"You can't wait until life isn't hard anymore before you decide to be happy" - Nightbird

Hello and Welcome to the Resources page of Heartful Living & Dying.
This page is dedicated to us all, in our pursuit of moments of vibrant living, deep connection, happiness and sorrow, mourning, rich grace, personal struggle, ease in letting go, and all other modes of being human we may encounter on our brief journey here on Earth, no matter what we are facing or how we chose to face it.

Note: Links will be added ongoingly, so please feel welcome to check back often. 

If you have a great resource you would like to share with Maya for inclusion on this site, please use the Contact page.

Books:
(Books that have been mentioned in Maya's hospice meeting openings and that may be of pleasure or interest):

The Four Things That Matter Most, by Ira Byock: CLICK HERE to purchase.

The Book of Awakening, by Mark Nepo - meditations and writings on the nature of being human, facing death, courage for life: CLICK HERE to purchase.

The House of Belonging by David Whyte - heartful poetry that connects us to our own humanity: CLICK HERE to purchase.

The Book of Forgiving by Desmond and Mpho Tutu: CLICK HERE to purchase.

Being with the Dying - cultivating compassion and fearlessness in the presence of death by Joan Halifax: CLICK HERE to purchase.

Caring for the Dying - the doula approach to a meaningful death, a gentle guide for families and caregivers.  By Henry Fersko-weiss: CLICK HERE to purchase.

The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying, by Sogyal Rinposhe: CLICK HERE to purchase.

The Body Keeps The Score by Bessel Van Der Kolk - This books shares basic somatic psychology on how your body remembers trauma and how you can heal from it.  CLICK HERE to purchase.

From Aging to Sage-ing; A Revolutionary Approach to Growing Older, by Zalman Schackter-Shalomi and Ronald S. Miller -  The title says it all.  CLICK HERE to purchase.

Two books by fabulous Neuroscientist Jill Bolte Taylor (see link to her amazing TedTalk "My Stroke of Insight" under VIDEOS below)
1.  My Stroke of Insight; A Brain Scientist's Personal Journey (JBT's story of experiencing a stroke, recovery and lessons learned)
2. Full Brain Living; The Anatomy of Choice and the Four Characters that Drive our Life (learning to recognize and manage the four aspects of our experiential life so we are no longer driven by triggers, tuck in anxiety loops, etc. Very USEFUL info.)
CLICK HERE to got to JBT's Amazon page, where you can explore or purchase her books.

The Wild Edge of Sorrow; Rituals of Renewal and the Sacred work of Grief. By Francis Weller  CLICK HERE to view or purchase this book.

Barbara Karnes, RN:  Barbara is a hospice nurse with so much wisdom - and many practical tools for navigating End of Life, for both those who are dying and their loved ones.  Her books and pamphlets are printed in large type and are simple, down to earth facts and tools anyone can understand and use.  CLICK HERE to visit her site.

Books Appropriate for Children
(Though adults may also enjoy them!)

Duck, Death and the Tulip - by Wolf Erlbruch
CLICK HERE to view or buy.  







(Stand by - more children's books on death, loss and grieving to be added soon!!)

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Potentially Inspiring Videos:

Fabulous Poem on Self Worth:
CLICK HERE to listen to The Gift-Wrap & The Jewel. By Wanda B. Goines

Interview with Julie McFadden (Hospice Nurse Julie)
Julie is a hospice nurse with a huge social media following - she shares information on death and dying with the aim to make us all more comfortable with the very normal process of dying.
Here is an interview with Julie: www.youtube.com/watch?v=ud_XhON6_2o

When the Body Says No -- Caring for ourselves while caring for others. Dr. Gabor Maté
(Dr. Maté is on the leading edge of making ancient wisdom about the nature of illness mainstream knowledge; here he shares with modern day physicians and other medical caregivers.)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c6IL8WVyMMs
 
How childhood trauma affects health across a lifetime | Nadine Burke Harris (Dr. Burke Harris gives a fabulous, vibrant, fact-based TedTalk.  Relevant to anyone who works with human beings – or is one.)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=95ovIJ3dsNk&t=25s
 
This Doctor Wants to Humanize Death | Op-Docs (Dr. Nadia Tremonti, Palliative care physician doing her gorgeous, conscious and compassionate work with families losing infants and children.)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DHBgTFHjPXI
 
Meet Zach Sobiech | My Last Days (Soul Pancake’s absolutely beautiful story of teenage Zach and his family’s last days together. “You don’t have to find out you are dying to start living”.)  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9NjKgV65fpo
 
Trailer for Amazon Prime Documentary Grief Walker
Deep and hope-making film about Stephen Jenkinson “The crucible of making human beings is Death… that’s the cradle of your love of life – the fact that it ends.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xLQWM2j3AVg
 
Dr. Gabor Mate on Addiction: https://youtu.be/ys6TCO_olOc

Brain scientist Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor's fascinating TedTalk on her conscious experience of a stroke and what she learned that might benefit us all:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UyyjU8fzEYU&t=5s

Naomi and Gladys - Naomi Feil, founder of Validation Therapy, shares a breakthrough moment of communication with Gladys Wilson, a woman who was diagnosed with Alzheimer's in 2000 and is virtually non-verbal. This video captures amazing moments that some have called "unusual", however, in my own work with non-communicative patients, this type of breakthrough is not uncommon.  Enjoy this beautiful video:  https://youtu.be/CrZXz10FcVM

Alien Superpowers | Daniel Maskit | TEDxKingAlfredSchool 
Ted Talk by Daniel Maskit on his experience of being on the Autism Spectrum.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=KatDfH9JZZ4

A Poem For All The 'Old Hags'
Powerful spoken word piece from Sarag MacGillivray, which challenges the language and sterotypes society tends to associate with women as they grow older.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xq-hQFadets

