Autumn is a Time for Regrouping

Book Update - 21 Days to Die: A Canadian Guide to End-of-Life

It was soooo exciting on August 9 to hold a copy of my book in my hand for the very first time. This is a pre-order sample, but holding it in my hand makes the whole book publication stage seem real. The book can be pre-ordered now with a 20% discount of fee. 

I'm looking forward to October 13 when the book will finally be available for sale to the public. My book publicist team is busy organizing media opportunities to talk about the book. There are already a number of events scheduled to promote the book. Feel free to attend as many as you're interested in and in whatever format you like.
 

What's this book really all about?
This book Some of you may be asking yourself what this book you are reading about is really all about. Here's a summary from the back cover that describes it for you.

Conversations about death don't have to be morbid. Following the 'Positive Death Movement' and public education such as Death Cafes, many of us yearn to speak more openly about dying and death in ways that are more natural and direct.

21 Days to Die was written in that spirit, in the hopes that all Canadians will come to recognize the signs of physical death and the sequence to facilitate necessary conversations and better timely decision-making. The book addresses botht the medical and advance care planning aspects, but also aspect such as the psycho-social needs, grief work, and rites of passage, and so much more. 

Written by a social worker and lay Buddhist Chaplain, 21 Days to Die inspires fearlessness in the face of seeing what doesn't want to be seen. under these circumstances the mindfulness practices of being fully present in the moment, and remembering the impermanence of all living things are both universal and calming. 
 

Book Events
This book is meant to be read, discussed, and engaged with. As such, it's really good to have other people around to talk to about the ideas in this book. It's meant to be provocative and disrupt your every day life and the trajectory you think you're on. In short, it's meant to remind you of the impermanence of life, and to motivate you to live more urgently and more fully. Here are a few ways to 'meet the author' and learn about the book, in addition to just buying the book and reading it by yourself. There will be more options in the months ahead, but here are the current opportunities.

Virtual Book Launch
October 19, Tuesday on Zoom, 7:30-9:00pm
Listen to sections read by the author, answer questions from the audience, and generally celebrate together. BYOC (Bring Your Own Champaign). 
Cost: Free! 

Weekly Meditation Class With the Awaken in Toronto group for 4 sessions - Wednesdays on Zoom, 7:30-9:00pm
November 3 - 24, Recognizing the Dying Stages
Includes a review of portions of the book, as well as question and discussion times. Includes 30 minute meditations on traditional Buddhist death practices and meditations.
Cost: Dana donation

Monthly Discussion with the AIT Dying, Death, and Community group - Thursday on Zoom
October 28, 21 Days to Die: Recognizing Death
Single session discussion on the signs of death, including body, speech, and mind indications. 
Cost: Dana donation

Speaking Engagements

Awaken in Toronto Meditation Classes

Meditation Retreat - Reckoning between the Ego and the 'Self' using Internal Family Systems Therapy
Dates: November 12-14, 2021
Place: Dharma Centre of Canada, Kinmount, ON
Teacher: Lama Linda AKA Linda Hochstetler
Meditation introduces us to the idea that there are many voices in our head constantly speaking and contradicting one another. Sitting in silence also allows for various feelings and body sensations to arise, and we may find ourselves either identifying or pushing these away. Overall, it's easy to become a 'hot mess' whenever we slow things down to notice what's happening.

Components of one form of therapy - Internal Family Systems (IFS) - can be combined with meditation to help meditators find their core Self. The Self is also known as Buddha-nature, and is inherently part of each of us. The Self is blocked by Exiles, Managers, and Firefighters who overreact and place the protective ego in front of the Buddha-nature.
 

Private Practice - Online & Some In-Person
The hybrid model has been working really well for me, offering both in person and online psychotherapy. I will be asking in person clients to show me their vaccine passports, whenever this becomes encouraged. I continue to offer psychotherapy for life and all the challenges that life presents, including transitions, relationship changes, and of course my specialty of illness, death, and dying. I provide talk therapy using a variety of modalities, but also EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) for trauma and PTSD symptoms. If I'm not the right person to see you, I'm happy to give a referral to someone in my large network who might be better for you. Therapy is a special relationship that I'm happy to see more and more people see the advantage of for themselves. 

Clinical Supervision and Consultation