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“Immortality”
A comforting elegy without clear originsDoes this poem sound familiar? Do not standBy my grave, and weep.I am not there,I do not sleep—I am the thousand winds that blowI am the diamond glints in snowI am the sunlight on ripened grain,I am the gentle, autumn rain. As you awake with morning’s hush,I am the swift, up-flinging rushOf quiet birds in…
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Nearly 80% of Canadians Support Psilocybin for End-of-Life Care
Mystical experiences are a key factor in improved outlook of distressed patientsA study published this month in the Canadian medical journal Palliative Medicine found that nearly 80% of Canadians approve the use of psilocybin for end-of-life care to ease existential distress.
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“Life’s for the Living”
The re-released song, featuring a duet with Foy Vance, reminds listeners not to take life for granted“Life’s for the Living” by Passenger reminds us that it sometimes takes the looming certainty of eventual death to challenge us to seize opportunities; to not take everything so seriously. The newly recorded version of the familiar song forces us to evaluate what we’re prioritizing in our daily existence. Recently re-released on Passenger’s 10th anniversary…
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Facial Recognition Technology: Using AI to Identify the Dead
A look at the use of artificial intelligence in facial recognition technology and its criticismAlong with crime mapping, DNA and other useful methods, law enforcement agencies worldwide are using computerized facial recognition technology to identify persons of interest and to help identify the dead.
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Makaria: A Greek Orthodox Tradition with Ancient Roots
Explore the history and evolution of this unique repast tradition.The term “Makaria” stems from the Greek word, makarios, meaning blessed, often translated as the “meal of blessings” or “mercy meal.” It also shares a connection with two goddesses in Greek mythology, both associated with honorable or blessed deaths. Within the strict formalities of a typical Greek Orthodox funeral, a tradition provides families with the…
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Annual Spring Bouquet Sale Benefits Hospice Patients
A florist’s tribute to her father-in-law raises millionsNearly 40 years ago, Cathy McGovern, a florist in Buffalo, New York, hosted a spring bouquet sale to raise money for a local hospice organization. McGovern initially created the event as a tribute to her father-in-law, who benefitted from hospice care for his pancreatic cancer at that time. After his death, his wife also entered…
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Finding Healing on a Griefcation
People are turning to travel and retreat as one way to process their griefWhen someone experiences a devastating loss, healing rarely happens quickly. Even when one is again capable of managing day-to-day life – grocery shopping, childcare, work schedules – that grief can easily get buried beneath the surface. And so healing and release may not readily happen. But a “griefcation” can positively spur that underlying grief to…
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“Under You”
A song to angry-cry to until you feel betterWhen I saw the Foo Fighters perform on the main stage of the music festival Boston Calling last May, it was obvious something was a bit off. Dave Grohl, their legendarily energetic lead singer and guitarist, was uncharacteristically subdued. You could tell he was trying to exude his usual “hyperactive” flair, but he just couldn’t…
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Our Monthly Tip: Record a Conversation with Your Loved One
Preserve your loved one’s cherished memories, family histories and favorite stories.Our Tip of The Month: An excellent way to preserve the memory of a loved one is to record a conversation with them while they are still vibrant and present. Delving into discussions about their childhood, the invaluable life lessons they wish to impart, or the moments that fill them with pride provides a unique…
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