Forest Bathing Eases Grief by Soaking in Nature

Mindfulness and a leisurely pace are key elements of the practice
Sunlight filtering through trees creates mystical atmosphere.

The slow, structured practice of forest bathing helps those grieving from loss receive the therapeutic benefits of nature.
Credit: Johannes Plenio

A hike through the woods is soothing for a grieving heart, but the practice of “forest bathing” can raise the therapeutic benefits to another level.

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The Spiritual Symbolism of Cardinals

Many believe that the bright red birds indicate the death of a loved one
A cardinal on a branch, recalling its symbolism for death and messages from beyond.

The Northern Cardinal is commonly found across the southeastern U.S.
Credit: Ed McAskill

Has a crested red bird recently crossed your path? If so, it may be a message from heaven, or an indication that a loved one has died, according to the longstanding cross-cultural symbolism of cardinals.

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Meaning-Focused Grief Therapy: Imaginal Dialogues with the Deceased

Robert A. Neimeyer, PhD, explains this process in a Q&A ahead of a workshop he will co-present in April
Imaginal Dialogues with the Deceased

Robert A. Neimeyer, Ph.D.

Submitted photo

Robert A. Neimeyer, Ph.D. is the director of the Portland Institute for Loss and Transition, and a recognized expert in grief therapy. A former President of the Association for Death Education and Counseling (ADEC), Neimeyer has also served as the Chair of the International Work Group on Death, Dying, and Bereavement.

Today, SevenPonds spoke with Neimeyer about an upcoming workshop, “Imaginal Dialogues with the Deceased: Principles and Practice,” which he will present with psychologist Carolyn Ng, at the upcoming ADEC conference in Houston, Texas, from April 11-13, 2024. The half-day workshop is meant to help increase awareness about this meaning-focused grief therapy.

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Flawed Kidney Function Test Discriminated Against Black Patients

Race-based criteria has been removed from kidney functioning tests
Many Black patients experience racial bias in healthcare

Black patients are dismayed to learn they could have received kidney transplants much earlier.

A racially biased medical test used to determine the degree of patient’s kidney failure and rank them on kidney transplant lists is finally being changed. Although Black Americans are three times more likely to have kidney failure than white Americans, they are 25% less likely to be waitlisted for kidney transplant than white peers. An outdated model for assessing kidney function has contributed to inequitable access to transplant options.

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Does Grief Heighten Clumsiness?

Some research and anecdotal evidence suggests the answer may be “yes”
senior woman on floor after falling due to grief clumsiness

Some believe that clumisness, falls and other accidents may be an effect of grief, although scientific evidence supporting this belief is scarce.

Everyone knows that grief can be disabling – but heightened clumsiness could make that statement even more literal.

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Harmony Amidst Change: Japan’s Kezouin Fuchu-shi Cemetery

Explore Japanese cemetery design, societal shifts, and the harmonious coexistence of past and present burial customs
Burial site at the Kezouin Fuchu-shi Cemetery

Credit: Masao Nishikawa

Nestled in Fuchu City, Japan, the Kezouin Fuchu-shi Cemetery offers a serene landscape amidst its undulating black stone walking paths and islands of lush green moss. Crafted by Love Architecture, this stunning dry landscape garden not only celebrates the beauty of nature but also reflects the evolving dynamics within Japanese society.

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