Author Archives: Rachel Jones (Blog Writer, SevenPonds)

“That’s what life is: our ability to give ourselves away. Death just stands there as the reminder that we should be giving ourselves away at all times.”

- Robert Thurman
Posted on December 12, 2019 by Rachel Jones (Blog Writer, SevenPonds)
Posted in A Rite of Passage | Leave a comment

“Will My Cat Eat My Eyeballs?: Big Questions from Tiny Mortals About Death,” by Caitlin Doughty

A mortician answers children’s most pressing questions about death and dying
Posted on November 22, 2019 by Rachel Jones (Blog Writer, SevenPonds)

In “Will My Cat Eat My Eyeballs?” Caitlin Doughty, a mortician, encourages curiosity about death from readers of all ages. Drawing on science, personal experience and anecdotal evidence, she brings a lighthearted approach to questions that range from the practical … Continue reading →

Posted in Lending Insight | Leave a comment

Digital Messages to Loved Ones Reach Out After Death

Websites and apps enable users to share wishes and advice from beyond the grave
Posted on November 15, 2019 by Rachel Jones (Blog Writer, SevenPonds)

A growing number of websites and apps are allowing people to document important information, store their funerary preferences and send postmortem digital messages to loved ones. Many, such as Final Wish, came about as the result of encounters with illness … Continue reading →

Posted in Something Special | Leave a comment

New Research Raises Questions Around Definition of Brain Death

Scientists revive portions of pigs’ brains, revealing the limits of our understanding
Posted on November 4, 2019 by Rachel Jones (Blog Writer, SevenPonds)

Scientists have restored partial function to 32 pigs’ brains hours after they died – upending our accepted definition of brain death. Using a new system called BrainEx, researchers at the Yale University School of Medicine restored circulation and oxygen flow … Continue reading →

Posted in Science of Us | Leave a comment

“Eyes as Big as Plates” by Riitta Ikonen and Karoline Hjorth

Whimsical photographs inspired by Nordic folklore subvert aging stereotypes
Posted on October 27, 2019 by Rachel Jones (Blog Writer, SevenPonds)

For the past nine years, Finnish-Norwegian photographer duo Riitta Ikonen and Karoline Hjorth have been capturing seniors in mythological poses that reflect on their relationship to nature. The ongoing project, “Eyes as Big as Plates,” offers a stunning array of … Continue reading →

Posted in Soulful Expressions | Leave a comment

“No Hard Feelings” by The Avett Brothers

Folk-rock band celebrates embracing true forgiveness in order to die peacefully
Posted on October 15, 2019 by Rachel Jones (Blog Writer, SevenPonds)

Known for their honest, plaintive lyrics, The Avett Brothers released “No Hard Feelings” in 2016 on their ninth album, “True Sadness.” The song immediately launches into the need to address any residual resentment before departing this world: When my body … Continue reading →

Posted in Expressive Music | 3 Comments