Joy Alchemy Acupuncture

16/07/2024

Gen Xers are used to surviving on our own with humor and scrappy resilience.

But what happens when we hit midlife and face one grief after another?

On Blythe Alpern and I share some of what we've experienced losing our parents.

Talking about death honestly doesn't have to be like a sadly melodramatic "very special episode" of a TV drama--it can be darkly funny, calmly practical, courageously vulnerable, tenderly loving, and rawly human.

Listen in on our chat to learn more about having tough conversations with aging parents, dealing with the anticipatory grief of being a caregiver, and finding resources to nurture yourself through heartbreaking losses.

24/05/2024

Love the poetry prompts in The Magic Words by .fasano , especially the soul-stirring expressions opened up by this Grief Poem.

Finding words to express the depths of loss can be challenging, and creative outlets like journaling, drawing, scrapbooking, and singing offer some heartfelt relief.

Playing with these Mad Libs-style prompts would be a wonderful inspiration at a memorial service.

Or in a private journal, the prompts could offer some comforting structure to begin making sense of your thoughts and feelings.

It could even be an amazing gift to offer a gratitude poem to a loved one in hospice as a way to express how much they mean to you.

12/05/2024

"All the eggs a woman will ever carry form in her ovaries when she is a 4-month-old fetus in the womb of her mother. This means our cellular life as an egg begins in the womb of our grandmother.

Each of us spent 5 months in our grandmother's womb, and she in turn formed within the womb of her grandmother. We vibrate to the rhythms of our mother's blood before she herself is born." --Layne Redmond, When Women Were Drummers

Words can't express how much I miss my mom and how much I wonder about my grandmother who died long before I was born. I'm blessed to feel the steadying vibration of their eternal love coursing through every cell of my being--they survived so many hardships, and their strength and kindness is a legacy I proudly carry within me.

My heart has been shaped by the love of so many other mother figures as well: my nana, who raised my mother after she'd been orphaned; my stepgrandma, Mary, who never had children of her own but delighted in doting on 10 grandchildren; my big sister, Maura, who's always been there to support me; and many more aunts, sisters-in-law, teachers, healers, and mentors over the years.

Happy Mother's Day to those who celebrate today.

And to those just trying to survive today, may we all feel nurtured by boundless maternal warmth in its many forms and expressions.

23/04/2024

You have two homes: Earth & your body. Both deserve tender loving care.

As we remember how to live in harmony as part of nature, we heal ourselves and the world.

Happy Earth Day!

19/04/2024

When the world seems disastrous--whether the tragedies in the news or heartbreaks at home--it can be helpful to remember all that our ancestors survived, and how the sun will eventually emerge from behind the storm clouds.

I appreciate these reflections from E.B. White, author of Charlotte's Web, about nurturing steadfast seeds of hope for a more peaceful tomorrow.

10/04/2024

National Siblings Day has a bittersweet and beautiful origin story (reposted from NPR).

The grief of losing a sibling--through estrangement as well as death--is too often unacknowledged.

When your sibling dies, you may focus on supporting your bereaved parents and/or grieving nieces and nephews and feel there's little room for your own mourning.

But our relationships with our siblings are incredibly formative, complicated, and long-lasting.

As the youngest sibling of five (with an older sister and three big brothers, who helped shape me into who I am and blessed me with 12 amazing nieces and nephews), this quote from Clare Ortega deeply resonates:

"To the outside world, we all grow old. But not to brothers and sisters. We know each other as we always were....We share private family jokes. We remember family feuds and secrets, family griefs and joys. We live outside the touch of time."

❤️

04/04/2024

Six years ago today, I began my practice, Joy Alchemy Acupuncture, grateful to have my niece as my first patient.

Joy Alchemy is my guiding principle for healing--when you can calm your mind, comfort your heart, nurture your body, and feel safe enough to honor your grief, you can tap into a wellspring of inner joy that's transformative.

I'm so grateful to the people who have trusted me to support them through heartbreak, anxiety, and all sorts of physical and emotional pain.

The deeper I go with this work, the more strongly I feel how intertwined grief and joy truly are.

If you're struggling with an impending loss, I've created a free guide to help, filled with compassionately practical suggestions to nourish yourself in mind, body, and spirit.

Head to my bio for Making the Most of Precious Time When Losing a Loved One Is on the Horizon: A Guide to Nurturing Yourself Through Anticipatory Grief.

28/03/2024

Love how truthfully grief is depicted in this lovely poem, "Taking Care" by Callista Buchen, beautifully illustrated by

I sit with my grief.
I mother it.
I hold its small, hot hand.

I don't say, shhh.
I don't say, it is okay.
I wait until it is done having feelings.

Then we stand and we go wash the dishes.
We crack open the bedroom doors, step over creaks, and kiss the children.

