h's youtube.

If you're interested in Body-Mind-Spirit Tools for Healing, see Dancing Heart's website's Link Page.

And if you enjoyed this article, you may be interested in taking a look at my Examiner.com site for more articles on related topics.

Moving Beyond Consuming

Speaking of releasing and letting go, Raphael Cushnir is an inspiring author (The One Thing Holding You Back, Setting Your Heart on Fire, etc.) and speaker who is helping us open our eyes to the challenges we face as materialistic consumers. He has developed a beautiful Youtube called Beyond Consuming. (You can view it here, too.) I received word about this through an email recently and wanted to pass this beautiful message along today.

What are your views on consumerism and how are you creating ways to materially lighten up your life? I'd love to hear from you. Happy forgiving, releasing, letting go, and moving on! Dancing heart~~~

Raphael Cushnir is a leading voice in the world of emotional connection and Present Moment Awareness. He has shared his unique approach to personal and professional development with millions of readers in O, The Oprah Magazine, Beliefnet, Spirituality and Health, Psychology Today and the Huffington Post. He has also authored three previous books, lectures worldwide, and is a faculty member of the Esalen Institute, and the Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health. In addition, he coaches individuals and teams at Fortune 100 companies, governments, religious organizations, and leading non-profits. For more info: cushnir.com.

Forgive, Release, Let Go, Move On!

I heard this four-piece phrase through a Unity minister in Florida recently. It rang so true for me, that this is some of the most important work/play that we can be doing in these days of great transformation! As we move through the "Shift of the Ages" -- what can sometimes feel like a very chaotic and uncertain time -- right now, it feels like any releasing, letting go work that we can do will benefit ourselves, all our relations, and Mother Earth herself. One of the most significant ways that we can heal is to let go of what no longer serves us, whether it be physical, material things, or old, negative emotions, or believe systems and patterns that no longer are helpful.

Perhaps if we could all commit to forgiving one another (giving each other the benefit of the doubt), and releasing and letting go of what no longer serves us every day, as much as we can, this would be a great start. I'm working on going through my papers these days, file by file, pile by pile, and box by box. It's time to release and recycle what I can and make room for the new pieces and ideas that are desiring to come in. Same with my closets and the garage -- my storage space. Time to clear out the old and make room for the new!

Who and what are you forgiving, relasing, letting go of, and moving on from? I'd be interested to hear...

Blessings of an open, healed heart! Dancing heart~~~

p.s. By the way, speaking of forgiving, releasing, letting go, and moving on, if you're interested in a heart wall healing, please be in touch. I'm doing them on a regular basis now, both in person and long distance. This healing is bound to help make your life more happy, healthy, and wealthy, too.

Also, please check out my Examiner.com site where I'm writing a series of articles on the integrative therapies and healing, relaxing, and balancing our bodies, using the last chapter of my book as my foundation.

Lessons from the Swine Flu (Fear) Syndrome

I've been doing some US Census work as of late, and heard a story from a woman I came across that allowed me to see how much fear is rampant in our culture and neighborhoods. The woman shared with me that her young adult daughter recently came home from a trip and was struggling with a flu virus. She did not have health insurance at the time (end of April), although she knew she would as of May 1st. She called a half a dozen physicians' offices in the area, including her old family doc. None of them would agree to see her, presumably because of the "flu factor"!

When May first came, she was still not feeling well, so she decided to go to a local hospital. At the hospital, she was first told she had a the Swine Flu and placed in confinement for six hours. She was told she should take Tamiflu and was not even allowed her cell phone to be in touch with her family or friends. Then, to top it all off, after six hours, someone came to tell her that she did not have Swine Flu after all and that she did not need to take the Tamiflu. Then, she was sent home to heal up.

Wow, what kind of fear wall have we built up around all this dis-ease that hasn't even caused much actual trouble in our country?!? It's most disheartening to hear stories like this. However, it's a reminder, I believe, to all of us, that we do not need or want to take on this fear. The key in our times is to stay in LOVE and away from the fear. Even though it's very easy to get caught up in the fear, we are called as divine human beings, to stay Body, Mind, and Spirit in the Light of Love and Joy! And two very simple ways of doing this are by being Creative and being Grateful. How is it that you can be your most creative and grateful self? These are the ways that will help you stay out of fear... I'd like to close here with a story from my book (The Last Adventure of Life) called "Two Wolves":

"A fight is going on inside me," the elder said to the boy. "It is a terrible fight and it is between two wolves. One is evil -- he is anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, and ego. The other is good -- he is joy, peace, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, and faith. This same fight is going on inside you, and inside every person."

The grandson thought about this for a moment, then asked his grandfather, "Which wolf will win?"

The elder simply replied, "The one you feed."

-- Cherokee children's story (found on the Internet)

Blessings of a Grateful, Creative Heart, Dancing heart~~~

p.s. Speaking of staying out of fear, I am now delighted to be offering heart wall healings, a simple and easy way to release old, negative feelings that are trapped behind our heart walls energetically. This is part of my soul work! Please see this link and contact me directly if you are interested in receiving a healing. (I can do them long distance for you or your animal/pet, too.)

Happy Earth Day!

Happy Earth Day to you! Hope that you found a way to connect with our Dear Mother today, in some shape or form. And if not today, make it a point as soon as you can, to sit in mother nature and enjoy Her Love...

I received this poem from a friend through email today and wanted to share it. Trees are so wonderful, always reminding me of the Tree of Life itself. May you find grace and comfort in the deep beauty, and shade, that trees and Mother Earth offer.

The Sycamore

In the place that is my own place, whose earth
I am shaped in and must bear, there is an old tree growing,
a great sycamore that is a wondrous healer of itself.
Fences have been tied to it, nails driven into it,
hacks and whittles cut in it, the lightning has burned it.
There is no year it has flourished in
that has not harmed it. There is a hollow in it
that is its death, though its living brims whitely
at the lip of the darkness and flows outward.
Over all its scars has come the seamless white
of the bark. It bears the gnarls of its history
healed over. It has risen to a strange perfection
in the warp and bending of its long growth.
It has gathered all accidents into its purpose.
It has become the intention and radiance of its dark fate.
It is a fact, sublime, mystical and unassailable
In all the country there is no other like it.
I recognize in it a principle, an indwelling
the same as itself, and greater, that I would be ruled by.
I see that it stands in its place, and feeds upon it,
and is fed upon, and is native, and maker.

Wendell Berry

Infinite Joy, Hope, and Healing to us all, Dancing heart~~~