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NDE Expert Peter Fenwick Left a Legacy That Continues to Inspire
The neuropsychiatrist, who died at 89, normalized near-death experiencesNear-death experiences remain mysterious phenomena, despite their relatively common nature. Yet building on Peter Fenwick’s groundbreaking work, a growing number of scholars in the scientific community are beginning to accept that NDEs are worth studying and can reveal new insights into the nature of consciousness.
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Bruce Koepp Removes the Mystery Around Autopsies (Interview)
Former pathologists’ assistant explains how the postmortem process can be healing for loved onesAfter earning a Ph.D. in forensic pathology from Columbia Pacific University in California, Bruce Koepp spent the next 43 years working as a pathologists’ assistant, an occupation that was created in 1969 to address a pathologist shortage. He started in hospital pathology labs, then spent the bulk of his career working as an employee for…
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Our Monthly Tip: Consider Live Music for a Celebration of Life
One musician can make an event as unique as the person you’re celebratingOur Tip of the Month One musician playing live music has a unique ability to evoke emotion, foster connection and offer solace during times of loss. At a memorial service or celebration of life, live music can create an atmosphere of reflection and healing, offering attendees a shared space to honor the departed while processing…
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“Briefly Perfectly Human”
A death doula explores in this book what it means to live life authentically while facing mortalityAlua Arthur’s authenticity is hard-earned. And in “Briefly Perfectly Human: Making an Authentic Life by Getting Real About the End,” she shares her own life journey as encouragement for readers to embrace their unique, genuine lives – before it’s too late. In “Briefly Perfectly Human,” readers accompany Arthur through the ups and downs she’s experienced…
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Neil deGrasse Tyson Prompts Ruminations on Life & Death in New Year
The famed astrophysicist celebrates the precious nature of human existenceIf any stretch of the calendar makes us stop and reflect, it’s the transition into the new year, as we weigh guilt about the past against the promise of tomorrow. And perhaps, ponder the weightier questions of our existence: Is there a meaning to the daily grind? What is my purpose? And is there anything…
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“I Will Remember You”
A timeless classic that provides emotional release for those mourning a loved oneAlthough it’s often associated with romantic loss, Sarah McLachlan’s “I Will Remember You” has been used in movies, TV shows and memorials to honor those who have died, offering comfort to those left behind. Written for the soundtrack of the 1995 film “The Brothers McMullen,” McLachlan’s moving, heartfelt ballad still resonates with listeners experiencing the…
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Greenland Sharks May Offer Clues to Extending Human Lifespans
New data on longest-living vertebrate could provide insight into our own genetic repairAn international team of scientists has become the first to map the elusive Greenland shark’s genome, sequencing about 92% of its DNA. Having released their findings as a preprint — a scientific paper that has not yet gone through the peer-review process – the researchers are inviting more scientists to study the genome and conduct…
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“Winter” by Megan Fernandes
Delving into the depths of winter brings us closer to deathOne winter, I became very quietand saw my life. It was Februaryand outside in the city streets,snow fell but would not collect.I bought snapdragons and thistle,got some discount peach rosesthat smelled off. I split thembetween vases and movedthe bouquets from room to roomwhile a violin solo rang out.My throat hurt. My tonsils grewblubbery like two…
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Losing Her Constant
A woman loses her father, an ever-present force of strength and stability in her lifeThis is Nancy’s story, as told by Jeanette. Our “Opening Our Hearts” stories are based on people’s real-life experiences with grief and loss. By sharing these experiences publicly, we hope to help our readers feel less alone in their grief, and ultimately, aid them in their healing process. In this post, we tell the story…
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