What Really Matters: Everyday Spirituality

In this episode I'll share insights from my recent Substack post on the metaphor of the butterfly life cycle and why as a society we are in a "chrysalis phase" right now. This episode includes:

• The need for grief rituals - both individual and collective - as we navigate this time of dissolution
• Why forgiveness is an essential part of grief work
• Why each of us must find our own unique form of creativity to bring to the world
• How to protect what is new and fragile
• Recognizing other "imaginal cells" in order to collaborate

Learn about my books here

Check out End-of-Life University Podcast

Read my latest Substack post

Make a donation here

This episode is Part 2 on the mini-series on dealing with the fear of death. Today we look again at the 5 doorways of exploring death and I share verses from The Tao of Death that can help us contemplate the deeper meaning of each doorway. The episode includes:

• Why we need to go within to learn about our fear of death
• How to "die before we die" by releasing ego attachments
• Why we must learn to live in the present moment rather than the imagined future
• Connecting to something larger than ourselves
• Speaking and connecting to others about our fears of death

Learn about my books here

Check out End-of-Life University Podcast

Read my latest Substack post

Make a donation here

In this episode I share some thoughts from ChatGPT along with my own about how to deal with our innate fear of death. Next week I'll continue with this topic and share some wisdom from The Tao of Death but first we begin with a deep dive into death. This episode incudes:

• What if we dive beneath the fear of death instead of trying to rise above it

• Look beneath the fear
• Learn to die before you die
• Practice presence
• Connect to something larger
• Speak the fear aloud

Learn about my books here

Check out End-of-Life University Podcast

Read my latest Substack post

Make a donation here

In this episode I share how to use the Disney film Frozen 2--which I've been watching on repeat with my 3 year old granddaughter--as a catalyst for conversations about loss and grief. Here are some tips for using the film and a discussion guide you can download for your own family movie night. This episode include:

• Frozen 2's backstory of grief
• Elsa's Hero's Journey in the film and what we learn from it
• Anna's journey through overwhelming grief and how to talk about it
• Teaching moments for families
• How to talk with children after the movie

Get the discussion guide here

Learn about my books here

Check out End-of-Life University Podcast

Read my latest Substack post

Make a donation here

In this episode I share how my own grieving process was helped by experiencing the visible evidence of mourning I encountered when traveling through Italy (as written in Wild and Holy). This episode includes:

• How grief is visible in Italy but repressed and hidden here in the US
• The cost of repressed grief to our emotions and physical body
• How shared grief can be healing
• The connectedness we can experience through grief is needed in our society to heal our divisions
• How to make our own grief more visible
• How to help others share their grief more comfortably

Please check out the Kickstarter campaign for my new book Wild and Holy!!

Learn about my books here

Check out End-of-Life University Podcast

Read my latest Substack post

Make a donation here

In today's brief episode I share some thoughts about how my travels through Italy revealed to me that grief is a powerful source of creativity if we face it directly. This episode highlights the poetry of Andrea Gibson, whose journey through cancer sparked luminous creativity in the midst of grief. This episode includes:

• How grief breaks us open to allow creativity to emerge
• Grief becomes fertile ground for creative ideas to flourish
• How grief can become a medicine, as described in Andrea Gibson's poetry
• Grief as a transformational fire that burns away what doesn't matter
• How grief ultimately connects us will all humanity and creativity can create a ripple effect of hope and innovation

Please check out the Kickstarter campaign for my new book Wild and Holy!!

Learn about my books here

Check out End-of-Life University Podcast

Read my latest Substack post

Make a donation here

In this special episode I’m sharing with you the Introduction to my new book Wild and Holy! I hope you enjoy listening to this brief excerpt and that you’ll consider backing the Kickstarter campaign where you can receive many wonderful bonuses for your support. Wild and Holy has been named a “Project We Love” by Kickstarter, which is an amazing honor I’m happy to receive. Check it out and reserve your copy – available now only through Kickstarter!

Go to this link: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/2136452733/wild-and-holy

Thanks in advance if you choose to support the campaign!

Today I'm sharing a personal practice I've used to clear my own energy field when I'm faced with tense and challenging relationships. With all the polarization and hatred present in our society right now we need tools like this to help us find peace and reconciliation wherever possible. This episode includes:

• The sacred Hawaiian practice of Ho'oponopono
• How taking responsibility for our own energy and issues can help us find healing in our relationships, even remotely
• The power of asking What if it's all me?
• Why we need to challenge the ego to let go of its attachment to being right (which makes everyone else wrong)

Please check out the Kickstarter campaign for my new book Wild and Holy!!

Learn about my books here

Check out End-of-Life University Podcast

Read my latest Substack post

Make a donation here

In this episode I share my experience of having grief return to me in a sudden, unexpected wave like a long-dormant volcano erupting. This event is the subject of my new book Wild and Holy, which is launching on Kickstarter this week. This episode includes:

• What is the second wave of grief and why does it happen
• How hidden grief may return when we are strong enough to navigate it
• How grief and guilt can be stored in the physical body and somatic therapies may be needed
• How society exerts pressure to move on from grief and adds to shame and guilt over prolonge or recurrent grief
• How to navigate your own second wave of grief

Sign up for the Wild and Holy Kickstarter page

Learn about my books here

Check out End-of-Life University Podcast

Read my latest Substack post

Make a donation here

In this episode I will share my own personal journey of healing for the heart condition I was unexpectedly diagnosed with last year. This story has a rather miraculous conclusion so listen to the end! This episode includes:

• How I began a healing journey for body, mind, and spirit after learning that my heart condition was quite serious
• How I created a "Heart Journal" and used journaling practices to explore my own Shadow
• Why I renamed my own heart condition
• How I was led to start focusing on grief
• What inspired the writing of the book Wild and Holy

Sign up for the Wild and Holy Kickstarter prelaunch page

Learn about my books here

Check out End-of-Life University Podcast

Read my latest Substack post

Make a donation here