Friday, January 28, 2011

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Rituals

Rituals can transform a situation. At the end–of–life, they help a person die a peaceful death, and bring reconciliation and acceptance to loved ones. Rituals come in many forms addressing the physical world (body), thoughts and ideas (mind), and the realms of myth (soul) and spirit (energy); helping to heal the pain of letting go, while at the same time connecting those bearing witness with something beyond earthly concerns.
Many religions have in common:
Creating a peaceful, soothing atmosphere,
Appealing to the senses,
Helping the dying person and all present to sense a sacred presence 
Some tools:
Lighting: Soft incandescent lighting or burning candles to bring feelings of peace and tranquility.
Aromas: Burning sage, scented candles, essential oils, or incense to induce a calming effect.
Holy Objects: An altar arranged with spiritually meaningful articles, medallions, statues or pictures to offer a visual focus.
Music: To soothe and inspire. Certain instruments such as harps, drums or bells, are used in many traditions. Sounds of nature and the human voice can be very healing.
Prayer: Oral prayer in keeping with the dying person's tradition
Silence: An important sound. It is good to remember the value and necessity of simply sitting in silence with the dying person.

Sunday, January 2, 2011

Self Compassion


Germer, Christopher K. The Mindful Path to Self-Compassion. New York: The Guildford Press. 2009

“A moment of self-compassion can change your entire day. A string of such moments can change the course of your life” - from the Introduction

This book was written to help readers develop and strengthen their capacity for self-compassion and loving-kindness. The author believes enhancing one’s skills in these areas reduces the isolation and inevitable personal suffering that results from self-judgment, self-doubt and self-condemnation: Extending kindness to oneself as a healing strategy boosts self-esteem, increasing the likelihood of being more fully able to extend these aspirations to others.

Germer travels the path to self-compassion from the perspectives of mindfulness and loving-kindness. His basic premise is that life is tough. It is just not possible to avoid feeling bad sometimes. He argues, since feeling bad is a fact of the human condition, then recognizing the common humanity in this experience bestows permission to treat oneself with the same kindness we afford to others.

Throughout the text, the author asks questions for the reader to ponder and introduces them in a step-by-step fashion to practical techniques and exercises that support the development of mindfulness, loving-kindness meditation and self-compassion skills. Practicing these techniques is encouraged as a means to strengthen and expand one’s repertoire for dealing with negative emotions.

Saturday, January 1, 2011

Absence

I apologize to readers of this blog for ceasing to post without explanation. Amidst completing the requirements for the Palliative Medicine fellowship, moving from Ottawa to Winnipeg and starting two new positions, I lost one beloved relative to a COPD exacerbation and two very dear friends, one to cancer and the other unexpectedly but peacefully. Two other friends have been diagnosed with advanced cancer in the past few months. My world has become noticeably smaller and I am grieving these losses. I assumed the role of Executrix for the first time in yet another city, and experienced first hand the enormity of this task. Other responsibilities continue..... I cannot commit to regular posts, but I enjoyed blogging very much and miss this form of exploration and self expression. I will add to this site as I am able.