My mother spent her last years in an old age home in a little town 15 hours by car from where I live. I tried to have her moved to where our family could give her attention and care, but the doctors felt she might suffer a fatal heart attack from the stress of the move. The difficulty in reaching her (she later could no longer remember us when we phoned), had her die miles from her loved ones, surrounded by strangers. The pain and guilt of feeling I had failed her arose unbidden within my heart for many years. It has deepened my ability to love older people and constant silent blessings and healings flow from me when I encounter an older person and know they’re someone’s mother or father. Thus very intense romantic love awakens within us the ability to love others more deeply, but it also awakens so much more. The depth an artist brings to art likewise stems from passion inspired by love. Eventually, not only that which we create but that which we are, gets honed and shaped into a maturity that is lacking in those who have never relinquished the love of self for love of another. ~ Almine
This is from the article “Right Brain Method of Ascension“, which is one of the newly posted articles on the new spiritual journeys website. Check it -and other articles– out. During this month we will be adding a whole lot more of these articles to the site, for your reading pleasure.
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I relate to the story. Ah…
For several years now I have been unable to attend wakes or funerals of close relatives and although I truly did not feel guilty, my mind kept me thinking I should feel guilty and talked myself back into the circle again. I did attend four recently within the last year and I learned so much as I sat there and observed myself and everyone around me. I saw those beliefs that hold people in a place and saw how I somehow have outgrown the need for maintaining those beliefs for myself. I feel compassion for the losses and the grief people are going through and I have had to change the way I phrase my condolences, I do not say I am sorry for your loss, I say something like I share the heartache you hold for your loved one’s passing. My view of death has changed so much that I have had to find another way to express what I feel! Or I say nothing and hold them close when I hug them. I do not feel guilty anymore and I believe I have found a way to address this matter of wakes and funerals. In Cree traditions it has become a contest to see who can do the best, revive the oldest, etc etc and when it comes to duty and tradition I do it automatically now, what needs to be done and I feel complete.
Hi Avril
Nice to see you at the womansretrait always have to laugh when i think of your little cat yoga.
I can pick you up in the airplain .
Love your beautiful humor,
Love Corrien
siany, I need a lift to the airport in Bristol when I go to the women’s retreat, can you give me a lift?
lol!
I am absolutely cracking up laughing xxxxxxxxxxxx
I loved this post. Thank you.
For years I felt awful that I was hundreds of miles away from my beloved grandma when she was in a care home near to the rest of my family before she died. She had been there unfailingly for me & I felt I had really failed her. But the gem that I was given through that experience was that wherever I can, if I see an elderly person I will try to help – stop the car & offer a lift or do something, remembering that they are someone’s grandma too & that I am still a global grand-daughter to a world full of beautiful & beloved grandmas xxx