Besides finding a worm in your salad, the quickest way to stop a dinner conversation is to ask people about their beliefs concerning death and spirituality. Many people face these issues every day but often feel uncomfortable and stressed by it.
Exploring questions about our own underlying beliefs and assumptions around spirituality, death and dying will not only help us clarify our own beliefs, but also help us to be more comfortable talking with patients, clients, friends and family members about these issues. This workshop will provide a safe forum for discussion and exploration of 1) life’s meaning, 2) spirituality, 3) death and grief, 4) integration of beliefs.
Using a combination of brief lectures, small group sharing, poetry and journaling, music and guided imagery, and gentle movement, we will enter into discussions in a spirit of inquiry, exploration, curiosity, discovery and collaboration.
Over the course of a day and a half, Debra and Lloyd will open a space in which it is safe to unwind, discover new aspects about ourselves and each other, and journey deeply into our own hearts and feelings. Aspects of childhood beliefs, patterned behavior, and cultural norms will provide a few of the guideposts for our sharing.
Participants can expect to: gain new perspectives; increase their comfort level when discussing these issues; and gain a deeper understanding of their beliefs. No more ruined dinner parties! (Salad worms not included.) This workshop is appropriate for all levels of medical staff, clergy, social workers, counselors, police officers, or any one dealing with issues around grief, loss, death and/or spirituality.
INSTRUCTORS/FACILITATORS
Debra Jarvis, “the irreverent reverend with something to say,” is an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ. She is a breast cancer survivor and the author of It’s Not About the Hair: And Other Certainties of Life & Cancer (Sasquatch Books, 2007). She has worked as a hospice spiritual counselor and currently serves as a per diem chaplain for the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance. She is a commentator for National Public Radio and frequently speaks at conferences and workshops on cancer, death, dying, medical staff care, spirituality and the importance of quality chocolate. She received an MA in Christian Arts from New College, Berkeley, and her Master’s in Divinity from Northwest Theological Union, Seattle. She is board certified through the Association for Professional Chaplains (APC). She lives in Seattle with her husband, Wes Van Voorhis and their mighty Cairn terrier, Max. http://www.debrajarvis.com/.
Lloyd Barde has been working and playing with music all his life. He has an instinctive gift for producing music for meditation, movement, and healing, and has been an inspired source of sound advice for over 30 years. Lloyd hosts a monthly concert series at Rudramandir in Berkeley, is the Music Editor for Common Ground Magazine, and founded and ran Backroads Music for 27 years before launching Lloyd Barde Productions. Lloyd has been a long-time student of personal disarmament, dance and movement, and an ever-deepening spiritual practice to accompany his own healing journey. He has led groups for men and women in Colorado, Hawaii & California with a focus on gender issues, receptivity, and transforming patterned behavior. Lloyd has always felt a strong commitment and passionate connection to Healing Journeys, and is currently serving on the Board of Directors. http://www.lloydbarde.com/.