This is so lovely, the concepts and the images, especially this line "They stand bare, open to being undone and to rest." For me this links to two concepts, one being the 'corpse pose' in yoga. The second is something I learned from Doug Tallamy (author of the book The Nature of Oaks): oak trees are 300 year trees. 100 years of growth, 100 years of living, 100 years of dying/decomposing. I'm a huge fan of biological senescence/decay, and also accepting/preparing for our personal death, and love your work at Hello, Mortal!! I write about these topics a lot, unpublished tho, and will think about your invitation for submissions : )
I had no idea about the 300-year oak arc — that’s incredible! And yes to corpse pose. What a powerful way to embody the contemplation. Thank you for sharing!
This post is just perfect for this moment. Thank you. And the poem and contemplation is just what is needed today as I unexpectedly find myself sitting a hospital bed . The perfect time and place to reflect on what has been shed or outgrown— or needs to be shed and outgrown— In my personal life, my marriage, my family and the larger world. Thank you🙏🙏🙏
Heather, I’m so sorry you’re in the hospital! Wishing you a smooth and speedy recovery. I’m grateful this piece could offer even a small moment of peace in the middle of it all.
We do have sleep - that little death every day - if you don't you will die! Love your work and this peice - cultivating gratitude by acceptance of death is hard but very worth it!
Beautifully and timely. Needed. Grieving a death 3 days ago of someone extraordinarily near and dear to me after attending her journey through an advancing chronic illness, moments her health rallied and gave us reprieves for a few more meaningful encounters. Until the inevitable became unavoidable. There for her last moments, her last breaths when the consciousness that was her and animated her body, her physical self left. Grieving the absence of her presence. Becoming more comfortable with mortality is a needed skill for living more fully, loving more fully, grieving better. Thank you for posting this post and others.
Dawn, I'm so sorry to hear that you're grieving someone near and dear to you. What a wonderful thing it is that you could be there for and with her in her final moments 💕
This is so lovely, the concepts and the images, especially this line "They stand bare, open to being undone and to rest." For me this links to two concepts, one being the 'corpse pose' in yoga. The second is something I learned from Doug Tallamy (author of the book The Nature of Oaks): oak trees are 300 year trees. 100 years of growth, 100 years of living, 100 years of dying/decomposing. I'm a huge fan of biological senescence/decay, and also accepting/preparing for our personal death, and love your work at Hello, Mortal!! I write about these topics a lot, unpublished tho, and will think about your invitation for submissions : )
I had no idea about the 300-year oak arc — that’s incredible! And yes to corpse pose. What a powerful way to embody the contemplation. Thank you for sharing!
This post is just perfect for this moment. Thank you. And the poem and contemplation is just what is needed today as I unexpectedly find myself sitting a hospital bed . The perfect time and place to reflect on what has been shed or outgrown— or needs to be shed and outgrown— In my personal life, my marriage, my family and the larger world. Thank you🙏🙏🙏
Heather, I’m so sorry you’re in the hospital! Wishing you a smooth and speedy recovery. I’m grateful this piece could offer even a small moment of peace in the middle of it all.
So timely in my life…several abrupt “ little deaths” just this year…
Thanks deeply!
I’m glad the piece found you at this time 💕
Beautiful poem, beautiful collaboration.
This is beautiful - thank you so much for putting the poem and the poet on my radar.
Such a great poem!
We do have sleep - that little death every day - if you don't you will die! Love your work and this peice - cultivating gratitude by acceptance of death is hard but very worth it!
I love sleeping because my dreams are so wild! I never know what's going to happen.
Thank you
Dying while alive...the subtle art of living fully. Wonderful post, thank you!
Thank you for reading!
Well done.
Maura, please email me. We need to talk. greg@DoNotIgnoreYourMortality.com
Beautifully and timely. Needed. Grieving a death 3 days ago of someone extraordinarily near and dear to me after attending her journey through an advancing chronic illness, moments her health rallied and gave us reprieves for a few more meaningful encounters. Until the inevitable became unavoidable. There for her last moments, her last breaths when the consciousness that was her and animated her body, her physical self left. Grieving the absence of her presence. Becoming more comfortable with mortality is a needed skill for living more fully, loving more fully, grieving better. Thank you for posting this post and others.
Dawn, I'm so sorry to hear that you're grieving someone near and dear to you. What a wonderful thing it is that you could be there for and with her in her final moments 💕
A beautiful poem and reflection, to learn from the trees how to embrace dying as part of the seasons and cycles within and without.
I felt inspired to share a short poem that also embodies this wisdom from the trees. 🙏🏼
https://substack.com/@fairiesandgnomes/note/c-202694147?r=19igav&utm_medium=ios&utm_source=notes-share-action
Thanks for sharing
I love how your essays always help me expand my thoughts on death. Thanks again, I appreciate your writing.