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Day Seminars:
JOYFUL TRANSITIONS: Bringing Death and Grief Back to Life
One could say that the entire world today is "on hospice." We are all being called to die to the old so as to make space for the new! This seminar will help you discover new ways to let go and grieve and forgive the past so that you can move into the joy and sweet harmony that is awaiting you, now. Learn some of the all too well-kept secrets of hospice and liberate your spirituality to a new level.
We will explore how to weave life and death back together again in a culture that has "pathologized" and separated death from life. We will look at ways that death can teach us about life, and how we can remain open to learning from death and grief in our lives. Simple techniques for relaxation and healing will be taught that can assist people who are moving through any kind of transition and stress. These are techniques that can also be used for healthy self-care.
Some questions to ponder:
1) What or who do I need to grieve and "let go of" in my life at this time?
2) Who do I need to forgive in my life -- to help me live more fully in the moment?
3) What are some ways that could help me relax and bring more JOY into my life right now?
Pieces to be covered during the seminar:
* The transforming power of grief
* Forgiveness (letting go) piece
* Healing/relaxation tools, including possibly a DVD on healing dreams and symbolism (from one musician's long process with cancer)
Seminars scheduled at this time:
Sunday, August 24th, at Wise Awakenings, Bellingham, WA -- 314 East Holly St. -- 10 AM - 5PM
Sunday, October 5th, at Mountain Heart Center, Everett, WA -- 2804 Grand Ave., Ste. #309 -- 9:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Saturday, November 15, at Legacy Salmon Creek Hospital, Vancouver, WA -- 2211 NE 139th Street -- 10:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Cost: $75 (discounts available for those who bring friends/family with you)
To register: Contact Maria directly by phone: (425) 361-1953 or email her. $25 deposit required before the seminar.
Please be in touch with Maria if you or your organization are interested in hosting a day seminar. We would need to have at least 10 people to work with. |
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Presentations
July 22, 7 PM - 8:30PM: Introducing the 2nd Edition from Findhorn Press
Topic: "Inspiration through Bridge-Building"
East West Bookshop: 6500 Roosevelt Way NE, Seattle -- (206) 523-3726
August 25 (Mon.), 6 - 8 PM, Speak at "No One Dies Alone" Hospice Volunteer Training Course
Topic: Spiritual Issues at the End of Life
Community Hospice of Modesto, CA (not open to the public)
August 26 (Tues.), 1-2:30 PM, Introduction to 2nd edition of THE LAST ADVENTURE OF LIFE
Topic: Making Friends with the Last Adventure of Life
Bethel Retirement Community, 2345 Scenic Drive, Modesto, CA (209) 577-1901
August 26 (Tues.), 6-7:30 PM, Introduction to 2nd edition of THE LAST ADVENTURE OF LIFE
Topic: JOYFUL TRANSITIONS: Bringing Death Back to Life
College Avenue UCC Church, 1341 College Avenue, Modesto, CA (209) 522-7244
September 27 (Sat.), 9 AM - 5PM, Boeing (BEPC) Fall 2008 Expo
Presenting: 2nd edition of THE LAST ADVENTURE OF LIFE, Soul Baskets, and Order of the Magi Readings
Kent Commons, 525 4th Avenue, N. Kent
November 1 (Sat.), 7 PM, Introduction to 2nd edition of THE LAST ADVENTURE OF LIFE
Topic: JOYFUL TRANSITIONS: Bringing Death Back to Life
San Juan Island Library, 1010 Guard St., Friday Harbor, WA (360) 378-2798
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Workshops:
Making Friends with the Last Adventure of Life
It has been said that if all the women of the world could cry at once, the world could have peace in an instant! If everyone who needs to cry could cry, we could create more peace-full communities. Come and join us for an exploration of the power of grief and death ("letting go" of all kinds) in our lives. Maria Dancing Heart, author of The Last Adventure of Life, will lead us through an exploration of how to help ourselves and others better express the unshed tears and "pent up" losses in our lives. Together, we will renew our spirits as we share our stories and healing tools around the "final transition" and the grief & letting go process. A powerful process of transformation is now marking our entire world. We will create an interactive time to move deeper into issues around transformation, grief, and death.
