Tuesday, May 12, 1998

NECLT
Having returned from the NECLT we can report that there hasn't been one conference that we've attended where we've come away with anything but a positive feeling about this work. Death and dying and bereavement are issues that most of us aren't too comfortable with. But at these gatherings of professionals, counselors, and lay persons, who are so full of humor and good will, where these topics are discussed openly and plainly in the clear light of day, many of ones own projections become slightly more noticeable. And every conference has gems, most of which will fall right into your lap if you are willing to apply even a modicum of attention to what is happening. The LRS and TGA are very actively working in this area as reporters and exhibitors and we are looking to expand our coverage. If you would like to help and/or know of a conference coming to your area please let us know. Thanks! 

Monday, May 4, 1998

A Word About Growthhouse
I just received the free monthly email newsletter from Growthhouse, a San Francisco based organization. Its full of updates and other good stuff. If you haven't visited their site, "the Yahoo of Death and Dying," do so soon...it's very informative with lots of links and concise reviews. Thats http://www.growthhouse.org/

Thursday, April 30, 1998

News from Bay Area Bardo Training Center
Pat Elizabeth came to the San Francisco Bardo Training Center last Friday and lead a workshop entitled "How to Create your own Sacred Space." This workshop dealt with a number of ritual practices concerning cleansing, energizing and creating a sacred space.

The workshop had a great turnout. Among the attendees were a group of five spaninards that just arrived in San Francisco this week to work with the Bardo Training Center. They were fortunate to get such a powerful introduction to E.J.'s work. The evening also included a potent series of Clear Light readings directed to our mutual friend Douglas Truth who is presently recovering from surgery in Sacramento.

There were a number of other unmentionable occurances at the workshop, due to their rather subjective nature they cannot be discussed at this time. These workshops are so rich in content that an attempt to quickly sum them up does them no justice. In the words of anonymous, "You had to be there. . ." 

Thursday, April 23, 1998

Conference Season Opens
Well it must be conference season, sure keeping us hopping. Thursday will be heading over to Springfield, Mass. to report on "The National Conference for Loss and Transition" sponsored by the New England Center for Loss and Transition. Of course we will be handing out The Great Adventure so if you still don't have one, (the winter issue), head on over...or you can email us through the webmaster. The spring issue should be out in a few weeks, filled to the brim with...conference reports!

Monday, April 19, 1998

"Hospice Presents: Living with Grief "
This Wednesday, beaming up to satellite from Washington DC and then back down to hundreds of locations across the country will be transmission of a panel discussion entitled "Hospice Presents: Living with Grief - Who We  Are and How We Grieve." Cokie Roberts (NPR) is the moderator and she always keeps things on line, informative and interesting. She also takes questions/phone calls from across the country. Panel members are Ronald K. Barrett, Ph.D., Kenneth Doka, Ph.D., Bernice Harper, M.S.W., Patricia Murphy, R.N., Ph.D., Bradley Stuart, M.D. That's Wed.(4/22) from 1:30 - 4pm est. Contact your local hospice to find out where its playing. 

Friday, April 17, 1998

New Flier About "Bardos"
The SF-Bardo Study Group have put together an excellent flier on the subject of "What is Bardo?" If you have any need for such a brochure give us a call [(530) 272-0180] or email us at lrs@slimeworld.org.

Tuesday, April 14, 1998

A Call For Papers
If anyone is interested in doing an article, creative piece or review for The Great Adventure please let us know at wrkspace@slimeworld.org. We will be going to the New England Center for Loss and Transition Conference next week which will be the third conference included in the forthcoming issue! We've got our hands full, including a dozen books here - one or two or ten of which we'd gladly send out for review... It would be great if we could have everything in by May 4th. Thanks!

Tuesday, April 7, 1998

Here's a question recently overheard on the LRS Forum:
I've heard some interesting things about the LRS course you teach online. Is there another one happening? Can I attend? What should I read or do before trying to take the class?

Thanks for the question. The next course which is scheduled is starting April 22 at 6:00 pm pacific standard time. You may register by calling 1-800-869-0658 and asking for the LRS desk. Before you take the course it would be helpful for you to read The American Book of the Dead by E.J.Gold published by Gateways. If you have any further questions please write back. Pat Elizabeth

Friday, April 3, 1998

News'O the Day
What a surprise! Check out the G.O.D.D. Hospice Game site and find out whats in store!

Friday, April 3, 1998

Just returned from another conference.....
Just returned from another conference, The National Council on the Aging and Generations United. There was a lot of excitement around intergenerational work as well as technology and the aging. Put the two together and you have kids teaching elders about computers while the elders share their stories. Some wonderful things are happening. History classes are becoming the compiled stories of people who were actually there, assembled through the 'net. Kids love interviewing and hearing history first hand, embellished. Spiritual eldering keeps the planet healthier. Also important in our work with the dying. More on this to come...see the Spiritual Eldering site at www.spiritualeldering.org.

