Author Archives: Juniper Quin (Blog Writer, SevenPonds)

“When you buy something, you’re not paying money for it. You’re paying with the hours of your life you had to spend earning that money. The difference is that life is one thing money can’t buy. Life only gets shorter, and it is pitiful to waste one’s life and freedom that way.”

- José Mujica, Former President of Uruguay and 'World's Poorest President'
Posted in A Rite of Passage | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

“A Dog Has Died” by Pablo Neruda

Pablo Neruda's factual ode weeps through wide-open eyes

Pablo Neruda is a great master of understatement, weaving the sparest details around the complexity of loss with a cry that carries its own weight and does not ask to be comforted. The first four lines of his poem “A Dog … Continue reading

Posted in The Next Chapter | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

What is Public Death Education? An Interview with Lea Rose

Australian psychotherapist, author and the founder of Living and Dying Well Counselling Centre is shifting cultural paradigms of dying

Today, SevenPonds speaks with Lea Rose, a clinical counselor and psychotherapist with over two decades of experience. She is the founder of the Living and Dying Well Counselling Centre in Melbourne, Australia, and the author of the book “Let’s Talk About … Continue reading

Posted in Professional Advice | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Children’s Grief Education Association Provides Needed Nurturing for Children and Adults

US-based association helps children, caregivers and professionals accept and process mortality

Loss and grief occur at every stage of life — as early as a child leaving the safety and warmth of the mother’s body. Loss of positive mirroring and attention, loss of the good graces of others, loss of one’s … Continue reading

Posted in Something Special | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Sobonfu Somé Shares Dagara Grief Wisdom with a Smile

African elder and spiritual teacher creates community through grief

Sobonfu Somé, born in the West African nation of Burkina Faso, says she spoke to the elders in her village before she was born, and her name “Sobonfu” reflects her prenatal intent to be “keeper of the rituals.” When she … Continue reading

Posted in Cultural Perspectives | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Photographer Tom Philips “Dies” in Over 50 Places Around the World

"The Dead Photos" explores the tangible locality of death

“The Dead Photos” is a series of over 50 images taken all over the world in which photo artist Tom Philips has taken self-portraits of himself lying “dead.” Death is a universal, inescapable part of the human experience, yet intimately unique … Continue reading

Posted in Soulful Expressions | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment