The Meaning of Life

Today as I think about my work as an elder coach and as someone who brings new life to the world of death and dying, I am amazed at the strength of humanity in the face of pain and loss and suffering. In many ways we have been led to believe we are not strong enough to handle the depth of human emotion. We have been fed a steady diet of positive thinking, of getting over it, getting on with it, and in general being told that only the "good" emotions are worthy of our time.

I just don't agree and it is part of my passion and work in the world to bring the full range of human expression back to the table. Let's learn to sit with our tremendous ability to see life in its full and sometimes gory detail. Let's honor our suffering, give it right timing and then when we have fully and completely expressed this, and only then, let's move into revisioning our experience.

There are so many ways we can explore how to do this. I just spent some time with one of my elder clients as he was in the middle of the labor pains of death. Although I work with hospice, I usually attend the family when the patient has already died. But I have been working with this elder for a year and a half and I wanted to be there to support him in his transition.

I spent a couple of hours this week with him, priviledged to be allowed to share the space with his family. But I'm not going back to his town to see him and I am waiting to hear news of his actual death.

Now what's interesting is that he still brought humor into this setting. But he certainly was no Pollyanna and it was plain to see the difficulty in the situation. So, my point? Suffering exists. Until we transcend this earthly body we will grieve. Let's do it with sacredness, intention, and attention. To do less demeans our humanness and keeps us avoiding that which at times we most need to express.
(Photo by Sweet Mango Photography)

The Blue Whale

Last week Bob and I went out on a catamaran to see dolphins and maybe a whale. We were celebrating our 19th year of marriage. To take me out on the water is definitely a challenge to Bob cause he gets seasick pretty easily.

He knows I love the water and so there we were, out on the ocean together with about 25 others. We had gone out for a distance and hadn't seen a whale or dolphin when the captain got word of a blue whale out there somewhere.

After a while, suddenly someone started shouting and pointing out to the distance. "It's a footprint of the whale." someone said. I had never seen this before and was awed by the calmness in the middle of the vastly rolling waters.

Suddenly with lots of shouting and pointing we had our first peak at OUR whale. For the next 45 minutes we stayed with him/her enjoying the journey of rising out of the water and then falling back into the vastness of the ocean.

The blue whale I found out is the largest animal/mammal in the world, even bigger than the dinosaurs. Now that is impressive.

I felt so alive that day. The salt spray on my face, and blue whale breath on my cheek, I really felt one with the earth and all creation. The best meditation practice I'd had in a long time.

The Heat of it All


As we in Southern California bake in the hot summer sun, it is interesting to note that more and more newspapers are including stories of Global Warming. E-gads, might it be true and not simply a hoax, perpetrated upon the people by left wing extremists? By the time something is decided we may find it too late. If you haven't seen it yet, I highly recommend the movie, An Inconvenient Truth.

At any rate, what is true for me is that I am very grateful for the luxury of having air conditioning in my home. In all my 50 plus years, this is the first home I've lived in that has central air conditioning. Having tried to get to the beach earlier and finding every other Southern Californian doing the same thing, I have decided to simply veg out at home. Although the thermostat is turned up to 79 degrees, I am SO cool right now.

So, is that my paradox for the day? How to live with the truth of global warming and still use my air conditioning unit? I guess for today it is. I will remember my gratitude for this gift and I will continue to find ways to use less energy. I know I'm not a purist and I can only hope my efforts are seen as somewhat helpful.

How far do you want to go?

What do you see ahead for your future? Is the way open or does it feel like there are roadblocks in your way? Would it be helpful to have a proven way to tap into your wisdom and your intuition?

Come and join us at www.claimyoursage.com and learn ways to do this in a supportive and compassionate community.


Your life is waiting for you. Don't delay any longer.

Thought for this day:

"At times I feel as if I am spread out over the landscape and inside things and am myself living in every tree, in the splashing of the waves, in the clouds and animals that come and go, in the procession of seasons." C.G. Jung

I think that the only way we might be able to truly have an experience of this magnitude is if we Go SLO=W. That is, Stop, Listen, and Observe so that Wisdom will become known. In our day to day life that is not always easy to do. Yet when we do, we tap into this sense of interconnectedness and to the power we have been given.

The responsibility that comes with this gift of the universe is not to be take lightly. When I become aware that what I do or don't do plays out somewhere else in the world I may be more likely to feel the pressure to make a decision. When this happens the world is a better place.

Of course it is important to note that this connection is about right action, action that does not harm any other living thing. It's not about making someone else feel better, because that's about them, not me. So, someone close to me may react to a decision I make and tell me they are being harmed. I must be able to separate out their fears, beliefs, attitudes, or values from my own. Once I learn to trust the voice within, I will respond to another's worries with both compassion and firmness.

When I act from a place of integrity, I will be in harmony with my path.

Vernal Whispers Debut

July 14, 2006

This is the first posting for this blog space. I am excited about learning the ins and outs of one more technology. At least for the moment. When I have more time I will organize and gather my thoughts so that what I write will be worth something. At least to me and hopefully to you who find your way here. Happy Friday, in spite of war.