Blog Archives

Welcome to the Blog page of Heartful Living and Dying.
Maya makes every effort to properly and respectfully credit any sources referenced in her blog posts, her Hospice IDT offerings, or Resources page; please report corrections or additions via the contact page. If you wish to use material from this or any of Maya's websites, please email [email protected] for permission. Maya lovingly requests that you credit her by sharing her name, website and contact links in written material,
and verbally as well if using material in live presentations. Thank you so much, and May Your Living and Dying be Heartful, Friends!

And now, here is the Blog. . .

Sharing MY Stuff. . .

11/29/2023

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This may be a bit different from my usual posts, in that today I am sharing my own grief and stress with you. When I shared this in my hospice team's meeting this morning, someone said "I somehow thought you were above being sad, like you didn't feel things like this." THIS let me know that I need to share more of my pain - it is important to me to make sure it is clear to each of you, my readers, friends and foe:
I AM AS HUMAN AS THE REST OF US. I AM ONE OF YOU. We are all on this journey of Earthwalk together. I think that what makes us human - what breeds humanity within us - is our ability to know one another's pain - and we cannot do that if we have had none of our own. So, here is a small spot of mine.

Today.

To do what I do, I must be open – I open my body (exercises for this), I open my heart (I practice intentionally sharing vulnerably), I open my mind (I try daily to listen deeply to someone with opinions dramatically opposed to my own), I open my Spirit (pray, dance, intend) – I have practices for all these. My openness as a minister is what allows me to receive another unconditionally. My openness as an artist is what allows me to vision, to embody a character on stage, to risk sharing with others. It is what allows me to hear messages from plants, animals, earth and the beyond. It is what allows creativity to pour forth, ideas and passion and ENERGY to flow to and through me.

But it is also what makes me FEEL SO DEEPLY. I have very good boundary making skills. Yet being the thing I am, I cannot NOT feel. For me, all things are connected, of one source. What makes me “me”, also makes me “you”. And all of “them”.

And so it is that I find myself, heart wide open to the world of which I am made, lately with tears streaming all the time. Whether for the moments of grace and gratitude for some witnessed kindness, or, now almost all the time, for the pain we humans inflict upon one another.

We in hospice see suffering every day. We spend our time, our careers, our hearts on LESSENING that suffering. And yet we now live in an OCEAN of pain, disillusionment, fear, terror actually, despair, rage, grief beyond belief, - a sea of physical/emotional/mental and spiritual suffering the likes of which we have not seen in some time. . . Even if we turn off our devices (which most of us cannot bring ourselves to do), even if we manage to sleep – we exist in the world - a world we cannot (and should not) Un-KNOW the suffering of.

I am, on paper and by career choice, a hospice Spiritual Advisor. Soothing, healing, transforming struggle is my daily job. Yet there are times when I do not think that to soothe ourselves is necessarily correct, nor even possible. Sometimes I feel what is to be done is to fall to our knees.

I am on my knees today. I am beladen with the heaviness of the world. I am at a loss. I am not a voice of mending today – today I can only offer a voice of solidarity with your struggle.

So, today, whether your struggle - like mine – stems from global woes and the failings of humanity, or whether yours may be something closer to home, perhaps WITHIN your home, or even your own heart – I do not come to fix or heal. I come to share my own grief and despair. I come to you on my knees.

Today, on my knees, I call out this prayer – for the world, for you each, for my own heavy heart.

The prayer is by Black Elk, Oglala Lakota/Sioux, who witnessed the Battle of Little Bighorn in 1876, where Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse defeated General Custer. Black Elk was present at the massacre of more than 200 Sioux at Wounded Knee Creek in late 1890.

Earth Prayer

Grandfather/Grandmother, Great Spirit, once more behold me on earth and lean to hear my feeble voice.
You lived first, and you are older than all need, older than all prayer.
All things belong to you -- the two-legged, the four-legged, the wings of the air, and all green things that live.
You have set the powers of the four quarters of the earth to cross each other.
You have made me cross the good road and road of difficulties, and where they cross, the place is holy.
Day in, day out, forevermore, you are the life of things.
Hey! Lean to hear my feeble voice.
At the center of the sacred hoop
You have said that I should make the tree to bloom.
With tears running, O Great Spirit, my Grandfather/my Grandmother,
With running eyes I must say
The tree has never bloomed
Here I stand, and the tree is withered.
Again, I recall the great vision you gave me.
It may be that some little root of the sacred tree still lives.
Nourish it then
That it may leaf
And bloom
And fill with singing birds!
Hear me, that the people may once again
Find the good road
And the shielding tree.

To learn more about Black Elk and Lakota history and spiritual traditions, read John Neihardt's classic; Black Elk Speaks (1932).

And here are a few links (of the many out there) on Black Elk:
https://blackhillsvisitor.com/learn/black-elk-holy-man-of-the-oglala/
https://www.history.com/topics/native-american-history/black-elk

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Thanksgiving, However You Celebrate (or Don't). . .

11/22/2023

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Today, I am sending out my best wishes to the amazing hospice care team I am so blessed to work with on a daily basis (* See my note at the end, regarding hospice!) - and of course, to you - my readers - and those you love. . . I am so very grateful that each and all of you are a part of my life.

Here you go, Dear Ones:

Whether you lift up Thanksgiving in the tradition as you have always known it, or have modified it to fit a new paradigm of joy for your family, or now hold the day in sanctified mourning for the loss of lives and well-being of our fellow human beings (Indigenous/Native Americans, African American, or those around the globe who suffer in so many ways); Whether you choose to celebrate in feasting with Gratitude, or in serving by feeding others, or are fasting in solitude, my wish for you stands. Here is our Spiritual Care Letter:

As you each head off (or stay in) for, Celebrate (or refrain) this Thanksgiving holiday, I wish every one of you a blessed rest (amidst joys or sorrows), a day in which you find a moment – or many – filled with awareness of people, places or things that bring you a sense of replenishment, well-being and healing Gratitude that connects you to whatever you hold most sacred.

God Bless You,
Goddess Renew You,
Higher Self Lift You,
Emptiness Enlighten You,
Science & Nature Regenerate You,
Bliss of the Mundane Moment Soothe You,
Whatever Goodness you believe in - May It Bless you
and All Beings
Tenthousandfold This Thanksgiving Day
and Every Day.

With so much Warmth and Care,

Rev. Maya

"Stay close to anything that makes you glad you are alive."
- Hafiz/Hafez

* There are many wonderful Hospice Services in Maine. The particular organization I work with - and can thus lift up as I do - is Community Health & Counseling Services

However, I am not promoting "my" organization, rather I promote hospice in general as I actually wish we could ALL have hospice care ALL our lives!

(To be loved and held and our whishes and supported in living our best lives - whether measured in decades or decimals - is a thing every human being should get to have!)

If and when a time comes for you or your loved ones, I wish you each the best and most appropriate hospice care for YOU.

Hospice is there to lift up and put PATIENTS'S NEEDS AND WISHES FIRST.
Hospice is for you who are done with "treatments" and are ready to embrace your remaining moments with as much peace, joy, amend-making, heart-warming and pain-free presence as you are able; a good hospice program is there to facilitate all this and more.

Some hospice organizations are affiliated with hospitals, some are not but do have a physical "home" where patients are placed, and some send a team of caregivers to patients wherever they are - home, hospital, elder care etc. If you are considering Hospice Care, please investigate your options to find the organization that is local to, or best suits your needs.

Feel welcome to reach out if I can be of assistance.

Also, visit MAIN HOSPICE COUNCIL for more on Hospice Care in Maine!

Reminder:
Next month we being our Memento Mori: Open, Honest Conversations About Death & Dying!
I hope you will join us, live, online or simply on our facebook group ~ Visit the Memento Mori page for details.

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Link to World Religions Info

11/21/2023

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Hello Friends!

As an Interfaith Chaplian, Minister and Spiritual Director, an enormous portion of my training was in studies of, and experiential "deep dives" into, the faith paths of a many religions. Ongoingly, maintaining my ministry in good standing entails continuing to broaden my experience and understanding of all faith paths, including the beliefs of those who consider themselves not religious, spiritual-but-not-religious, or Atheist.

Many of my fellow hospice workers (some of whom participate in my hospice organizations' "Integrating Spirituality and Health Care" series of workshops, designed by our medical doctor and myself, with wonderful contributions from all members of the team) have asked about various religions, what their beliefs and practices are, and how we might best serve families and individuals with different belief systems. While a video on this topic is in it's very beginning stages (thank you for your patience - updates will be posted), I wanted to offer some links here, for anyone who might like to begin exploring.

Here you go:

First, a list from WIKIPEDIA - here are major (though far from ALL) religions by number of adherents:

ReligionAdherentsPercentageChristianity2.382 billion31.0%
Islam1.907 billion24.9%
Secular [a]/Nonreligious [b]/Agnostic/Atheist1.193 billion15.58%
Hinduism1.161 billion15.2%
Buddhism506 million6.6%
Chinese traditional religion [c]394 million5.6%
Ethnic religions excluding some in separate categories300 million3%
African traditional religions100 million[7]1.2%
Sikhism26 million0.30%
Spiritism15 million0.19%
Judaism14.7 million[8]0.2%
Baháʼí5.0 million[9]0.07%
Jainism4.2 million0.05%
Shinto4.0 million0.05%
Cao Dai4.0 million0.05%
Zoroastrianism2.6 million0.03%
Tenrikyo2.0 million0.02%
Animism1.9 million0.02%
Neo-Paganism1.0 million0.01%
Unitarian Universalism0.8 million0.01%
Rastafari0.6 million0.007%Total7.79 billion

Here are interesting world-statistics on religions, from PEW RESEARCH (which, by the way, is a fascinating research group that studies lots of interesting religious phenomena):
https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2012/12/18/global-religious-landscape-exec/

Here is some very basic information on the worlds 5 main religions:
https://www.yourdictionary.com/articles/world-religions-beliefs

Here is some information on the views of differing Christian denominations:
https://www.learnreligions.com/comparing-christian-denominations-beliefs-part-1-700537

Here is probably the most extensive list of religions and spiritual practices I have seen online. (Note: I have not read anything close to this entire site and cannot vouch for or against it's scholarly authenticity. Take a look and see what you think!):
https://www.wikiwand.com/en/List_of_religions_and_spiritual_traditions

Here is the BBC's short and elongated descriptions of major religious beliefs:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/

Hopefully, one of the above links will lead you where you need to go! If you have questions for me, Rev. Maya, please feel welcome to reach out via our contact page. (I do receive a lot of inquiries, so I thank you in advance for your patience - I WILL get back to you, but it might not be immediately.)

Wishing you each and all much warmth and Love Always,
Rev. Maya

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Love Transcends Death. . .

11/15/2023

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Yes, yes it does.

Visit @babaramdass on Instagram to hear a sweet snippet of wisdom, and see what you feel.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CzmCI9JxwRP/

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ONE WORD

11/14/2023

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I have a lot of daily practices. This one is one of my favorites. It is simple - but be not deceived; if done for an extended period of time, this exercise

Strengthens your inner listening skills
Connects you deeply to your most authentic self
Brings you wisdom uniquely catered to your personal needs
Hones your intuitive skills
Brings you into communion with whatever you hold most sacred (God, Jesus, Allah, Goddess, Nature, Higher Self, Truth, Love, Unity, the tangible mundane world, wildness, freedom, safety, growth, integrity, Clear Mind, Buddha Nature, science of brain synapses and adrenaline and cortisol antidotes, and/or whatever else. . . )
Enhances trust in your inner guidance
And in doing all these, prepares you for times ahead, when you may lean more heavily on your inner dialogue for peace, presence and a sense of well-being.

But what the heck is it?

I call it ONE WORD.

It is the simple practice of asking for ONE WORD of guidance - a new one each day, intimately and intricately sourced from the deepest, highest, wisest part of YOU. Whether you call it The Divine, nature, knowledge or chance, the word that comes to you comes THROUGH you, and will carry the essence of you with it.

