The 2nd edition of THE LAST ADVENTURE OF LIFE has now been released, and I had my first book presentation since its release earlier this week. The theme is around my new focus: "JOYFUL TRANSITIONS -- Bringing Death Back to Life," and I share some of the well-kept secrets of hospice.
It's been recorded so that you can listen to it. If you're interested, please go to www.ferryfolk.com. Then, scroll down to where my picture is under "Whidbey Writers Assn. Open House." Just beneath my picture is the recording. You can press the bent arrow to hear the recording (about an hour).
Blessings of Deep Peace, Grace, and Understanding, Dancing Heart~~~
p.s. Please pass this info on to anyone who you feel might appreciate. Also, please send me an email with any feedback you have. I'm still learning as I go ... ;)
Saturday, June 7, 2008
Monday, May 26, 2008
New Second Edition Coming Out!
Just two days ago, I received the very first copies of the New Second Edition of my book, THE LAST ADVENTURE OF LIFE: Sacred Resources for Living and Dying from a Hospice Counselor! Wow, how exciting. It was so thrilling to have this beautiful new book in my hands -- truly, a bit like giving birth to a new being! I felt awed, humbled, deeply grateful, and incredibly joyful and thrilled all at the same time. It is wonderful to know that the information I have compiled will be getting out to the world in this new and unique way.
Findhorn Press has done a terrific job: The book has a tighter look than the first edition, a little more subdued and expressive of the bittersweet aspect of death/grief that combines with life/love/joy to make up the whole. It does include some new material, including some pieces that I've gathered from friends and co-workers in the field of death, grief, and healing. I invite you to see this new work for yourself. You can go to my website (www.thelastadventureoflife.com) or to Amazon.com for more info. Better yet, go to your local bookstore and order a copy :)
Many Blessings to you on this Memorial Day, Dancing Heart~~~
Findhorn Press has done a terrific job: The book has a tighter look than the first edition, a little more subdued and expressive of the bittersweet aspect of death/grief that combines with life/love/joy to make up the whole. It does include some new material, including some pieces that I've gathered from friends and co-workers in the field of death, grief, and healing. I invite you to see this new work for yourself. You can go to my website (www.thelastadventureoflife.com) or to Amazon.com for more info. Better yet, go to your local bookstore and order a copy :)
Many Blessings to you on this Memorial Day, Dancing Heart~~~
Friday, May 9, 2008
The Tragedy in Myanmar
The current situation in Myanmar is indeed a travesty. A military government is keeping people from the assist they need. A sad turn of events like this effects us all -- we all feel the grief of this unfortunate turn of events.
I encourage us all to keep Myanmar and its people regularly in our prayers. May we especially pray for the government leaders, that somehow they will see it in their hearts to open up the channels of communication with the rest of the world and receive the help they so desperately need. It heals the whole world when we are allowed to help one another, give and receive love.
Let me take this opportunity to share below the 10 tips for grieving that I outline in my book, The Last Adventure of Life. Many of us are grieving for a variety of reasons at this critical time on Earth. May we each learn to take care of ourselves and one another in new and deeper ways.
Ten Ways to Move Through Grief
1. Take one day at a time, doing one thing at a time.
2. It's good to let the tears flow. If you need to excuse yourself and find privacy, do so. Do not "stuff" your feelings.
3. Let go of the idea of "normalcy." When you're in grief, normal time goes out the window. Since it's a crazy time, strive to see the adventure and opportunities in it. See if you can enjoy doing things and "being" in new and creating ways.
4. Prepare yourself for other losses. Everything is undergoing a change in your life.
5. Ask for what you need. Remember to process your grief with friends, counselors, and whoever will listen.
6. Exercise as much as possible. It's good to keep the emotions and energy moving.
7. Sleep when you can or need to. You may become exhausted at time.
8. Don't forget to eat! Easily done, but your body and stamina will pay a price.
9. Reconnect with Spirit; and seek out new ways to develop your spirituality. Learn to meditate, for example! This could be one of the most powerful things you can do for yourself when you are going through a change of any kind.
10. Honor your memories and your intuition. By the way, meditating will strengthen your intuition.
-- THE LAST ADVENTURE OF LIFE, p. 209
In a couple of weeks, a 2nd edition of The Last Adventure of Life is coming out through Findhorn Press of Scotland! Thank you, in advance, for asking your local bookstore or library to review and possibly carry a copy.
I encourage us all to keep Myanmar and its people regularly in our prayers. May we especially pray for the government leaders, that somehow they will see it in their hearts to open up the channels of communication with the rest of the world and receive the help they so desperately need. It heals the whole world when we are allowed to help one another, give and receive love.
