Tag Archives: Dealing with Grief

Our Weekly Tip: Dealin

g with the Sleeplessness That Accompanies Grief

After a major loss, it can be difficult to get a good night's sleep

Our Tip of the Week: It’s typical to experience disruptions in normal sleep patterns in the first few weeks and months of grief after a major loss. You may have trouble falling asleep, find yourself waking up throughout the night, or … Continue reading

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The Jewish Mourning Tradition of Shiva

An exploration into the meaning and rituals of Shiva

When a practicing member of Judaism dies, the first stage of the mourning traditions is Shiva. The word “Shiva” means seven and originates from the beginning of the Torah, when Joseph mourned the loss of his father Jacob for seven … Continue reading

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 “Mama You Sweet” by Lucinda Williams

A beautiful memorial song that encapsulates the physical and emotional severity of a daughter’s grief and love for her mother

On her 2007 album, West, one of my favorite singer-songwriters, Lucinda Williams, released an intensely beautiful song about her love for her mother and her grief over her death called “Mama You Sweet.” “Mama You Sweet” starts with the repetition … Continue reading

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What Is Mantram Singing? An Interview with Jan Stoneman

Musician and mantram singer Jan Stoneman explains what mantram singing is and how it applies to aging, dying and death

Today SevenPonds speaks with Jan Stoneman, a musician and mantram singer who volunteers on a weekly basis at AgeSong—an innovative assisted living facility in San Francisco. He leads groups singing mantrams to AgeSong’s residents, including at bedsides for those unable … Continue reading

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What does Alzheimer’s mean for family and friends? An Interview with Cadmona Hall

A family therapist's perspective on how Alzheimer's affects the entire family

Today, SevenPonds speaks with Cadmona Hall from the Alder School of Professional Psychology. With her doctorate in Marriage and Family Therapy, she trains family therapists through a holistic “self-of-the-therapist” approach in which her students examine themselves from a number of identities such as … Continue reading

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“Brokedown Palace” by Grateful Dead

A funeral song to soothe those dealing with grief and coping with death

Music expresses an endless amount of human emotion. It soothes those dealing with grief and serves as a soundtrack to life and death. We use music to inspire, mourn, remember, signify and symbolize the life of another as we cope … Continue reading

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