Here is one way to do this exercise:
Only proceed if you are committed to following through for at least 3-7 days

Find a quiet place (first thing when you wake in bed - before anyone knows you are awake - is a perfectly good time and place)
Take 7 breaths. Each will be SLOW, deep, and very full breaths - slowly in and slowly release. It can be that simple, or you can add one statement with each breath out: "I am letting go of worry. I am letting go of pain. I am letting go of shame, I am letting go of doubt, I am letting go of burdens, I am letting go of judgements, I am letting go of ----------" even when the mind is clingy, the body WANTS to let go of these things - see if you can feel it happening. . .)
Think to yourself - and allow to happen - the following: "I relax my scalp and ears. I relax my eyes and jaw. I relax my neck - front and back. I relax my shoulders and arms. I relax my upper back and chest. I relax my mid and lower back and also my belly and all within it. I relax my hips and groin and legs. I relax my feet and hands"
Breathe in and out naturally, while focusing on your mid-chest or heart area, as you call to "Source" (or God or Mother Nature or Highest Self or any other thing of wisdom you wish to call on), and then say with intention something like this: I CALL ON YOU NOW AND ASK FOR TODAY'S ONE WORD; the one word that is the most right and helpful word I could have to guide me through this day.
Be still and trust the word that comes. This is key: TRUST what comes, even if it seems weird. (A friend jokingly asked me "what if the word is constipation?" My reply was that I would trust it - I would then look at all the ways I could apply it in my life, both inner and outer - do I need to eat differently for my gut? Is there some way perhaps I am emotionally stuck? Am I held back mentally by some thought pattern? Is the word applicable to a relationship or my work? Trust your super-conscious and subconscious self - or whatever being of wisdom you connect with - to know what word you need.
Carry this word with you through out the day - remember it, say it, relate it or apply it to your troubles or your joys.

And that is it. No more, no less. I have found this practice at times to be more profound than many.
After your 3-7 days of doing the practice, notice how you are relating to your intuitive hits, how much peace or aliveness or creativity or sleep you are getting. . . Let me know how it goes - I will be curious to hear.

If you'd like to listen to me talk you through the exercise, I will soon have a video link for you right
HERE! (be patient, I am working on it!)

Much Love to you All.
Heartfully,
Rev. Maya

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Memento Mori; Open, Honest Conversations About Death & Dying. . . Join Us!!

11/11/2023

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Beginning in December, join us in person in Castine, Maine on 2nd Wednesday Evenings
and/or in Bucskport, Maine on 2nd Thursday Mornings.

Join us on ZOOM, beginning February 2024 (time/date TBA)

Sound scary? It wont be. Sound interesting? We hope it will be! Not sure if you are up for conversations about death and dying? Come, sit quietly and listen. . .

EVERYONE IS WELCOME. Every one of us will die. Many studies and stories - and certainly my (Maya's) experiences with dying people and their families - are showing us that speaking about death - ESPECIALLY if we fear it (and by the way, it is not universally a given that all people fear death) - can actually lead to what is sometimes called a "good death". That is, one in which a person dies with a sense of fulfillment, having harvested what was important about their life, having forgiven or been forgiven, having said goodbyes and having found and embraced a deep peace within.

One worthy and real reason, while living, to befriend the topic of death and dying, is that (as death pundit Stephen Jenkinson so aptly says) "death is the cradle of your love of life". Living with an awareness of our mortality can offer us a deep, chest-expanding breath of gratitude, an appreciation of the preciousness of our moments, and a renewed sense of freedom to LIVE.

Free from the burden of fear of death, we may enter more fully into the time we have remaining here on Earth. What might you do differently if you were not afraid to die? Sharing brings us together, relieves loneliness, opens hearts. . . conversation on the topic of death and dying is one place to begin.

Join us as we share stories, information (legal, logistical, emotional and spiritual), ideas for living one's remaining moments fear-free, make new friends and release the taboo around the one experience every living being on Earth has in common - Death. And so much more.

Please visit our Memento Mori page for details.

With Warm Welcome,
Rev. Maya (and guest facilitators)

Art: Trois crânes (The Three Skulls), Paul Cezanne

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And now, here is the Blog. . .

Sharing MY Stuff. . .

Earth Prayer

Thanksgiving, However You Celebrate (or Don't). . .

Link to World Religions Info

Love Transcends Death. . .

ONE WORD

Memento Mori; Open, Honest Conversations About Death & Dying. . . Join Us!!

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