Tuesday, March 24, 1998

Calendar Update and a Quote to Live By
Mark the "Planning a Good Death" Conference on your calendar. Takes place on May 2nd at the Santa Maria Airport Hilton, Santa Maria, CA. See the "flyer" for more information. Also a relevant and thoughtful information page, quite remarkable, at http://www.thegrid.net/camera-man/faq.htm

Tuesday, March 24, 1998

The ADEC Conference - Mutual Help, Mutual Aid
This is your off the floor report from the ADEC ( Association of Death Education and Counseling) conference which happened this past weekend in Chicago. The LRS had a table and many folks stopped to pick up The Great Adventure or some of the other materials available there. We had the new "on-line" brochures, tapes, videos and books including The American Book of the Dead, Angels Healing Journey, The Book of Sacraments. The Angels Healing Journey video was playing on a small TV. People were fascinated by it. We let them know that they will soon be able to get on-line and travel through these same environments. The seminars and speeches involved bereavement in one form or another. The ones that we found valuable were about spirituality and grief, methods of group intervention, telling ones story, on-line support, and how to exit laughing... This conference gave us the opportunity to see the relationship of the LRS material to the current theories and practices in the field of bereavement counseling. The ADEC organization is one of the oldest of its kind supporting the work of preeminent academicians, therapists, and pastoral counselors. These are very experienced and dedicated professionals able to help people in a variety of ways. Now, with them, we can explore how the LRS can help in their work..

Friday, March 20, 1998

Web Framework Started
We have begun the long awaited work to expand our LRS website framework to accomodate new developments in our online work. You can take a peek at the beginnings of this construction project at OnLine Work.

Wednesday, March 18, 1998

LRS On to Chicago
Tomorrow we'll be heading up to Chicago to give you some on site reports from the ADEC Conference and tend a booth for the LRS and TGA. Especially looking forward to the full day presentation entitled: Life Stories in Therapeutic Settings: Maps Into the Soul. Faculty: Juanita Johnson, M.A., CGT, CDE. From the synopsis- "The story as a therapeutic experience is a new and exciting approach for clinicians in the area of illness, dying and bereavement. When we can help our clients connect with the authenticity of their own rich, unique story, we offer them a gift as well as an opportunity for growth." This seems to connect to the spiritual eldering work of Reb Zalman Schachter-Shalomi whose book, The Dream Assembly, is a collection of stories and tales of the old world Hassidic masters...featured by Gateways books, find it at their website.

Wednesday, March 11, 1998

Natural Death Centre Updates Site

Wednesday, March 11, 1998

Workshops Galore
This weekend will be great time to be in cyberspace. There are workshops going on all day Saturday at Cosmo St. (see the Canteen link on the www.slimeworld.org page for details), gaming thru the night in team fortress with Gorebag, and then more workshops on Sunday morning.On Sun.from 9-10 am.PST Janna Hart will be hosting: "The Making of the American Book of the Dead" Death is the great adventure. There is no escape from death, and there is no alternative to preparation for anyone wishing a conscious death to culminate a conscious life. E.J. Gold has written, "Man's real use is death. Death is the function of life and therefore death is not removable from life." He adds that this is misunderstood and will be misunderstood for generations to come by many who are exposed to the idea. This will be a valuable workshop for those of us working with the LRS material and for any who are interested...thanks Janna!

Thursday, March 5, 1998

NY Times To Cover Hospice Care

Wednesday, March 4, 1998

Magazine Trail
Well here's the chance you've always wanted to go out and buy the Utne Reader. The March/April issue has a feature entitled "A Good Death" with some excellent articles. We don't see it posted at their website, (www.utne.com). If you trace the articles you'll be led to the fall '97 issue of Tricycle (www.tricycle.com) which presented lots of different perspectives,discussion, and materials on the Great Matter of Life and Death. Meanwhile we are looking forward to the arrival of the March issue of Gnosis which features an interview with American Book of the Dead author, EJ Gold. Let us know if you discover any other good links out there in the world of print...

Sunday, February 22, 1998

The Great Adventure
Most highly esteemed and venerablest of all webmasters, I emailed The Great Adventure last week as an ami pro file, greatad3, and in accordance with Ixganukian protocols of posting am checking to see if it landed ok..thanks ga

Yes GA, or GAAAAhhwa as you are sometimes known, The Great Adventure has arrived. It should be finding its way to these pages very soon. Thank you so much for the work you are doing.

Sunday, February 22, 1998

ADEC Conference
The online meetings of the LRS continue on Wednesday nights with preparations for the ADEC, {Association for Death Education and Counseling), conference to be held in Chicago on 3/19-22. The LRS will offer a full line of audio/video tapes, books, and artifacts to bereavement and hospice counsellors/professionals to use either in their own work or with clients. Also, a brochure is being created which will detail ways of accessing some of possibilities of chat rooms, 3-d environments, and the web in general. For more information on this project contact the LRS. We'll keep you informed with a full report on the conference.

