Forgiveness is sometimes thought of as a nice thing to do for others, sort of like giving a birthday present or a Valentine’s Day card. Of course, it is a wonderful expression to offer to another human being, but the fact is that it will always be a largely superficial gesture unless based on self-forgiveness. In my life, I find that it is not something just nice to do; instead, it is as essential as breathing.
The Magician and the Aces
For those of you who read my last blog post, how was the foolishness of the Fool’s energy these last couple of weeks? What did you notice as you explored the idea and feeling of being the fool, or acting foolish, or maybe just letting the innocence of creative exploration have you for a little while? I fell back in love with the little dog, and that feeling of loyalty and love that leads and follows me as I leap into life and it’s possibilities. Dog — God spelled backwards.
Talking about Death: Death Cafes at Crazy Wisdom
February 2014 Death Cafe at Crazy Wisdom Tea Room
By Merilynne Rush
Did you know people regularly talk about death in a coffee shop with strangers? For a year now, Crazy Wisdom has hosted the Death Café every third Saturday morning from 10 a.m. to noon. “People gather to eat cake, drink tea, and discuss death. [The] objective is to increase awareness of death with a view to helping people make the most of their (finite) lives” (from the DeathCafe.com website). The next Death Café meets this Saturday, April 19, in the Crazy Wisdom Tearoom upstairs.
“The next Death Café meets this Saturday, April 19, in the Crazy Wisdom Tearoom upstairs.”
Nineteen people attended a recent Death Cafe. One couple happened to wander in and decided to join us. Well, the woman decided to join us. The man stood around and half listened for a while; before he knew it, he was speaking up. Even though he never sat down, he ended up talking the most. He sort of couldn’t help himself. Talking about death is compelling. After all, death is the one thing that we all have in common.
“Talking about death is compelling. After all, death is the one thing that we all have in common. ”
Hot topics at Death Cafe: What do you do with your stuff when you die? Did you know your Facebook page remains active? What do you want to pass down? What stories do you tell your children? What does your culture say about living and dying? Do you have family traditions around death? Are they different from your grandparent's traditions? As humans we are about creating connections and giving life meaning. It's all about caring.
As you can see, Death Café is an opportunity for real conversation. How often do we sit in a group with no other purpose than to listen and share from the heart? People of all ages come. Someone says what his or her idea of a good death is. Someone else talks about the messy death of a loved one. People jump in and share their idea of what quality of life is. Then we’re talking about planning ahead, researching our ancestry, writing our will or who we need to talk to before we die.
“How often do we sit in a group with no other purpose than to listen and share from the heart?”
Death Café is a safe place to explore and share. We’re not trying to fix anyone’s problems or have all the answers, but we definitely bring up the questions. It feels good; it’s real, it’s relaxing, it’s refreshing to think about the big stuff in a theoretical way. We help each other through this difficult subject, and more often than not, we all agree.
“A Death Cafe is a group directed discussion of death with no agenda, objectives or themes. It is a discussion group rather than a grief support or counseling session” (www.deathcafe.com). It’s free and all are welcome. Come join us. For more info, contact Merilynne Rush at mrush@afterdeathhomecare.com or visit www.afterdeathhomecare.com.
Merilynne Rush is a Death Café facilitator and natural death care educator. Contact her at mrush@afterdeathhomecare.com.
Energy Psychology – Rebalance and Create Health and Well-being
Energy Psychology is a family of healing methods that balance subtle energy pathways to rapidly diminish disturbances in thought and emotion. Unlike conventional therapies, the person doesn't have to relive the pain of the problem over and over again.
Integration of Mind & Body
by Julie Jeffery Peale
Hellerwork Structural Integration is a form of deep tissue bodywork and movement education designed to realign the body and release stress and chronic muscle tension. Whether from an injury, repetitive strain, or traumatic event in life, it is the belief of Hellerwork that pain is usually the result of an overall pattern of imbalance in the body. Rather than treating the pain or symptom of this imbalance, Hellerwork focuses on bringing the entire body into a state of balance and alignment, thereby addressing the source of the pain. This is achieved through three main components: deep tissue bodywork, movement re-education, and self awareness dialogue.
““Hellerwork focuses on bringing the entire body into a state of balance and alignment, thereby addressing the source of the pain.””
We are complex beings with layers of injury, emotional stress, and repetitive patterns, so it only makes sense that a complex and integrated approach is needed to sift through those layers of stress and strain. This is a process of awareness that touches both the physical and emotional patterns of our body.
““Hellerwork, for me, has been a convergence of my mind and my body; the integration of the mental and physical well-being.””
Being a young woman in her early twenties with chronic pain and depression, I had only been offered solutions that compartmentalized me and disassociated the mental and physical aspects of my being. It is during this time that I sought out different forms of treatment. Hellerwork, for me, has been a convergence of my mind and my body; the integration of the mental and physical well-being. As these two came together the vitality and joy of moving through life had more meaning and continued to develop. Now, over a decade into my own professional private practice of Hellerwork, it is rewarding to facilitate that movement toward the integration of the mental and physical aspects being for my clients. It is a rewarding experience to be a part of and it also helps deepen my own movement towards integration.
Julie Peale owns Body Balance of Ann Arbor, L.L.C., where she practices a combination of Hellerworkand structural medicine in one-on-one sessions with clients. Body Balance is located at 708 W. Huron Street, Suite 3, Ann Arbor 48103. Contact Julie at julie@bodybalance4u.net or at (734) 395-6776. We interviewed Julie in our January- April 2014 issue. You can read that interview here.
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