What Is Anticipatory Grief?
When psychiatrist Elisabeth Kubler-Ross released her seminal book “On Death and Dying” in 1969, she based her writings on the experiences of people who were facing certain death. Through a series of interviews and conversations with terminally ill children and adults, she opened a window into what it’s like to live with a terminal illness and developed her now-famous theory about the five stages of grief.
“Always” by Steven Spielberg
“Always” movie poster
“Always” is a heartwarming (and even sappy) fantasy film about death and letting go — to a beautiful theme song: “Smoke Gets in Your Eyes” sung by The Platters. Set in the fictional location of Flat Rock, Colorado, the 1989 film is a remake of “A Guy Named Joe” (1943), a war film about the spirit of a dead man who lets go of his life by helping the living. However, instead of putting the story in the context of a war, Steven Spielberg puts his characters into World War II planes — as an homage to the original film — but in the present day. Now those planes are being used to put out forest fires, a moving premise for an afterlife adventure romance.
“And When It Happens My Body Doesn’t Remember That You Are Gone” by Rosa CastellanoPhoto by Yasser Abu-Ghdaib on Unsplash
When a memory
feathers through you
mid-step
mid-speak
mid-breath
and the hairs on your arms
rise as if in answer to a call
only your bones can hear
The Matsigenka and the “Were-Jaguars” of Peru
Credit: Stan V. Petersen
People of all cultures and in all regions of the world have fears about death. Some fears stem from concepts of heaven and hell or karmic retribution, while many center on the mystery of the afterlife. For the Matsigenka people of Peru, however, this uncertainty boils down to a very specific question: Will I turn into a jaguar when I die?
Our Monthly Tip: Pose for a Heartfelt Memorial Photo at a Celebration of Life
People gather for a memorial photo.
Photo Credit: Page Hodel
Make your celebration of life truly memorable by planning a unique group photo to mark the occasion. Along with capturing candid shots of your guests, consider going above and beyond — literally — with an overhead aerial photo. With just a bit of extra planning, you’ll end up with a frame-worthy keepsake that beautifully captures the spirit of the day. The group photo can be shared digitally as a thoughtful parting gift, and it might even spark a new annual tradition. Plus, gathering everyone for the photo is a meaningful way to wrap up the celebration on a high note.
“Body and Soul” Art Exhibit at Bourse de Commerce in Paris
Marlene Dumas, Einder (Horizon), 2007‑2008, oil on canvas, 138 × 300 × 2.5 cm. Pinault Collection. © Marlene Dumas
For its “Corps et Âmes” exhibition, the Bourse de Commerce in Paris brings together 100 artworks including drawing, painting, sculpture, photography and video. The multimedia show — in English, the title means “Body and Soul” — features works from over 40 artists in the Pinault Collection who come from different backgrounds.
Though these artists span medium and culture, they all explore what it means to live in a body, and many show the impermanence that is a part of being human. The show brims with diverse and thought-provoking perspectives, death surfacing as a theme throughout, as it is inseparable from the corporeal experience.
To accompany the exhibition, the Bourse de Commerce produced a 48-page press kit with extensive descriptions of artists and their works, and explanations as to why curators selected and placed pieces in the museum’s galleries as they did.
Who Cares for the Caregivers?: 
Final Messages of the Dying: 
Will I Die in Pain?: 
