Tag Archives: Acceptance of Death

“Away Away” by Ibeyi

An upbeat ode to the potential for new beginnings when things fall apart

In “Away Away,” Ibeyi calls for hope in a world that can often feel like it’s on the brink of collapse. The French-Cuban sisters, Naomi and Lisa-Kaindé Díaz, open the song by singing the title phrase with a joyful vigor. … Continue reading

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How Can Confronting Our Suffering Enrich Our Lives?

An interview with Buddhist teacher, and author Frank Ostaseski, Part Two

Today SevenPonds concludes our interview with Frank Ostaseski, an internationally respected Buddhist teacher, cofounder of the Zen Hospice Project, and founder of the Metta Institute. Frank has lectured at Harvard Medical School, the Mayo Clinic, and Wisdom.2.0, and teaches at major … Continue reading

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The Dangerous Myth of a Good Death

Placing expectations on the dying can cause real harm

Keep some room in your heart for the unimaginable. ~ Mary Oliver As a pediatric oncology nurse, I saw more than my fair share of death. My dying patients were children — some infants, some toddlers, some teens — all … Continue reading

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“The Death of Ivan Ilyich” by Leo Tolstoy

A 19th century novel reflects on timeless themes of life and death

Arguably one of the greatest writers of all time, Count Lev (Leo) Nikolayevich Tolstoy was born to a wealthy Russian family in 1828. His entire body of work, from the highly regarded novels “War and Peace” and “Anna Karenina” to his … Continue reading

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Kintsugi: Finding Beauty in Brokenness

Japanese ceramic art tradition highlights history and celebrates imperfection

The 15th century Japanese art of “Kintsugi” (golden joinery) or “Kintsukuroi” (golden repair) involves the mending of shattered ceramics with “urushi” lacquer and powdered metal — most commonly gold. The central philosophy of Kintsugi is that an object is made … Continue reading

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A Friend in Life and Death

Ann Clark incorporates her Stanford science background, a Masters in Transpersonal Psychology and a clinical massage certification to meet the needs of seniors approaching the end of life

Ann Clark has a playful light in her blue-green eyes. Now in her seventies, her exuberant presence is inviting, and you just want to be her friend. Ann’s zest for life shines even through the countless hours spent by the … Continue reading

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