Sunday, February 22, 1998

Hex Therapy
In our recent webwanderings we have stumbled upon some really incredible sites; Computers for Special Needs, is featuring 'adapting 3-d arcade games for special needs' in its upcoming March issue. It seems that a 'level editor' program can be used to level the playing field. Another tremendous resource is: www.trace.wisc.edu, as well as www.abledata.com and www.geocities.com/~drm. Check 'em out. How does this relate to our work in death and dying? Take a look at the work we are doing with the G.O.D.D. VT engine to get an idea.

Wednesday, February 18, 1998

Say What?
[Webmaster's Note: If you have a suggestions of a graphic that can be used as a button to represent the Forum, please let us know. Thanks]

Wednesday, February 18, 1998

Say What?
Just in: there is a very informative article on speech recognition technologies at http://www8.zdnet.com/pcmag/features/speech/index.html We will be discussing this and other issues related to online accessibility at the LRS Wednesday night chat, 6:30 pst on Cosmo Street. For more info on how to access this chat, contact 916-272-0180 or lrs@slimeworld.org, and, if you have a speech program already, come tell us how it is!

Tuesday, February 17, 1998

Tools for the Voyager:
The beta testing of the Zenn Orb of G.O.D.D. World has begun, showing it to be a profoundly beautiful space where one experiences effects simlar to those of the videos, Angels Healing Journey, Darkside Dream Walker, and Bardo Reaction Video Test, (available at Cloister Recordings). It is important that readers be familiar with these videotools for the voyager. Now, with the advent of the online G.O.D.D. world, there will be opportunities for working with others in these spaces! Never have there been such possibilities to communicate and safari together regardless of place or physical limitation. We will do our best to keep you posted here, meanwhile visit the other G.O.D.D. developments; Paparazi, Lords of Dread, Bardotown, The Ancient Map Project, and others. Dont hesitate to email any feedback, questions or ideas to lrs@slimeworld.org. 

Friday, February 14, 1998

A clue from the front-lines.
Jim Nash at Hospice Hands is busy keeping us up to date on all kinds of information, generally hospice related, at his "Whats New" page. He posts weekly listings. They are often surprising and well worth investigating. Check it out at: http://hospice-cares.com/new.html

Wednesday, February 12, 1998

The 2nd Great Adventure Soon to Hit Print
The Winter '98 issue of The Great Adventure should be going to print next week, full of reviews, interviews, events and all kinds of good stuff! We would like to thank everyone who contributed to this issue. The TGA calendar features the following conferences and events related to death and dying/spiritual eldering which are coming up in the next few months:

Online Labyrinth Reader's Course Begins April 22
Two introductory information and question/answer sessions will be held online on Feb.25 and March 25,(times to be posted). This weekend, Sunday, Feb. 15, will be an hour long workshop entitled "How to do an American Book of the Dead Reading Online", with Pat Elizabeth, starting at 9 am PST. For information on downloading the Palace (chatroom) software, visit http://www..thepalace.com, and/or call (530)272-0180

ADEC 20th Annaul Conference
Association for Death Education and Counseling) 20th Annual Conference, "MAKE A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE," Stouffer Rennaissance Hotel, Chicago, March 19-22, 1998. For information and registration, 860-586-7503 or www.adec.org.

Vital Aging Conference and Expo
March 29 - April 2, 1998 at the Washington Hilton and Towers, Washington, D.C. Information and registration : National Council on the Aging, 202-479-6991, or www.ncoa.org

Hospice Foundation of America's Annual Teleconference
"LIVING WITH GRIEF" broadcast live via satellite on Wednesday, April 22, 1998. The teleconference is a major training opportunity for grief professionals and others involved with end of life care such as hospice workers, nurses, physicians, clergy, and funeral directors. Sponsoring a downlink site allows your organization to provide an important community service at little or no cost. Continuing Education Units (CEUs) and supplemental books are available at minimal cost. For more information on how to get involved with the teleconference call Lisa McGahey Veglahn at 202-638-5419, or http://www.hospicefoundation.org

Hospice Foundation of America's Annual Teleconference
"GRIEF; A SACRED SADNESS," April 22-24, Marriott Hotel, Springfield, Ma.Information and registration: New England Center for Loss and Transition, 1-800-887-5677

Caregiver's Expo '98
Rosemont Convention Center, Chicago, Ill. Contact 847-823-0639 or http://www.caregiving.com for information.

Ongoing Courses Through the Red Cross
"FOUNDATIONS OF CAREGIVING" and "HOME CARE FOR PEOPLE LIVING WITH AIDS," ongoing courses through the Red Cross. Contact your local chapter or http://www.redcross.org for information.