Undertaken with Love
Dealing Creatively with Conscious Living and Dying
This retreat provides a safe exploration of living and dying consciously. We discuss how we can prepare ourselves to meet the transition of death and how to assist our loved ones through their transition.
Our goal is to increase the comfort and confidence of participants in dealing with end-of-life challenges — from the dying process, to death, funerals, and beyond.
Participants will come away with a broader perspective of the choices available to them, more clarity for their own wishes, and an empowered sense that one can be present for self and others in this transition experience.
To be at the side of your loved one during their final moments of life, easing their final moments and assisting them in experiencing a conscious transition is a gift both to them and to yourself. It brings you peace and spiritual comfort knowing you have helped your loved one. When you spend time with someone who is dying, you learn immeasurably about yourself and rather than being a depressing time, it can be awe-inspiring
We will approach these topics using small and large group discussion, art, poetry, ritual, movement, breath, guided relaxation and visualization.
Friday evening at 7 p.m., through Sunday noon.
$160
Details
•Retreat limited to 12 participants
•Some scholarships available in exchange for work
•Vegetarian meals provided, restaurants are nearby
•Morning qigong (similar to Tai Chi) sessions led by Donna
•Attendance at any of the sessions is optional — whatever serves you best is the rule of the day
SAMPLE AGENDA
Friday
Arrive 4 PM. and have dinner together, select room and settle in
7-9 p.m. Gather with Opening Ceremony
• logistics and introductions
• sharing stories of loved ones who have died
• inner exercise such as thinking of what your priorities are as you die
• memorial art (this continues throughout the retreat)
Saturday
7-8:30 AM Breakfast (oatmeal, cereal, fruit, toast/jam)
8:30 AM qigong class outside, Labyrinth walk, or walk in the woods
9:30-12 session
• Centering poem, prayer, silence, music
• what to expect as people die (the signs)
• practical tools for self or caregivers to use with a dying person
LUNCH 12:30-2 PM (Vegetarian soup, salad, nuts, bread)
2-5 PM session
• Centering poem, prayer, silence, music
• Choose one: how to do a home funeral OR small group process: plan your funeral, write your obit
DINNER BREAK 5-7 PM (Mexican create-your-own burrito with beans, rice, cheese, salsa, etc.)
7-9 PM
• Centering poem, prayer, silence, music
• What it is like to die plus discussion of experience
• Open discussion of beliefs about death and after-death communication, and near death experiences
Sunday
7-8:30 AM Breakfast (same food as Saturday)
8:30 AM qigong class outside or Labyrinth walk
9:30-12 session
• Opening Ceremony: music, poetry
• Time for sharing insights, journal entries, memorial art
• Evaluation: What have I learned from this retreat? How will I apply what I have learned?
• Closing Ceremony
ABOUT THE PRESENTERS
Donna Belk is an educator in the field of death and dying. She has provided direct support for hospice patients and has led bereavement support groups through HospiceAustin. Donna coauthored a book about home funerals, “Undertaken With Love” which was released in the fall of 2008. Donna earned a BA at Southwest Texas State Univ., but considers her most important educational credential to be her own near-death experience, which occurred in 1985.
Sandy Booth was formerly a physical anthropologist (PhD Univ. of Wisconsin, Madison 1972), and later a natural food store manager, but since 2003 has been spreading the idea of family-directed funerals to Central Texans. In that year she helped form the Crossings Care Circle (www.crossingscircle.org), which has helped numerous families care for their own after death. Sandy is also a Hospice Austin volunteer.
Donna and Sandy regularly give presentations and workshops about how to hold a family-directed funeral. They have also produced a video, “Passing Through Our Hands,” which demonstrates how a community can care for their loved ones after death.
Fees & Policies
- Registration is limited to 11 participants and will be on a first-come, first-served basis. You will be added to the registration list in the order in which your initial payment is received. If we are full when we receive your initial payment, we’ll notify you by e-mail and ask if you’d like to be on the wait list. If so, you’ll be added to the wait list in the order in which your initial payment is received.
- Refund policy: Cancellations will be accepted until February 20, 2010 and will be subject to a $20.00 cancellation fee. We are unable to refund any money for no-shows or late arrivals. Nor can we make fee adjustments those who want to spend only one night, for example. One week before the retreat, we will refund your money only if we are able to fill your place from our wait list.
- Cancellations: If a cancellation is made with 7 days notice the full amount will be refunded less a $10 administrative fee. If a cancellation is made with less than 7 days notice we will apply 100% of the funds to the next retreat we offer.