Let me take this opportunity to share below the 10 tips for grieving that I outline in my book, The Last Adventure of Life. Many of us are grieving for a variety of reasons at this critical time on Earth. May we each learn to take care of ourselves and one another in new and deeper ways.
Ten Ways to Move Through Grief
1. Take one day at a time, doing one thing at a time.
2. It's good to let the tears flow. If you need to excuse yourself and find privacy, do so. Do not "stuff" your feelings.
3. Let go of the idea of "normalcy." When you're in grief, normal time goes out the window. Since it's a crazy time, strive to see the adventure and opportunities in it. See if you can enjoy doing things and "being" in new and creating ways.
4. Prepare yourself for other losses. Everything is undergoing a change in your life.
5. Ask for what you need. Remember to process your grief with friends, counselors, and whoever will listen.
6. Exercise as much as possible. It's good to keep the emotions and energy moving.
7. Sleep when you can or need to. You may become exhausted at time.
8. Don't forget to eat! Easily done, but your body and stamina will pay a price.
9. Reconnect with Spirit; and seek out new ways to develop your spirituality. Learn to meditate, for example! This could be one of the most powerful things you can do for yourself when you are going through a change of any kind.
10. Honor your memories and your intuition. By the way, meditating will strengthen your intuition.
-- THE LAST ADVENTURE OF LIFE, p. 209
In a couple of weeks, a 2nd edition of The Last Adventure of Life is coming out through Findhorn Press of Scotland! Thank you, in advance, for asking your local bookstore or library to review and possibly carry a copy.
Saturday, April 12, 2008
Seeds of Compassion and Beauty Being Sown in Seattle and Environs
I have just had three remarkable days of receiving through the presence of His Holiness the Dalai Lama here in the Puget Sound Area. I was aware that he was coming, but I had no idea how personally touched and moved I would be...
Two days ago, on Thursday, I was to have lunch with a wonderful woman I hadn't seen in over a year. She called me in the morning to say that a sand mandala was being made in the Monti Cristo Hotel in downtown Everett (just a couple miles from where we had planned to meet), and would I like to meet her there before going out for lunch? I had no idea about this until Lynette called to let me know! We met at the Hotel mentioned above to watch two gracious, humble Tibetan monks (from the Dalai Lama's own monastery, Ithaca, NY branch) work on the most beautiful mandala -- representing the quality of compassion -- I have ever seen. It was so beautiful that it made me weep.
I was so taken by the experience of seeing this mandala in the making that I decided to take my daughter to see it the next day. They were going to have a "dismantling ceremony" for the mandala at 4PM, so my daughter and I went to see the completed mandala just before the appointed time. The small lobby of the Hotel was filled with the hum and beauty of a diverse group of people. The ceremony of taking the mandala "down" was a very thoughtful and reflective one, honoring of everything and everyone who had helped to create the experience, as well as those who had participated by coming to see and take part in the receiving of its beauty. There was a deeply reverent quality to the whole experience, and again, I was moved to tears. Clearly, the entire area around the Monti Cristo Hotel was blessed by this gentle, thoughtful, and heart-felt creation and later dissolution of the Compassion Mandala. (The colored sand, by the way, was placed in a beautiful glass vase, then covered with an ornate "hat" and textile covering that made it almost look like a large doll, and was later released into the Everett Harbor. Some people even caravaned to the appointed place to witness this process.)
Then today, thanks to a generous healer and friend of mine, I was gifted tickets to attend His Holiness's talk on "Seeds of Compassion," held at the Qwest Field Events Center in the South end of Seattle. There were around 55,000 people who attended this powerful event from across our state. Many people from all cultures and diverse groups came from the four corners of Washington. Two hundred drummers opened this gathering with a powerful rhythm symbolizing the Heart of Mother Earth. It was deeply inspiring to hear from so many, including His Holiness, about how we can plant Seeds of Compassion, especially as we connect with our children. How we care and honor our children is a testament to how we are living our lives. Our children reflect the abundance (or lack thereof) of our compassion. We were all encouraged to find and commit to new ways of connecting with our hearts, with the present moment, and to create more gentle moments to be human -- to connect one to another, from heart to heart.