Pat Eye: If you have not yet seen it, there is a brief documentary about Pat, the "mother of Bangor Hospice" made by her granddaughter and presented at an award ceremony for Pat. You can see it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYfUqcC2lqwThe

"The Lady in Number 6: Music Saved My Life" - the Academy Award winning documentary about Alice's life, written, directed and produced by Malcom Clarke, HERE

Long-playing, collected words of spiritual wisdom from Ram Dass, with meditative music: 
https://www.youtube.com/live/tPWuFnT673M?si=DbkxoeEpOk_ZLbUl www.youtube.com/live/tPWuFnT673M?si=DbkxoeEpOk_ZLbUl

Music Videos on Death, Dying, Mourning -
for Assistance in Finding the Peace that is Possible
(Various Faith and/or no-faith support for those facing death, caring for the dying, or who love someone who is dying)

Ready to fall in to Grief?  Listen to this (or any other music that opens you to wherever your heart needs to go):
Lewis Capaldi - Wish You The Best (Official Video)
https://youtu.be/QZLxVvLyKTo *

Akaal – Ajeet Kaur featuring Trevor Hall (Beautiful Sikh spiritual chant for letting go and the soaring of the eternal soul)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eadSGVp_qMM
 
Khan - Trevor Hall (Beautifully shot, soothing, East Indian, music - choreographed meditation on surrender and impermanence)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UKCq4sXlyTI
 
Be Still My Soul –  Kari Jobe (Beautiful Christian song of peace with the Lord)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mq59iE3MhXM
 
Forgive me Father – (Christian confession song asking forgiveness)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_x-1-oVxeu4
 
Death With Dignity “Spirit of My Silence”  - Sufjan Stevens (light heartful song on the topic of death)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dsGODTySH0E
 
Willow Tree – Chan VAnGaalen (A sweet and light hearted – and a bit irreverent - song about dying)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vrUivONN9Mg
 
Om Namo Narayanaya – Mantra for peace for departed souls and for soothing grief
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W_8WR_f4TuI
 
The Gospel of Thomas – Gnostic Sayings of Jesus  (pre-Biblical NAG Hamadi passages, gently and soothingly read to music).
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ktLMv5I7iSc&t=154s

Amitaba Buddha (Compassionate Buddha of Infinite radiance) Mantra - Tibetan Buddhist Prayer for Death and Dying
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nR8qzGD2Yms
 
Traditional version of We All Come From The Goddess
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V47r60hu8cU
 
Newer vsion of We All Come From The Goddess – Rainbow Warriors lovely version of an old classic (support them here: https://indigoprophet.bandcamp.com/album/rainbow-warriors )
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pr-npA6rKjw
 
We All Come From God – Non-denominational chant
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=saLZ_I1CX68
 
Mourning Chant – by Native Tribes United
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-eg_97l28Q
 
Song for the Sacred Elements – Swan Clan Productions (lovely and powerful chant for the Sacred)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZwX7GdiTTXw
 
When I Die – poem by great Persian poet Rumi on death
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=COAAvcpocU4
 
In Christ Alone – Adrienne Liesching (Celtic flavored uplifting of Christ as Comforter)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rn9-UNer6MQ
 
The Athiest Anthem - (some fun for Athiests)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mrq-hY_DxO4

Our Father - (Classic Christian prayer, put beautifully to music)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ajMqhFz3FIk

Arms of The Angels - Sarah McLachlan (rest in the arms of Sarah's stunning classic)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1SiylvmFI_8

It's OK - Nightbird (Cancer patient's story shared in her gorgeous, Golden-Buzzer-winning song, recorded before she died in February of 2022.  "Its important to me that I be remembered for something more than the bad things that happen to me".)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZJvBfoHDk0&t=0s

Websites of Various Sorts
(Many of these are from references in Maya's hospice staff meeting's morning messages):

Writer and Spiritual Director David Auten's Blog post "Letting Go".

For families of the dying - this is a link to the Instagram account of Hospice Nurse Julie  who shares many wonderful facts about the process of dying, dispelling myths, calming fears and generally preparing us all for what will one day come - and that it is perfectly natural and normal.

WARNING Poem by Jenny Joseph CLICK HERE.

Psychology Today's article on HeartMath research; The Heart's Electromagnetic Field is your Superpower

Ellie's Way - Grief Support for parents who have lost children CLICK HERE to visit.

Grief Poems -  on the website of Ellie's Way.   CLICK HERE to visit.

David Whyte, Poet - www.davidwhyte.com

Author and Speaker Mark Nepo - www.marknepo.com

All About Dr. Peter Levine, PhD and his work in Somatic healing methods for Trauma (among other things) - https://www.somaticexperiencing.com/about-peter

The Website of Naomi Feil, founder of Validation Therapy, and the incredible, user-friendly work she is doing with those with memory loss.  www.memorybridge.org

Read basic info on the Chinese meridian theory here: https://www.risingmoontaichi.net/the-meridians

What Is Polarity Therapy:  https://www.lifeenergyinstitute.net/aboutpolaritytherapy/

Websites that share the importance and benefits of TOUCH:
Mayo Clinic, Benefits of Massage
National University of Health Sciences
American Massage Therapy Association
Prevention.com
Thegoodbody.com
Harvard Medical School - Health Publishing
Importance of Touch for Elders (but really for us ALL)
More on Touch for Elders
(This is just a small sampling. As you can see, there is a LOT of info out there. . . let's all be conscious of the importance of touch and make sure we touch others with kindness and intention, and receive the touch we all deserve for best quality of living and dying!)

Information on World Religions:
https://www.heartfullivinganddying.com/blog/link-to-world-religions-info