Let the Candles Speak

12 Jan 2023 | Funerals, Death and Dying, End of Life Planning

Being With Those in Deep Grief

Let the Candles Speak —by Patricia McKernon Runkle Slip off your needs and set them by the door. Enter barefoot this darkened chapel hollowed by loss hallowed by sorrow its gray stone walls and floor. You, congregation of one are here to listen not to sing. Kneel in the back…

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29 Oct 2021 | Mindfulness

Holding Space for Honest Conversations

Holding space… invites us to bring a mindful presence to our interactions. A space where we want to connect, we are interested in what is being shared and also, where we foster a sense of non judgement. It doesn’t mean that we always agree or have the same views. It means…

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Talking with Children about Traumatic Events

22 Sep 2021 | Elderhood

Talking with Children about Traumatic Events

Building Healthy Communities -Talking with Children about Traumatic Events I am caring for my 4 and 7-year-old grandsons this weekend, here in Emerald Beach, so I opened the conversation with my daughter about taking the children to the water blessing/paddle out tomorrow that will be held at Shelley’s Beach in…

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18 Sep 2021 | Ceremonies

Mourning and Celebration Circle

Mourning and Celebration Circle – how it touches people’s lives. Helena, who lives in Portugal, emailed me after her friend and colleague, Sam, thought she might be interested in a mourning and celebration circle to honour her dearest friend and partner, Pedro, who had died unexpectedly two weeks earlier.  Pedro…

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25 Aug 2021 | Celebrants

Grief as Water

Amitaśūrī (pronounced “Ami-ta-shoori”), is an ordained Buddhist who has spent time as a Hospital/Healthcare Chaplain in England and Scotland. The following readings are crafted from the many threads that Amitaśūrī shared about her work and life as we engaged in a conversation about illness, life, loss, grief and death. We talked about…

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Self Empathy

18 Aug 2021 | Ceremonies

Listening to the Inner Conversation

I participated in a three month online Conversational Leadership program with the poet, David Whyte. earlier this year. David’s first invitation was to ask, ‘What conversations do you want to stop having?’ It struck a deep chord within. What conversations do I want to stop having? Having just finished 14 days…

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Grief

23 Jun 2021 | Ceremonies

What Death Means

I mentioned in an earlier blog, that when I first became a funeral celebrant one of my favourite books was, A Book of Eulogies; edited with commentary by Phyllis Theroux. It was a gem for many different reasons. Examples of well crafted eulogies, stories and a chapter on, What Death…

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31 Mar 2021 | Mindfulness

Events for April 2021

NOTE CHANGE to AEST – SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA Online Mindfulness Meditation – Every Tuesday 7-7.30pm AEST Foster a sense of peace, presence and connection. To join click this Zoom Link at 7pm AEST on Tuesdays. Everyone welcome. Freely offered. Online Empathy Circles Freely offered. Language: English. For more information click here….

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17 Feb 2021 |

Celebrating This Precious Life – Honest Conversations about Death and Dying

Honest Conversations about Death and Dying ONCE A MONTH, FIRST THURSDAY OF THE MONTH, online 6.30-9pm AEDT (Sydney, Melbourne, Australia timezone) This six month program offers the opportunity for authentic and engaging conversations and deep listening to ourselves and others on death and dying. ‘Through honest, generous and inspired conversations and practices, with no…

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17 Feb 2021 |

Celebrating This Precious Life – Honest Conversations about Death and Dying

Honest Conversations about Death and Dying ONCE A MONTH, FIRST THURSDAY OF THE MONTH, online 6.30-9pm AEDT (Sydney, Melbourne, Australia timezone) This six month program offers the opportunity for authentic and engaging conversations and deep listening to ourselves and others on death and dying. ‘Through honest, generous and inspired conversations and practices, with no…

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