Death and Dying

Both have stages, both have moments of uncertainty and pain, and both deliver us into worlds our imaginations can only contemplate. This is part of the wondrous mystery of life and of death.

One day each of us will die and it is likely we will also at some time experience the death of somone we love.

Death is often seen as a taboo subject in our western society, yet in the acknowledgement
and acceptance of our own mortality and the mortality of every living creature we can gain great insight into how to live.

As I was writing this page this afternoon I saw the dog next door snap at something and I thought it may be a snake so I went to take a look. What I found was a small trail of blood leading to some old timber covered with ivy. I searched the wood pile and found an injured Blue Tongue lizard hiding and scared. His underbelly had been punctured and he was dying.

By the time help arrived it was too late, this gracious little being had taken his last breath of life on earth and was dead. I have just buried him in our yard and have returned here to write, once again reminded of how precious life is and how suddenly it can end. I am also reminded
of the intimacy of death and it's ability to bring me swiftly back into the moment and to what is important.

This past year I have been grieving the death of my beloved sister Lynne, who died of cancer on April 23rd, 2006. This page is dedicated to her and to the love she inspired in me as I sat with her as she took her last breath of life on the earth. I did see legions of Golden Angels come to assist her and I also have experienced the most extreme feeling of aching loss and deep, deep grief.

If you have lost someone you love, treat yourself gently. Be kind to yourself and place no constraints on the healing of your broken heart. Linear time is an illusion at such times and your grief will have it's own rhythm. Take all the time and space you need.

I was fortunate enough to have great teachings from my spiritual teachers to assist me and
to assist Lynne in her death. There is a wealth of spiritual, psychological and emotional wisdom and support for those of us who experience the loss of a loved one and there is an equal amount of support for those who are facing their own death.

My wish in citing the books and publications below is that we may all grow in our wisdom and understanding of death and dying; grief and grieving. The more we speak about death and share our experiences, the less isolated we will feel when facing the loss of a loved one and finally facing our own death. The burdens are lessened and the joys increased when we are truly able to be with one another in our lives, in our grief and in our deaths.