“That time I thought I could not go any closer to grief without dying I went closer. I did not die. Surely God had his hand in this, as well as friends…So I went practicing. Have you noticed? Have you heard the laughter that comes now and again out of my startled mouth?” (Mary Oliver)
Click here to read the entire poem Heavy by Mary Oliver. With the help of Mary Oliver and so many other wise, creative people, I’ve been practicing, practicing, practicing for over 5 years now. One thing I can say with certainty is that I am no longer startled when I laugh!
And practice makes perfect! I am finding my daily life of transforming my grief back into love to be perfectly fascinating and perfectly full of joyful adventures with all the people I love in this world and the next.
One of the most fascinating adventures is being part of the world-wide Death Positivity Movement. I find myself in the company of hospice companions, palliative caregivers, death doulahs, death walkers, celebrants, artists, mediums, counsellors, caregivers, volunteers, and so many others who know that death goes hand in hand with life and grief goes hand in hand with love.
Here I am with three Cowichan Valley colleagues: Karlin Creed, Gail Peekeekoot and Cathy Fraser. They have each been developing and practicing ways of continuing loving communications beyond death for years and years. I am so glad to be in their company.
With Gail’s encouragement, I participated in the October 22-25, Hospice and Palliative Care Association National Conference in Nanaimo BC. I gave a poster presentation on my Story-Sharing Circles.
During the conference, Gail, her husband Ed, and Eileen McGann presented Hope, Joy, and Resilience: A Friday evening of Music and Storytelling.
What a wonderful event that engaged everyone in exploring end of life, death and beyond as a physical, emotional, mental, mindful and spiritually sacred passage through the spiral of life.
With the help of my book, I am travelling the world virtually and in person sharing my story and listening to others’ stories about Continuing Loving Bonds.
I am an ordinary person who became extraordinarily special and magical by receiving the greatest gift there ever was which is simply to love and be loved in return. Most people in the world have also become extraordinary by fulfilling the main purpose of life: Cultivating unconditionally loving relationships with one or more family members, friends, pets, and the more-than-human wild beings in nature. Some of us have even found intimate love with a soulmate.
The outcome of deep love is deep grief. My mission is to help you transform your deep grief back into the deep love it has always been through a well researched but little known set of practices called Continuing Loving Bonds. If you haven’t already done so, I hope you will subscribe to my blog by leaving your email below.
And, you can click here for more information about how to sign up for our Continuing Loving Bonds Story Sharing Circles that will begin again October 30, 2025.
CONTINUING LOVING BONDS 