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Archive Number 1048 | ||
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Date: Sat, 9 Feb 2002 09:47:56 -0500
leapping through. I will be in touch soon. Be Well > Always. Nyanna P.S. it is my encouragement from this > list and good people like you that have given me the > courage to leap. THANK_YOU ALL. > > I've been deeply moved by responses to the request for memorial stories. > > For the rest of us reading these replies, we've had the opportunity to be > > renewed, strengthened at a time of deep loss for one of our own listserv > > members. In the course of this, I find myself given the chance to peel away > > one more layer on that "onion" of grief. Another's loss gives me the gift of > > deeper healing and understanding of my own losses. > > I've been fortunate to be a part of an on-going group (6 women & a > > facilitator) who are committed to personal growth work. Three years ago we > > focused on preparing for our own deaths, putting our "houses" in order. > > Using the works of Stephen Lavine in "A Year to Live" and the "Tibetan Book > > of the Dead" we spent a year doing the work of death preparation. We also > > tapped into resources provided by our local Hospice. It was intense, > > emotional, EMPOWERING and practical work--the effects of which echo in the > > years since. All of us range in age from 42-55. We've all agreed that this > > work was timely as many of our parents are approaching death, and some of us > > have lost close family & friends.We lean on our death & dying work, finding > > comfort, strength and tools for LIVING. > > During the days and weeks that immediately followed Sept. 11th, I was > > able to work with local school children and families who were coping with > > the scope of that immense loss. Then, recently a boy in my 2nd grade class > > lost his dad in a tragic accident. Both the kids & I had tears & talks about > > this tragedy. The discussions at HealingStory & the HSA website have been > > so helpful. > > A few years ago I had the honor of telling stories for the memorial > > service > > of a child who died in an accident. I told a story that I had learned many > > years prior about how the first pine tree and the seven sisters > > constellation came to be. I "re-tooled" the story a bit to bring greater > > comfort to this specific family. > > Here's a thought I pose for discussion: > > As a folklorist, I question the "ethic" of changing traditional stories, > > trying to stay close to the integrity of my sources. But, what about when > > we use stories for healing? > > My view: As a storyteller/healer I think sometimes we need to adapt > > stories to touch closer to the immediacy of the moment. (As the alchemist > > carefully blends potions to create gold, so the teller carefully blends > > words.) If our intention at difficult times is to comfort & give insight, > > then we tellers must use our intuitions & craft, choosing words that will > > reach those in need. So. what do you all think? Are we able to change our > > stories to fit the moment? If so, do you use guidelines for these changes? > > > > It's been a while since I've piped up here at "HealingStory," so please > > indulge me & my ramblings.-- > > B.Z. Smith of the Story Quilters. > > www.mismaluna.com/storyquilters.htm > > > > > > To Unsubscribe from Healingstory send the message: unsubscribe healingstory > > > > > > > To Unsubscribe from Healingstory send the message: unsubscribe healingstory > > > | ||