JOYFUL TRANSITIONS: Bringing Death Back to Life
Tuesday, September 16, Volunteer In-service for Spiritual Care Dept. at Legacy Salmon Creek Hopsital, 10 AM - 3 PM
CEUs Now Available
1 CEU is awarded for each 10 hours of workshop time.
Bridge to Dreams, in partnership with The Heritage Institute (THI) awards continuing education units (CEUs) to professionals required to maintain their professional licenses. THI, PO Box 860, Clinton WA 98236, has been reviewed and approved as an Authorized Provider of CEUs by the International Association of Continuing Education & Training (IACET), 8405 Greensboro Drive Suite 800, McLean VA 22102. THI awards one (1) CEU for each ten (10) hours of work successfully completed. CEUs from IACET are accepted by most state licensing departments, departments of education, school districts and professional associations. Please check with your state or professional office prior to taking courses to determine their policy on IACET CEUs.
IACET website: www.iacet.org
THI website: www.hol.edu
For more information please contact Maria. |
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Testimonials
Not only has Maria created this inspiring treasure chest of resources, but she is also an excellent facilitator. Maria created a safe and edifying space for the Elders of Horizon House, a Continuing Care Retirement Home, to delve into a topic often avoided in our society: death and dying.
In a series of classes she graciously guided them through her book, The Last Adventure of Life. An Elder reported, "Maria fostered a climate which allowed me to share my fears without embarrassment or shame. I feel empowered to face whatever my future with a new confidence." It is with gratitude I highly recommend this book and Maria, as a presenter, for those who wish to explore the issues concerning the last adventure of life, an experience we will all face one day.
--Rev. Kizzie Jones, Director of Spiritual Care, Horizon House, Seattle
The Last Adventure of Life has been a wonderful blessing for the women in our book study group at Horizon House, a retirement community and life care facility. Maria has made it possible for us to look at and to think about leaving the Earth plane with much less fear and more faith in what awaits us on the other side. Maria's accounts of her experiences in Hospice and her choices of the writings of others will be so very helpful and comforting to us and our loved ones as we approach our own "Last Adventure". Thank you, Maria! Blessings always!
--Louise Barker, Horizon House resident
"Maria brings great heart to a gentle exploration of what it means to experience the losses that come with transitions. As a participant in her workshop, I found tools to shine a light on feelings that had been deeply held but never really shared...and in doing so found new beginnings of healing with grace and warmth and safety."
-- Terra Kelsey, healer
"Having experienced several deaths in my own family, and ministering to countless families in grief after the loss of loved ones, Maria's workshop on grief and end-of-life care was of tremendous benefit. We want all of our Stephen Ministers to have this experience as they also deal with so many who experience loss and grief."
-- Rev. Mark Dowdy, The United Churches of Olympia, Presbyterian (USA) and United Church of Christ
"Thank you so much for a wonderful workshop in Portland...it helped me personally and professionally...the content was varied and all of it interesting...I loved your style and hospitality with each of us...you left me wanting to listen to more and that is a very good thing...I bought your book at New Renaissance and have told others about you and your book...so glad to have connected with you and thank you for all that you gave me--us!! Peace and Joy."
-- Jan Kalberer, M.A.
"After reading a little of The Last Adventure of Life, I heard about the workshop from my volunteer coordinator. This is something that would benefit my hospice work, I thought.
The workshop involved doing some personal grief work. My mom had passed four years ago and I felt I had worked well through that, forgetting that relations with a particular family member had been very strained ever since mom's death. I had perhaps given up on the family member after a few seeming failed attempts, so during the workshop I focused again on Mom.
I came to another new awareness of Mom's passing that day, which was well worth the effort, but in addition I soon realized something else had shifted. Maria shared about forgiveness at the workshop, and encouraged us to do further reading from her book on the subject, which I did.
A few days later, I noticed the change. The resentment I had been carrying since Mom's death towards the family member, was gone. I am now able to think about her and talk to her without the hurt and pain of the past. I am thrilled to have a soft place in my heart again for my sister.
Thank You Maria Dancing Heart."
-- Louise, hospice volunteer
"Maria - I love your gentle, open-hearted approach. You were very flexible and ready to meet the needs of our group, which were very diverse. You are an amazing resource, and seemed to have a wealth of experience and contacts. Your suggestions following some of our questions and interests were helpful.
The flow of the day went well. I'm glad we were given two options for the afternoon. Both were good ones! ... I will appreciate your book as a wonderful point of reference ... Again, thank you for being very thorough in your research and in your presentation. You were quite helpful."
-- Jackie Huetter, hospice lay minister |
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