These three days have opened up my heart and helped me to see that indeed, there is a new rhythm blessing our world today, a rhythm that is more gentle, more humble, more creative and healing. I sense that we are all opening up to the Seeds of Beauty and Compassion that reside deep in our souls. May Peace, Hope, and Compassion prevail on Earth, Dancing Heart
Two days ago, on Thursday, I was to have lunch with a wonderful woman I hadn't seen in over a year. She called me in the morning to say that a sand mandala was being made in the Monti Cristo Hotel in downtown Everett (just a couple miles from where we had planned to meet), and would I like to meet her there before going out for lunch? I had no idea about this until Lynette called to let me know! We met at the Hotel mentioned above to watch two gracious, humble Tibetan monks (from the Dalai Lama's own monastery, Ithaca, NY branch) work on the most beautiful mandala -- representing the quality of compassion -- I have ever seen. It was so beautiful that it made me weep.
I was so taken by the experience of seeing this mandala in the making that I decided to take my daughter to see it the next day. They were going to have a "dismantling ceremony" for the mandala at 4PM, so my daughter and I went to see the completed mandala just before the appointed time. The small lobby of the Hotel was filled with the hum and beauty of a diverse group of people. The ceremony of taking the mandala "down" was a very thoughtful and reflective one, honoring of everything and everyone who had helped to create the experience, as well as those who had participated by coming to see and take part in the receiving of its beauty. There was a deeply reverent quality to the whole experience, and again, I was moved to tears. Clearly, the entire area around the Monti Cristo Hotel was blessed by this gentle, thoughtful, and heart-felt creation and later dissolution of the Compassion Mandala. (The colored sand, by the way, was placed in a beautiful glass vase, then covered with an ornate "hat" and textile covering that made it almost look like a large doll, and was later released into the Everett Harbor. Some people even caravaned to the appointed place to witness this process.)
Then today, thanks to a generous healer and friend of mine, I was gifted tickets to attend His Holiness's talk on "Seeds of Compassion," held at the Qwest Field Events Center in the South end of Seattle. There were around 55,000 people who attended this powerful event from across our state. Many people from all cultures and diverse groups came from the four corners of Washington. Two hundred drummers opened this gathering with a powerful rhythm symbolizing the Heart of Mother Earth. It was deeply inspiring to hear from so many, including His Holiness, about how we can plant Seeds of Compassion, especially as we connect with our children. How we care and honor our children is a testament to how we are living our lives. Our children reflect the abundance (or lack thereof) of our compassion. We were all encouraged to find and commit to new ways of connecting with our hearts, with the present moment, and to create more gentle moments to be human -- to connect one to another, from heart to heart.
These three days have opened up my heart and helped me to see that indeed, there is a new rhythm blessing our world today, a rhythm that is more gentle, more humble, more creative and healing. I sense that we are all opening up to the Seeds of Beauty and Compassion that reside deep in our souls. May Peace, Hope, and Compassion prevail on Earth, Dancing Heart
Friday, March 21, 2008
A Bittersweet Holy Week
Blessings to you on this Good Friday. It's been awhile since I've blogged, and today I was reflecting on what a "full" and bittersweet week this is. We are in Holy Week, the week in which in the Christian Church we honor and remember the events surrounding Jesus' death. It is a week usually filled with remembering the grief and heaviness of what humanity did to life's finest prophet, and how Jesus had to endure it all. On the other hand, this particular week we have also celebrated St. Patrick's Day and the first day of Spring. And then on Sunday, Christians will celebrate the joy of Easter, the resurrection of Jesus Christ! These are festive days, full of hope and celebration of the Earth.
Sometimes the fullness of life comes together, and the joy and the sadness get all mixed up. These days seem rather intense like that. I sense that there's a lot of change going on; and many of us are feeling the effects of this. A week like this reminds us of how life can be very full, intense, and bittersweet, too -- sometimes all at the same time.
May your springtime be full of meaningful new beginnings, and have a joyous, wondrous Easter celebration!!!
Sometimes the fullness of life comes together, and the joy and the sadness get all mixed up. These days seem rather intense like that. I sense that there's a lot of change going on; and many of us are feeling the effects of this. A week like this reminds us of how life can be very full, intense, and bittersweet, too -- sometimes all at the same time.
May your springtime be full of meaningful new beginnings, and have a joyous, wondrous Easter celebration!!!
Thursday, January 24, 2008
The True Gift of Kindness
Yesterday I was reminded of the most generous gift that kindness can be. I had received some difficult news the day before yesterday. Then, yesterday morning I had to go and see an ophthalmologist for the first time, related to my driver's license and an eye condition I have. Honestly, I was feeling quite fragile in the morning and not particularly eager to meet a brand new doctor. However, once I met Dr. Rachel, I immediately began to feel better. My new eye doctor turned out to be one of the most kind, gentle people I've met. Her considerate nature opened my heart and almost brought me to tears on a couple of occasions. We even had a lovely conversation around how she came to be an ophthalmologist.
