Yankee Deathcare

07/10/2025

An important day of learning about community resources, advance directives, aging in place, spiritual needs in aging and illness, hospice & palliative care, death & dying process, how to show up for friends and neighbors and we will end with companioning those who are grieving...

07/03/2025

Question:

How important is prayer?

Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche:

When someone close to death becomes so afraid that they panic, hospital doctors usually sedate them – they don’t have much choice.

If you are religious and are taking care of a sedated dying person, simply remain at their bedside and say prayers for them. Prayer always helps enormously, no matter which tradition you follow. Often there is nothing else you can do.

The English often say, “it is the thought that counts”. It’s so true! And prayer is a great deal more powerful and effective than a fleeting thought. So prayers from any tradition will be very beneficial.

If the dying person is Jewish, Christian, Hindu, atheist etc., and you are a Buddhist, there is no reason why you shouldn’t say Buddhist prayers for them. If the dying person is open to discussing their beliefs with you, ask them directly if they would like you to say a prayer for them from their own tradition.

Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche - from the book “Living Is Dying”

06/26/2025

I’ve started watching this (it’s 2 hours) and am already seeing things I’ve known but that more people need to understand, especially those who make policy and everyone who votes;
(1) people don’t think about caregiving until they are full on in it
(2) it is exhausting
(3) it affects all areas of life from one’s job to their marriages and other relationships
(4) the bulk is done by women, and more often than that, women of color and
(5) the immigrant workforce is vital to healthcare, particularly with direct care and particularly to seniors and the disabled…we are heading into a crisis of care with the “silver tsunami”.

“My dad was someone who I idolized,” actor Bradley Cooper explains in the opening frames of his new documentary, “Caregiving.” “I used to dress up like him when I was a kid … To go from that to giving him a bath is quite a traumatic thing.”

READ: https://shorturl.at/FSzSZ

06/26/2025

Grief is physical, too…

Loss can trigger a range of physical reactions, beware of these six health issues following the death of a loved one.

06/26/2025

Saturday morning…

06/26/2025

Our first draft of the books we recommend most at the grief groups we facilitate. (There will be a second page! 🙂) Oriol Health Care First Congregational Church of Princeton

06/10/2025

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The dragonfly meaning of death is a symbolism found throughout the world. In many cultures, it's believed dragonflies carry messages from the deceased to loved ones.

Dragonfly Meaning Death Symbolism
The symbolism of seeing a dragonfly soon after the death of a loved one is interpreted to mean the deceased lives in another world or plane of existence. In some cultures, the dragonfly is more than just a symbol of life after death.

Messages From the Other Side
Some people believe their loved one residing on the other side of this world sends the dragonfly as a messenger. In this instance, the deceased person presents their loved one with the physical dragonfly, having somehow manipulated the insect to them. The dragonfly carries their message of love and reassurance they are fine and continue to live on after death.

Dragonfly Meaning Death Symbolic
The symbolism of a dragonfly and death is a commonly held belief. Many people believe the dragonfly serves as a conduit that can connect them to the spirit world. This makes the dragonfly a symbol of communication with the dead.

Significance of Dragonfly in World Cultures
The spiritual significance of a dragonfly is often seen as a sign of soul evolution. The dragonfly is a symbol of advancement and transformation of the soul after death. It is viewed as a physical demonstration that the person has ascended Earthly trappings, making it a symbol of rebirth.

Native American Spirituality and Dragonfly
This type of transformation is seen in some Native American mythology. The Native American spirituality observes dragonflies as the transformation of a loved one's soul. The dragonflies are the physical manifestation of Earthly souls transcending into spirit form and assuming the mystical appearance of a dragonfly. Whether the dragonfly is actually a physical creature, or a form of the spirit is debated.

Reassurance by Visit From Dragonfly
Regardless if the dragonfly is a physical insect or a spirit, its appearance signifies the person exists after death. When a Native American is visited by a dragonfly soon after the death of a loved one, it is taken as a good omen their loved one's soul lives on. Eventually, the soul of the deceased will feel it has reassured loved ones of its well-being and will then ascend into the next plane of existence.

Chinese Culture and Importance of Dragonflies
For other cultures, like China, the dragonfly takes on a more god-like meaning related to death. In ancient China, the emperors were believed to be direct descendants of dragons. The dragonfly became a symbol of these deities/emperors and emerged as a good luck symbol in the ancient art form known as feng shui. The mystique of dragonflies is prominent throughout Asian cultures.

Spiritual Visitation
Being visited by a dragonfly can reveal secret messages from the spirit world. These hidden messages are often sent by the deceased. In some instances, the appearance of a dragonfly signifies a visit from a god or Demi-god.

Old World Dragonfly Bad Omen
In many Old World cultures, the dragonfly often had a more sinister symbolism. Many European cultures feared the dragonfly was the devil's horse, or more aptly the devil had taken on the dragonfly shape. This fear also made the dragonfly a symbol of black magic and death.

~ Sally Painter ~

Art by Kimberley Leahey

06/10/2025

https://www.nysenate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2025/brad-hoylman-sigal/new-york-state-will-make-history-passing-medical

NEW YORK - State Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal (D, WFP-Manhattan) joined advocates in Albany today to celebrate the State Senate passing the Medical Aid in Dying Act (S.138/A.136) later today, the first time this has happened since the legislation was first introduced in 2016.

06/09/2025

Space is limited. Please RSVP.

COMING IN JULY!
You must RSVP as space is limited.
FREE for Princeton residents (feel free to make a donation, of course) and $100 for non-residents. Materials included.

06/07/2025

Some argue that for humanists, grief is not a deficit, but a moral opportunity. Without promises of eternal reward or reunion, the finality of death can sharpen our sense of what matters and deepen our gratitude for the time we have.

“In some ways, grief without illusion is more painful,” says Dr. Townsend. “But it can also be more profound. It invites us to face reality as it is and to cherish our connections while they last.”

"Grief, like love, needs no god to be sacred."

06/06/2025

“As with any other form of grief, it’s important to recognise that the individual needs to process their emotions at their own pace. The most sensitive thing you can do in these circumstances is respect the loss as you would any other – don’t expect the griever to ‘get over it’ quicker than the loss of a person. In most cases, they will truly have shared a bond with their pet, and have potentially spent more quality time with them than even friends or family members, which can make it incredibly hard to come to terms with. It’s not just the loss itself, but a complete life upheaval, impacting their entire routine and home life. Grief is an ebb and flow process, with no rules on how long they should feel a particular way.”

The bond between a pet and their owner can be incomparable. Here are nine tips on how you can support a loved one going through pet loss grief

06/04/2025

SAVE THE DATE!