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Chanting Akal as a Soul Passage Rite
In the Sikh tradition, the mantra Akal is often chanted after death to help the soul achieve union with universal consciousnessIn the Sikh tradition and in the larger global yogic community, the Gurbani mantra Akal is often chanted as someone’s body finishes the dying process, as well as for 17 days following physical death. Akal means “deathless” or “undying,” and the vibration as well as the meaning of the word is considered to aid a…
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Threshold Choir Offers Comfort in Final Days
An international organization of bedside singers brings solace to the dying and their familiesThe Threshold Choir (now an international organization spanning the United States, Canada and parts of Europe and Southeast Asia), began with Kate Munger, who found herself in 1990 singing at the bedside of a dear friend as he lay in a coma dying of HIV/AIDS. A decade later, the first official Threshold Choir meeting was…
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“Satisfied Mind” by Jeff Buckley
A classic song that celebrates a life well-lived as opposed to material goodsJeff Buckley’s song ‘Satisfied Mind’ offers a beautiful take on the end of life. In this classic song, Buckley comments that money can’t buy back time, and when the end of your life approaches, the most wonderful thing to have is a satisfied mind — satisfied in that you’ve lived the life you wanted. This is a…
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Monday Hearts for Madalene
Page Hodel creates the most beautiful hearts in an ongoing celebration of loveMissing You with this Beautiful Bounty of Blooms, Berries and Blades! It’s an honor for SevenPonds to share with our readers the story of the Monday Hearts for Madalene project, a true account of the power of love in the midst of death. The project’s origins take us to 2005: the moment Page Hodel encountered Madalene Rodriguez and fell…
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Exercise and Aging – Why They Should Go Hand-in-Hand
A look at further evidence showing just how important exercise is as we ageIt’s no surprise that exercise is good for you, and it’s probably something you’ve heard before. But studies are further proving how important exercise is in regard to aging and brain health in middle and old age. With age often comes a lack of mobility and cognitive decline. Thankfully, we’ve begun to see that even a moderate…
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Artist Andy Goldsworthy’s Brother Suffered the Death of His Beloved Wife
This caused Andy to see the voids in natureAndy Goldsworthy is one of the most beloved artists, sculptors and photographers of our day. Based in Scotland, he creates art out of natural materials, which reflect nature’s creation followed by dissolution. For those of you unfamiliar with Andy Goldsworthy, he makes his art in outdoor landscapes, creating the most beautifully compelling shapes and forms. Often…
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Move Through Grief with Yoga
Recent publications explain and provide tools for moving through grief with yogaOur Tip of the Week: It is commonplace for therapists to suggest light physical exercise to help people in grief stay physically and emotionally healthy as they go through this intense phase of transition. A recent proliferation of publications by authors who hold yogic training in addition to a background in fields such as counseling…
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“ How It All Could Be: A Work Book for Dying People and for Those Who Love Them”
Stephen Jenkinson’s little book offers mighty ideas to rethink dying and grieving in a death-denying cultureStephen Jenkinson (MTS, MSW) is an author, teacher, spiritual activist, farmer, subject of the film Griefwalker, and former palliative care professional. His 2009 publication, How It All Could Be: A work book for dying people and for those who love them, offers insightful commentary that strings together a series of deceptively simple questions designed to help…
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