This experience brought back memories of another day late last year when kindness had meant so much: My daughter and I were returning from a vacation in Sedona, AZ. We took a little too long getting a bite to eat at the airport and due to a long line in security, ended up missing our flight. It turned out that we had to spend a good part of the day at the airport.
On that day, too, I became very aware of all the kindness that was offered me throughout the day. It made all the difference in the world. The thoughtful, gracious behavior of complete strangers made a most challenging day palatable. It forced me to dive inside myself and develop more patience and love for myself and those around me. I especially recall meeting a man who had just lost his brother and was on his way to the funeral. He had such kind things to say about hospice and hospice workers... it warmed my heart!
The next time you meet someone, especially a stranger, please do not underestimate how your kindness might make a difference in their lives. I invite you to give them the benefit of the doubt; treat them as you would want them to treat you. Honor them, love them, and find commonalities with them, as they will notice how they are treated and feel the difference.
Blessings of Love, deLight, and Kindness, Dancing Heart
This experience brought back memories of another day late last year when kindness had meant so much: My daughter and I were returning from a vacation in Sedona, AZ. We took a little too long getting a bite to eat at the airport and due to a long line in security, ended up missing our flight. It turned out that we had to spend a good part of the day at the airport.
On that day, too, I became very aware of all the kindness that was offered me throughout the day. It made all the difference in the world. The thoughtful, gracious behavior of complete strangers made a most challenging day palatable. It forced me to dive inside myself and develop more patience and love for myself and those around me. I especially recall meeting a man who had just lost his brother and was on his way to the funeral. He had such kind things to say about hospice and hospice workers... it warmed my heart!
The next time you meet someone, especially a stranger, please do not underestimate how your kindness might make a difference in their lives. I invite you to give them the benefit of the doubt; treat them as you would want them to treat you. Honor them, love them, and find commonalities with them, as they will notice how they are treated and feel the difference.
Blessings of Love, deLight, and Kindness, Dancing Heart
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
The Gift of the Fluidity and Flexibility of Water
Happy 2008! And what a year it promises to be... I can feel some very new energy coming in -- can you? The synchronicities and "magic" seem to be happening at an accelerated pace now. One of the pieces of magic that's happened in my life is that a dear friend placed a copy of The Expected One (by Kathleen McGowan) in my hands at the very end of last year. It's a historical fiction narrative about Mary Magdalene and her "lost gospel". I've hardly been able to put the book down as we enter 2008; and it's literally been changing the way I view myself and the world. I highly recommend it to you if you are drawn at all to the goddess material that's resurfacing in our world today.
Speaking of change, this promises to be year of more creative change. A key symbol for the energy and consciousness our world is moving toward is water. (See p. 256 in my book for more.) This year, I encourage us all to meditate on the element of water. This will provide us with some keys as to how to move with the changes. Water flows, with grace and flexibility. It does not force, but rather moves around and with all that it encounters. Water deserves our deepest respect and gratitude -- even as it causes tremendous havoc in some parts of our world, sometimes even in our own neighborhoods. As we contemplate the gift of water, we are encouraged to go with the flow, move forward joyously, with flexibility and ease, enjoying the buoyancy. We might also ask water to connect us more deeply to our subconscious aspect, the feminine part of ourselves rich with symbols and images, represented by the dream world.
May 2008 create more fertile ground in each one of us for new growth and change. May we move with the changes, rather than resist, making our lives easier and more fun along the way. Deep Peace, Flexibility, and deLight, Dancing Heart
Speaking of change, this promises to be year of more creative change. A key symbol for the energy and consciousness our world is moving toward is water. (See p. 256 in my book for more.) This year, I encourage us all to meditate on the element of water. This will provide us with some keys as to how to move with the changes. Water flows, with grace and flexibility. It does not force, but rather moves around and with all that it encounters. Water deserves our deepest respect and gratitude -- even as it causes tremendous havoc in some parts of our world, sometimes even in our own neighborhoods. As we contemplate the gift of water, we are encouraged to go with the flow, move forward joyously, with flexibility and ease, enjoying the buoyancy. We might also ask water to connect us more deeply to our subconscious aspect, the feminine part of ourselves rich with symbols and images, represented by the dream world.
May 2008 create more fertile ground in each one of us for new growth and change. May we move with the changes, rather than resist, making our lives easier and more fun along the way. Deep Peace, Flexibility, and deLight, Dancing Heart
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)