-
What is Jin Shin Jyutsu? (Interview)
In this two-part interview, Judy Andry explains the basics of Jin Shin Jyutsu and how the practice can improve quality of lifeToday SevenPonds speaks with Judy Andry. Judy Andry has been studying Jin Shin Jyutsu since 1984. She was one of the first three members of the Jin Shin Jyutsu Advisory Council in 1998 and she has a small private counseling practice in New Orleans. She is the author of the book A Touching Goodbye: The Gentle…
/
-
“Being Mortal“
A practicing surgeon contemplates mortality by examining the experiences of his elders and their caregiversThe concept of death is a compelling subject to dwell on. As we grow and mature, it becomes ingrained in us that, while a life may be the longest thing we will ever experience, the experience itself is shorter than we think. Death will eventually sneak up on us. In Atul Gawande’s Being Mortal, however,…
/
-
Bark Cloth: The Oldest Mourning Garment?
Bark cloth has long been crafted in Borneo to create mourning garments after the death of a loved oneReflecting on the material items various countries associate with death and dying can be telling on both a ritualistic and practical level (ex. “Western” culture’s penchant for wearing black to funerals; South Korea’s move towards “burial beads” in the wake of over-crowded cemeteries). Consider bark cloth, which is believed to have originated from Africa and…
/
-
Hogewey: The Dementia Village That Embraces Late-Stage Alzheimer’s
Dutch town Hogewey is entirely inhabited by people who have Alzheimer’s, and the patients are thrivingThe little village of Hogewey in The Netherlands looks normal on the outside: 23 houses nestled around a community plaza filled with stores and park benches. But this village has a secret. Everyone living within its gates has late-stage Alzheimer’s. Hogewey is a project imagined by Yvonne van Amerongen, a caretaker who was fed up with…
/
-
“Ghost on the Canvas”
A country music legend says goodbye with a haunting title trackGlen Campbell was 75 when Ghost on the Canvas was recorded in 2011. The album sustained Glen’s musical genius even after his 50 years in the music business and 45 million records sold. Some believe that this last album may have been his finest, even though it came out right after the country great was diagnosed with…
/
-
“Spikes” by Michael Chabon
Michael Chabon’s “Spikes” offers readers a perspective into how a person can unexpectedly learn to cope with the grief of losing a childThe process of grieving is a healing pain that can revitalize the spirit, just as much as it can signal the end of something or someone that we are beholden by. This is the main lesson for the short story “Spikes”, which first appeared in Michael Chabon’s 1999 bestselling book, Werewolves in our Youth. The…
/
-
Monday Hearts for Madalene
Page Hodel creates the most beautiful hearts in an ongoing celebration of loveTinkering in Life Without You 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 “instantly, dizzyingly in love with her.”…
/
Want an Easier Way to Plan a Memorial Event? Get our FREE guide
“7 Ways to Create an Amazing Celebration of Life”
