Anyone Curious about The Death and Afterlife Summit (and online program)? Not to rush things but many say there is a lot to consider that could help one and others 'on the other side'...

The headline for this is likely a post's worth. I get lots of offers online as I'm sure everyone does now that Facebook does ads and there are those fancy-schmancy funnels to Drive ads and events to your emails. Of course you may click to get the motherload of offers so Be Careful (of which email you have them sent to less you miss important financial notices from your college student's account and other family or news of note. In terms of Doing Well with navigating Financial Matters and 'Deadlines', why not get a few trusty folks to help you such as other family or friends or maybe even hire someone if your numbers are up there and you can afford such a thing. If it isn't your best topic or skill set, then by all means, Ask for Help and Get the Support and Reminders You Need. I have been able to have someone keep track of my electronic tax returns and assist with getting the CSS, IDOC, FAFSA and Non-Custodial as well as Custodial Parental Information all together. Even a Step-parent or others may be expected to have their finances reviewed and factored into a financial aid package for college. So Keep Your Records in Order and Accessible. 

Now where this blog started out was with sharing the word of 'Death and Afterlife Summit" which will be online and also held in person (as in the living gathering to learn and maybe have a sense of connection with those in spirit.) Now this is not just for kicks and really there are many views that say "Do NOT Go Down This Path of Thinking or Trying to Say Hello or Otherwise Connect' with those who have crossed through the veil between mortal life and the beyond. Others say it's helpful and it happens to many whether in dreams or other times when awake. Anything from thinking of a person who is in spirit to having a dream that seems realistic or answers a question (maybe one you've been wondering about but also one you may ask before nodding off to sleep, then thinking of it before opening your eyes to see if there were a dream or answer given in response. Rudolf Steiner explores such ideas in his book Staying Connected, and of course more modern mediums also have an array of theories of how these things can unfold. Mostly done in a loving mindset, one can have a greater sense of peace and comfort about how the other person is doing in spirit...and how one might live one's life in concert with the sense that they have someone watching out for them or ready to welcome them when their time would arrive whether that is not so far away or likely decades away. 

The world is  waking up to these topics and taking back the right to think about all manner of our health, lives, relationships and illness. Suzanne O'Brien is offering a program about encouraging people to have options thought through about 'Death and Dying' yet not only the way that Elisabeth Kubler Ross explores in her book by that name. End of Life Doula Caregivers is the kind of outreach Suzanne is promoting worldwide on the web and in trainings as well in person.  I will be finishing with the program shortly so will be able to share a bit more. Most of what I have learned I have had some experience with over the last 30 years of helping people primarily in their homes.

My eldest client lived to be well over 100 and others are realizing 100 isn't what it used to be. Life may really pick up in cool ways after 95! There are more books and programs about Growing Younger and Aging Gracefully, reviving one's bucket list to include dreams from childhood, meeting up with old friends and making new ones as well as taking up new hobbies.

I met a woman who came back to life to play the violin, not professionally just for her own satisfaction. What are the odds I would meet her again (on a talk about dementia where the author spoke candidly and encouragingly to plan for That possibility too for Any of Us, almost like our own 'living death'(which I hope is not too harsh of a term but some may feel that is what they think it would be like) where we would not be able to make decisions or live alone.

Then again once someone has a mental health condition that affects their memory and personality, the person may not really mind that much...it's more a chore for the caregivers and hopefully their love can grow to help their own spiritual path. The affected person may actually spiritually be doing important work for him or herself and humanity by having that condition...a less common yet very real possibility!) I'll try to search the name of his book but likely there are many that would fill the bill.

The point is it is a good time to consider possibilities 'like this' over the course of one's life. AARP likely has plenty of articles on these topics, yet it can take many small conversations and jotting down rough drafts (maybe with forms off the internet) for everything from life plans for life insurance (term is usually a good deal and Some is better than none or nada.), planning to move one's main home out of one's name to a set of trustworthy people if high medical bills are likely to claim it (that is the case if there's less than a 5-year span of time when Medicaid may be needed to cover expenses.

There's plenty to really learn so don't be shy, start getting some consults with Elder Law Attorneys or do some online research. If one is married or has other conditions that criteria may differ. This is not legal advice but rather a prompt to learn what's what and consider Options.Maybe pick one day a week (a Thursday for instance) and a time, at 7pm , to do some research for 15 minutues for a few months. Longer time and a second day could be added of course, but to keep checking in may help one chart one's progress.

Doing that with a buddy could be a bonus in many ways as well. Often an attorney will do a free or low cost consult yet the person whose assets are being discussed needs to be present. Doing that with a friend or family member could be the gentle nudge needed to help one start down that path...or again enjoy some online information for a few months to have a better sense of the terms and basic game plans. All the best and as with all these posts they are not given as legal or life advice but rather as topics of interest to consider as one may feel comfortable doing so.

Some topics are more than information and many experts say learning about something and actually trying to do something are two different things. There could be 'bad energies or spirits' who one could interact with more directly if 'opening oneself up' to information and such. That is the main concern and one to consider seriously. Many experienced people also say we are to live 'in this world' and not seek to escape daily needs and life plans to try to be connected only to things in the next world. Hopefully that can help balance what I am sharing about the growing interest and awareness that our energies may survive our mortality. Peace and light, Catherine/ Livfully