We are sore from this grief, like we've returned from a run, like we are training for a marathon.

I'm with you all the way, says my grief, whispering, and then we splash our face with water and stretch, one big shadow and one small.

08/03/2024

"Trees are holy.
If you know how to talk to them,
how to listen to them,
you will learn the truth."
--Hermann Hesse

26/02/2024

The usual job stresses can become much harder to handle when you spend your "free time" caregiving a seriously ill loved one.

It can feel so isolating when coworkers are talking about the fun activities they enjoyed over the weekend while you don't feel comfortable sharing the sad reality of helping an elderly parent eat, use the bathroom, or even remember basic things.

Your nervous system may be on constant high alert, as you worry about what health emergency might happen next.

Maybe you're completely exhausted after not getting a restful night's sleep in ages.

Facing life-and-decisions about your loved one, it can feel extra challenging to concentrate on work or feel like your job even matters.

There's so little grief support after someone dies--and there's even less help and compassion for people wrestling with anticipatory grief in the weeks, months, and even years leading up to a loved one's death.

Remembering what helped me while I was supporting my parents through end-of-life challenges and adding some resources I wish I'd known about sooner, I've written a free guide, Making the Most of Precious Time When Losing a Loved One Is on the Horizon: A Guide for Nurturing Yourself Through Anticipatory Grief.

If you're feeling anxious and overwhelmed about an aging parent, a partner facing a dire diagnosis, or a beloved pet with declining health, this resource is intended to help you feel less isolated and give you 10 practical suggestions to nourish yourself physically and emotionally to endure with more grace and fortitude, to be able to make difficult decisions with a calm mind and an open heart.

Please feel free to share it with anyone you think might benefit. Thank you!

14/02/2024

Happy Valentine's Day--may Cupid's arrows bring love and healing your way!

("Cupid's Job the Rest of the Year" by Loose Parts cartoonist Dave Blazek)

10/02/2024

Happy lunar new year! The past Yin Water Rabbit year is changing to a Yang Wood Dragon year--can you feel the blossoming energy surge?

What does dragon energy mean to you?

What treasure might the dragon be guarding and what might be revealed if we're bold enough to face our inner dragons?

How might dragon energy reignite our inner fire, inspire us to take flight, invite us to transform?

To rekindle your energy, I invite you to my Dragon Quest virtual session, which includes Qigong, breathwork, 7 potent acupoints, and a guided meditation sound journey.

08/02/2024

What message would you send your future self?

Many people connect with their inner child, which can be very healing.

Lately I've found it healing in a different way to connect with my inner future feisty old lady. When I envision the life I want for her, I'm more motivated to make healthy choices in the present day.

As the mother giving birth to my future self, I'm nurturing myself in ways that will give my future self more energy, vitality, freedom, joy, love, and an abundance of happy memories to look back upon.

It was a joy to chat with on her podcast Dear Future Self. Listen to our conversation on youtube to hear what I told my future self.

Have you ever written a message to your future self?

06/02/2024

When you watch a loved one slowly lose their memory or experience declining health, there can be so many losses to grieve long before death happens--and there can be moments of unforgettable beauty to cherish.

Remembering what helped me while I was supporting my parents through end-of-life challenges and adding some resources I wish I'd known about sooner, I've written a free guide, Making the Most of Precious Time When Losing a Loved One Is on the Horizon: A Guide for Nurturing Yourself Through Anticipatory Grief.

If you're feeling anxious, overwhelmed, scared, or sad about an aging parent, a partner facing a dire diagnosis, or a beloved pet with deteriorating health, this resource is intended to help you feel less isolated and give you 10 practical suggestions to nourish yourself physically and emotionally to endure with more grace and fortitude, to be able to make difficult decisions with a calm mind and an open heart.

Please feel free to share it with anyone you think might benefit. Thank you!

02/02/2024

01/02/2024

No need to struggle to control your thoughts and empty your mind while sitting silently in an uncomfortable position.

There are many ways to meditate and find more peace of mind--and peace of heart.

Go for a walking meditation.

Slow down and enjoy the meditative movements of Qigong or yoga.

Chant, hum, or sing.

Relax during a soundbath.

Spend time outside in nature.

Get in the flow of your favorite creative hobby.

What's your favorite way to find peace of mind?

29/01/2024

Facing waves of grief? Come feel understood in my free monthly virtual Collective Grief Circle Soundbath Meditation, Tuesday January 30 from 8:30 to 9:30 pm ET (zoom link in bio).

Learn some gentle practices to feel centered and comforted, then relax through a restful soundbath guided meditation.

You're welcome to share how you're feeling, or if you prefer, you're welcome to keep your camera off and simply soak up soundwaves and stillness. Please reach out if you need more support.