The Art of Living & Dying
The Art of Living & Dying is more about living than about dying. These modules draw from our ancestors’ wisdom: the quality of life is enhanced when we do not live in fear or denial of suffering and mortality.
Description
The Art of Living & Dying is more about living than about dying. These modules draw from our ancestors’ wisdom: the quality of life is enhanced when we do not live in fear or denial of suffering and mortality. The results of facing or ‘leaning into’ existential/spiritual pain are profound and may include the improvement of physical health and enhanced capacity for healing—as well as peace of mind and the transformation of spirit. These insights, while critical at the end of life, are also useful throughout the many other real ‘deaths’ that occur throughout every person’s lifetime including times of illness and loss and the normal stages of transition such as birth, adolescence and elderhood.
Program Goals
- To assist all caregivers in re-connecting the ‘soul and role’ of their professional and personal lives.
- To explore the nature and inter-relationship among all the dimensions of human health and suffering— physical, emotional and psycho-spiritual.
- To learn ‘best practices’ for caregivers based on the Total Pain model of Dr. Cicely Saunders and other clinically tested pain management practices.
Core Teaching
There is remarkable wisdom available from human history and culture regarding the sacred art of living and dying which continues to offer important lessons for today’s caregivers. The relationship between spiritual suffering and physical-emotional distress is real yet often goes undiagnosed. Every person shares common existential/spiritual needs regardless of whether they ascribe to a particular religious or faith system of belief. There are four sources of emotional-spiritual suffering: meaning, forgiveness, relatedness and hope.
By first identifying and then leaning into the source of psycho-spiritual pain, doors open to the possibility of inner healing which also supports physical health and recovery from illness. In order to recognize the ‘soul-pain’ in another, we first have to identify these same realities in ourselves. The new science emerging in our time is confirming some of the same principles and practices found in the traditional healing arts.
Program Lessons
- The art of living well and the art of dying well are one and the same.
- We are the medicine. This means we all have the capacity to be healers for ourselves and to one another in our willingness to be present to another.
- We do not fix the suffering of others, however, the way in which care is given can touch the most hidden places.
- There is a critical distinction between pain and suffering.
- When dealing with spiritual suffering, the cardinal principle is to always ‘lean into the pain.’
- The core teaching of the world’s great wisdom traditions is that one should never respond to the spiritual pain of another until it has first been ‘diagnosed’ (i.e. the origin of the ‘wound’ is identified).
- In addressing any form of spiritual suffering, we should not recommend a ‘tool’ or practice for another unless we have experienced it ourselves.
- Regarding the language of the ‘soul’ (also called the essence or heart of a person), experience teaches that—
- The soul usually speaks in metaphor
- The soul is generally shy
- The soul already knows what it needs and,
- The soul recognizes when it can safely reveal itself to another
Methodology
The nature of this highly personal and challenging material requires an approach that balances both:
- The history, knowledge and lessons of the sacred art of living and dying as they speak to contemporary persons and
- An opportunity to test and experience these teachings personally.
To achieve these goals, Healing the Healers modules offer a creative blend of content-oriented presentations, personal reflection, group processes and sacred ritual. The facilitator’s role is to create a space for participants to engage with the course material in a way that confirms their own experience and also opens the possibility of new insight. While there are concrete learning outcomes for each module, the two-day program also creates a retreat-like environment that nurtures and encourages the soul of the caregiver to show up. These programs are non-denominational in approach, meaning, that they respect the spiritual path of every person, regardless of any religious affiliation.
Module Information
Module 1: Understanding Spiritual Suffering
Outcomes you can expect from this program:
- Training in practical and clinically-sound practices to alleviate spiritual and emotional distress at the end of life.
- Strong grounding in the rich monastic history of spiritual caregiving and practice.
- Proven results to relieve physical and spiritual pain and the voluntary reduction of analgesics at the end of life.
- Experience with valuable tools for addressing death anxiety, which affects not only the dying person but also family, friends and other caregivers.
- Essential education about bereavement care and caring for the caregiver, helping to avoid costly burnout for staff and volunteers.
Module 2: Recognizing Spiritual Suffering
What you can expect from this program:
- Experimentation with each of the four spiritual pain scales: hope, meaning, forgiveness, and relatedness pain.
- Examination of the relationship between ethical and religious-based decision making.
- Study of the current understanding of ‘religious abuse’ as a critical factor for some patients in coming to peace at the end of life.
- Reflection on the correlation between the traditional stages of human development and the stages of faith development, especially as it impacts end of life care and bereavement issues.
- Define, compare, and contrast personal modes of pastoral practice with alternative modes of therapeutic presence.
Module 3: Responding to Spiritual Suffering
What you can expect from this program:
- Experience with three different styles of guided imagery which have a proven clinical track record for alleviating spiritual pain
- Practice with the principles of Coma Therapy for use with patients in states of altered consciousness.
- Experimentation with one of several art therapy projects which can be applied for bed-bound patients.
- Study of the acclaimed science-based research of Drs. Larry Dossey and Joan Borysenko on the effectiveness of ‘non-local’ prayer on healing.
- Development of a practical ritual to be used in end-of-life care based on traditional and contemporary models.
- Reflection on a Bereavement Model for ‘reconciling grief’ based on the work of Dr. Alan Wolfelt’s Center for Loss and Transition in Boulder, Colorado.
- Walking the labyrinth and reflection on its unique history as a symbol of spiritual pilgrimage.
Module 4: Transforming Spiritual Suffering
Participants take previous courses to a deeper level of personal integration. The meaning of life and death, compassion, and caring are explored in a nurturing environment. Based on lessons that the dying teach the living, this retreat format allows for ample reflection on the meaning of end-of-life ministry. Exercises include meditation, life-priorities evaluation, and self-care skills for maintaining a centered, professional presence.
What you can expect from this program:
- Study and some personal experience with some of the different principles and techniques of ‘energy work’ by using bio-feedback mechanisms as a means of assisting a patient’s state of physical and emotional well-being.
- Experimentation with two guided visualization formats for the ‘healing of memories.’
- Exploration of the ethical dimensions of end-of-life caregiving as impact the long-term emotional and spiritual lives of professional caregivers.
- Examination of the distinction between caregiver burnout and fatigue as well as other practical antidotes to stress.
- Exposure to basic theory and techniques related to Jungian dream analysis, particularly as it relates to emotional and spiritual pain at the end of life.
- Discussion of basic rights and obligations [including legal prescriptions] regarding body ‘aftercare,’ burial, memorial services, and grief support for extended family systems.
Wisdom from our Ancestors
to know what has hurt you,
to allow it to come closer to you
and in the end, to become one with you.
– From the Ars Moriendi, the Sacred Art of Living & Dying, 11th century