Old Time Religion: Another Reason Americans Are Scared and Awkward around Death?

I was on a date with a gentleman I barely knew this past week and awakened to a new understanding: We were talking about my work around end-of-life and the final transition and the gentleman was letting me know about his hesitancy around speaking about death. He didn't point blank tell me, but I came to the conclusion that he had some fear about where he would go after he dies. And this got me thinking about how the rather puritanical "Old Time Religion" that was often about "fire and brimstone" and hell and damnation - was spawned here in the U.S. and is perhaps part of the reason we Americans are so awkward around death?

Ever since starting hospice work about twenty years ago, I've often wondered why we Americans seem to have such a fear of death. The more I've learned about death – and walked side by side with it - I've come to the conclusion that there is absolutely nothing to fear about it: We are simply “going home” to where we came from when we were born. And rather than a scary experience, death can be a sacred, beautiful experience, a gateway into that which feels like the unknown, but actually when we get there, we will recognize it as the “known,” actually our True and Real Home – where only Unconditional Love exists to bless and heal us.

One of the very plausible reasons I've heard about why we're so fearful of death was through a man who has studied conscious aging for many years. He is Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi (God bless his soul, as he made his final transition last July.); and he points out that the reason we are so awkward around death, and therefore grief, too, is because we've taken it to the hospital in the last 100 years. As soon as I heard this, it rang very true for me.

We've also become a very materialistic culture which honors the “image” and outer material things, more than the inner, spiritual matters. We almost worship youth and therefore tend to - perhaps without intending to - discount age, aging, and the wisdom which comes with life experience, growth, and development.

We are also a culture that tends to be left-brain oriented. We rely on “hard evidence” as opposed to the softer evidence that we know in our hearts to be true that often comes from and is related to our intuition. I have heard that in these changing times, all of us are increasing our ability to intuit things. The love vibration on the planet is increasing; and this is partly why there is so much polarization and strife on the planet today.

In fact, sometimes I say that the entire planet is undergoing a kind of Hospice experience! We are dying to the old so that the New may be welcomed and honored. Even though where we're going is a very exciting and loving place, sometimes it's very challenging to leave the familiar. Although we all know that something new is "dying" to be born on planet earth - no pun intended! - it's difficult to know how to give birth to something we have very little experience with. 

For starters, I believe that this is a time for all of us to move from our judgmental, critical minds, and into our hearts. If we can live and embrace our hearts more fully, we can live in love and allow people to be who and where they are. This is true unconditional love. We do not have to convert or change anything. Just let it be - allow all to be, the way it is. This is the Way of the Goddess, the energy that's coming onto the planet full force today too.

Today, as we on the one hand honor the Old Time Religion that has brought us where we are, I invite us to move into the Heart and as we Open up the Heart and move into it, allow that love to permeate ourselves and our loved ones... then move out into the world and permeate the Entire Planet! What a world we could live in if MANY of us could hold and maintain this Love Vibration Frequency. 

May Peace Prevail on Earth! May our missions be accomplished; we honor the guardian divinities and spirits! Shalom, Blessed Be, and May there be Love, Truth, Beauty, Trust, Harmony, and Peace for all living things, everywhere.   (the Melchizadek's Prayer) 

Yours on the Journey, Maria Dancing Heart~~~

Warning: This writing will be part of my upcoming new book, Deathing as a Peak Experience

A Miracle Has Happened: I have a new life awaiting me in Arizona

Something very special is going on in my life this year: I've been receiving all kinds of healing from many different directions (See my last blog from Thanksgiving that will explain). This healing work I've been doing seems to be making a big difference in my life.

Just this past week, my life has taken a huge turn: I was offered a job as spiritual and bereavement coordinator at a unique and holistic hospice south of Tucson called Soulistic Hospice. This happened in a most surprising way: Some years ago, after my first book The Last Adventure of Life had come out, I was invited to present my book at an author event in a bank in Tucson, AZ. At that time, I met a nurse from New Zealand named Aladi who told me about the small and unique hospice where she worked where they used essential oils as part of the protocal. Aladi left an impression on me at the time; and we kept in touch by email.

Recently, when it came time for me to realize that I needed a job in the Arizona area to actually move down there, I began putting feelers out. I thought to add Aladi to the list of hospice related people that I got in touch with, even though I remembered that she'd said their hospice was small. Shortly after I emailed her, Aladi responded and asked me to send my resume to her. Well, it turned out that just two days before I got in touch with her, Soulistic Hospice had gotten a job description ready to seek a second spiritual counselor because they have been growing so much! One thing has led to another, and after several interviews by Skype, I now have the job that will based out of Tubac, AZ.

Another amazing aspect of all this is that Soulistic Hospice comes out of an organization called Soulistic Medical Institute that has its root in a philosophy and global community that's based on The Urancha Book. They also have an extensive organic farm and garden called Avalon Gardens, Farm, & Ranch that's connected to their intentional global community of 100 strong. And this community is now it's third decade, they tell me. I'm still processing all of this; as you can imagine, it's been rather mesmerizing, partly because it's all happened so quickly and with such grace and ease, too.

If any of you happen to be in the midst of a shift or transformation of some kind, if you are hoping and dreaming about something different for your life, I'm here to remind you: Do not give up! These past two weeks have been a powerful reminder to me that my life can change at a moment's notice; you just never know how and when Spirit will open your life up in a totally new way with amazing new possibilities. We just need to keep holding the vision and trusting that "the way will -- somehow, unbeknownst to us -- open."

Keep the faith, hope, and courage, dear friends. Life is truly a grand adventure that just keeps happening. And All Things are possible through our faith in God/Goddess, Spirit, Jesus, ... All That Is!!!

Love and Deep Encouragement Blessings to you all through these transformationalo times, Dancing Heart~~~