Thomas Merton’s Prayer That Anyone Can Pray

Posted on February 13, 2015 by webmaven

A short article about Thomas Merton which includes his famous prayer. It reminds one of the Holy Hobo Prayer from a different tradition, but similar in feel: “I don’t know what I am looking for, but I know I’m looking for something, and I only hope to recognize it when I find it.”

menlo Macfarlane altar

Thomas Merton’s Prayer That Anyone Can Pray | On Being.

“My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think that I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so. But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you. And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing. I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire. And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road, though I may know nothing about it. Therefore will I trust you always, though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death. I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and you will never leave me to face my perils alone.” Altar on  left courtesy of Menlo Macfarlane

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Artocratic: American Book of the Dead

Posted on January 26, 2015 by webmaven

Artocratic: American Book of the Dead

An engrossing well written article about one man’s relationship with death & dying and with a text that we talk a lot about around here.  Artocratic: American Book of the Dead.

From the article: “The stated goal is for the reader to have the sincerity and conviction of one who is delivering instruction, not simply reciting. This is the most important thing we, the living, can do for the voyager, the dead; so you have to read it like you mean it, says the book.”

Posted in death and dying, death and dying, end of life, end of life care, hospice, hospice, hospice care, palliative care, prayers for the dying, readings for the dying, spiritual care | Comments Off on Artocratic: American Book of the Dead

Parallel Worlds

Posted on January 20, 2015 by webmaven

Parallel worlds exist and interact with our world, say physicists | MNN - Mother Nature Network

This is the kind of information that is going to become more and more frequently discussed in the alternative press in the upcoming year. Quantum physics is opening up new realms of possibilities to which we don’t have to automatically subscribe but which we can use to open our minds and imaginations to a richer life and deeper questioning of the status quo…and there aint nothin wrong with that!

Parallel worlds exist and interact with our world, say physicists | MNN – Mother Nature Network.

Posted in Labyrinth Readers Society, labyrinth reading, Meditation, Meditation, metaphysics, mindfulness, reiki | Comments Off on Parallel Worlds

A very good 10 minute qigong workout

Posted on January 7, 2015 by webmaven

This is called taichi qigong. It is a very good warmup for doing tai chi and also stands on its own as a relatively simple yet very effective qigong workout. I have done some research on this and trust me, this is one of the best workout videos to watch and practice with. The tempo is not too slow or too fast. The teacher I study with, Kwan Sai Hung does a few of the movements differently, but that is often the case with a traditional form, taking on individual variations as it gets passed down through the generations.

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Caring for elderly parents from afar? Here are some ideas for making it easier

Posted on December 28, 2014 by webmaven

Here is a good article which might give you some ideas to help with your long distance caregiving.

Caring for elderly parents from afar? Here are some ideas for making it easier.

Posted in aging, aging, care giving, care giving, care giving, caregiver support, caregiving, caregiving, end of life care, senior citizens, spiritual care | Comments Off on Caring for elderly parents from afar? Here are some ideas for making it easier

Ars Moriendi – the “Art of Dying”

Posted on December 16, 2014 by webmaven

The Ars Moriendi, or “art of dying,” is a body of Christian literature that provided practical guidance for the dying and those attending them. These manuals informed the dying about what to expect, and prescribed prayers, actions, and attitudes that would lead to a “good death” and salvation. The first such works appeared in Europe during the early fifteenth century, and they initiated a remarkably flexible genre of Christian writing that lasted well into the eighteenth century.

The Ars Moriendi tradition is well studied by Labyrinth Readers and all those who work with the dying.

Read more: http://www.deathreference.com/A-Bi/Ars-Moriendi.html

Posted in death and dying, death and dying, Labyrinth Readers Society, prayers for the dying, prayers for the dying, readings for the dying, spiritual care | Comments Off on Ars Moriendi – the “Art of Dying”