A Sacred Passing: November 2023 Newsletter | |
It's fall, Scorpio season, the season of big feelings, and change! | |
You get to be alive in this time.
The weight of the season traditionally does a slow creep. You notice the change, leaf by leaf at first, and as if it happened overnight, tree by tree, the landscape becomes a kaleidoscope of warm colors. Or maybe it's the sun resting earlier and earlier each day. You get to notice these changes here, in this land, and in this life, safely uninterrupted by the genocide occurring in Gaza. No words can speak to this immense human suffering, the devastation, the genocide of a people. I have been trying to write this opening for six days and just keep coming back to my thought that this is the era of work. I keep thinking....
You get to be alive in this time.
You get to.
You also get to act.
You get to grieve, to sit, to march, to question, to interrupt...
You get to care, support, and engage.
You get to be alive in this time.
In this season of change, this season of letting things go that do not serve us well, I ask you to let go of the fear that keeps you from acting. Let go of the thought that your actions are small or won't matter. They will and do. These times of sharp edges call for speaking firmly, moving slowly, and looking deeply at our own biases, similar to when one is in moments of active dilemma.
For our past students, please return to some of the critical deathcare skills and questions we reviewed in class. Using your media literacy skills is of all-time importance. How do you care meaningfully, safely, authentically, and consensually? Pause and think of your values and what is within your emotional, financial, and physical means. Can you combine resources with one or more other people? How does what you can do align with what is being asked for or needed? What are others doing in your area, and how do you do it together? Brainbloom. Do what you can do, when you can, and do it with others because it is necessary for you to have care, too.
We get to be alive in this time.
forever wildly in love, incredibly disappointed with, and maddeningly hopeful for humans,
Lashanna
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Photo: View of Lake Washington from the right side of the back deck. The laurel was cut last week, revealing a whole new lake view for people at the house. | |
Our First Guest
This month, we welcomed our first guest to the house. She arrived with jokes, a stuffy, and an enormous heart. When she entered the living room, she shared that she felt welcomed by the warm living room, only to be further delighted to learn that we could open the windows and create a cool breeze.
The birds reminded her of own yard, her “bird sanctuary,” and sang her familiar songs as they ate from the bird feeder on her window. With some delightful giggling, she shared with a loved one that she was sending all her referrals to us, and she was gonna write us a review because she was our self-proclaimed "flagship person." She was able to die surrounded by the people she wanted , and they got to tell her how loved she was.
Her song, "to go out on" was In My Life, by the Beatles.
There's no place like a home, no place like where you can be welcomed and held with love. We learned in layers. We learned that we really need a ramp and a meal train for volunteers when we are caring for a guest!
The most important thing we learned is Yes, we can. In this house, we can hold someone dying, and their family, with care that honors them wholly.
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Where are we with the house?
We are working on the last bits of paperwork with Mary, Sally's sister. She is a damn dream for helping see Sally's wishes come true. We are getting the insurance in order, just paid our first property taxes, and we will see the rooms painted at the end of November, a service donated by Sound Painting Solutions, LLC! We got to meet with the owners last week, and not only is their crew coming to paint, but they are also getting the paint donated! This was a connection made by a community member, Kayla, and we are so thankful.
If you know people with some of the skills below and the desire to donate, please holla out to them and tell them about us. We are making magic, and it's delightfully contagious. We need your help to make this happen.
Deck Builder
Bathroom Remodeler
Kitchen Remodeler
Patio/Deck Encloser
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Asphodel House: Ongoing Volunteer Roles | | |
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As we settle into our space, we need some ongoing community support! Select the title below, select the time slots when you are available, and we'll contact you for an orientation. Thank you!
Plant Waterer: Checking on the plants is a monthly commitment and requires 2-4 check-ins per month. This changes with the season and the waterer's discretion.
Light Housekeeping: This role asks for someone(s) to do the following once per month:
cleaning windows & glass, cleaning out the fridge, and two loads of laundry.
Organizing: As we settle into this space, we need some help organizing the office, kitchen cabinets, and garage.
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4th Friday of each month, 6-8pm
7832 S 113th St, Seattle, WA 98178
Join us in conversation about death and grief while making art, coloring, sketching, sculpting… We have some art supplies, and you can bring some with you. We will be talking about things related to death and dying. While this is not a support group, it is supportive. We will also have resources to share.
Register here
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Medical Aid in Dying Grief Group | |
First Sunday of Every Month
7 - 8:30pm PST
MAiD Grief Groups meet via Zoom and offer a supportive space for the friends, family, partners, and beloveds of people who have chosen the MAiD process.
This group is sponsored by A Sacred Passing and facilitated by Leilani and Joy. This is a drop-in group where we can come together in conversation.
Register here
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Grief and Care Under Capitalism | |
1st & 3rd Wednesdays, 7-9pm PST
Monthly grieving space and participatory support group for anyone feeling exploited and exhausted by capitalism.
Register here
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BIAWA: Spousal/Partner Support Group
3rd Tuesday of each month on Zoom
6-7pm PST
Are you in a romantic relationship with someone with a brain injury?
Would you like to meet others navigating relationships after brain injury?
Join us for a sense of belonging and take away strategies to improve your relationship.
Email: info@biawa.org to get the Zoom link
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Grief Ritual to Heal the Impacts of Colonialism | |
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November 5, 2023
12-2pm EST
Hosted by Ekua Adisa
The impacts of colonialism across time are far-reaching. There are few places on the planet untouched by massacre and war or the haunting of people displaced from their homelands. Tending grief is important fundamental work that helps us to thrive through the unending loss of life and gives us greater access to the full spectrum of pleasure and joy.
I invite you to an ancestor-supported ritual space for us all to come together and grieve these innumerable losses. This is a somatic practice space. There will be no story-sharing or re-traumatization.
This ritual space is offered by donation to Black people and people indigenous to the Americas, and on a sliding scale of
$25-65 to all others.
Register here
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Trauma Education for Humanitarian and Emergency Responders
by HeartMath Institute with Jorina Elbers, M.D.
This FREE course teaches evidence-based self-regulation techniques to help professional and volunteer responders build resilience, to protect against burnout and secondary traumatization, and to help those they serve after man-made or natural disasters.
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Serious illness and end-of-life care practices in Washington State need to be re-envisioned for sustainability. We are doing more with less. Join the annual meeting as we learn about changes in Washington State Laws and discuss necessary policy changes and adjustments for the sustainability of care and wellness of practitioners.
Please join us and be a part of change.
WSICC 2023 Annual Meeting
November 17, 2023
8:30am - 5:00pm
@ Evergreen Health in Kirkland
Register here
(Yes, you have to create an account)
The Washington State Medical Association (WSMA) is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians. The WSMA designates this live activity for a maximum of 5.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
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I am thrilled to share my mother Nnenna Freelon and my album AnceStars, which has been submitted for your GRAMMY® consideration for Best Children’s Music Album! This album is very personal for us. It features three generations of our family (me, my mom, and and daughter Stella) and some exciting collaborators, including Las Cafeteras and GRAMMY® nominees Jarrett Johnson and Alvin Chea of Take 6.
In our family, we use tools from African-American folklore and tradition to help our children connect with their ancestors. We create altars, affirmations, and lullabies and we hold space for tears, memories, and deep breathing. This album is a musical offering of these healing tools, created to nurture a gentle and kid-centered curiosity about life, afterlife, transformation, and legacy.
I hope you enjoy!
Listen here
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Want your event, poem, recipe, or community offering to be featured in our next newsletter?
Email contributions to Sátchel: satchel@asacredpassing.org
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