Learning How to Communicate With Your Spirit Guide

By Jason Alej


It doesn't matter if you are someone who believes in the supernatural or not. More than likely you have a spirit guide. It is a commonly recognised concept that everyone has some type of guide that aids you throughout the ups and downs or life. It could be someone you knew in a past life, someone you lost in this life who has come to help, or someone you may never have met that feels an otherworldly connection with you. Your spirit guide could even be someone that is trying to teach you an important life lesson or wants help with something they need to finish in this world.

It is important for you to learn how to connect with you spirit guide so that you can get the most out of what they are trying to tell you. Communicating with your guide is fairly easy and you are probably already doing it even though you were unaware of it. If you know how to connect with your guide, you will easily see how their advice can help you move in the right direction and improve your life. In a way, it could be like picking up the phone and calling your parents for advice.

To really communicate with your voice, start by paying attention to and heeding your intuition and those gut feelings that you get but you can't explain. Everyone has that little voice in the back of their head telling you to slow down when you are driving or to make sure that you have enough gasoline in your car in case of that predicted storm is usually your spirit guide talking to you. The gut feeling that you get that lets you know that something isn't quite right is a nonverbal communication. You've had these feelings before but never knew what they meant even if you followed them. Those feelings came from your spirit guide, warning you and guiding you to make the right choice.

Sometimes spirit guides will give you a sign that will help guide you in the direction you need to go. These signs could range from an interesting license plate to an article in the newspaper about something that is close to your heart. You may not realise that it has something to do with it until you start to pay more attention to the things around you and the signs that are there. Spirit guides will communicate with you in their own way as long as you are open to what they have to say and how they say it.

One of the best ways to communicate with your guide is by simple meditation. As you relax into a meditative state and open up your mind to your guide, you may begin to find them joining you. You could carry on a full conversation with your spirit guide during your meditation and when you come back to the real world, you will have answers to

The online psychic provides articles, insight, tips and opinions onquestions you didn't even know you were asking. Your spirit guide could also manifest this way in your dreams. Don't focus too much on trying to remember the dream or what they said. You will remember when the time is right.

It takes time and practice to communicate with your spirit guide. Don't get frustrated. Give yourself a chance to establish the lines of communication. Once you do, you will find that your spirit guide is a good friend that won't steer you wrong. various today's spiritual subjects, including tarot.

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For more information, you might enjoy reading my book, More Than Meets the Eye True Stories about Death, Dying, and Afterlife. Purchase paperback on Amazon.com. It's also on Amazon as an e-book for those who have Kindle or Sony Readers. The audio book is now available!
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The Benefits of Creating Good Memories

By Dora Carpenter

I spent time recently with my two beautiful children doing nothing. Oh, how precious. What is doing nothing? Nothing for us meant spending time together with no distractions. No distractions of driving, restaurants, amusement parks, crowds of people, shopping centers, beaches, or holiday activities. What did we do? We spent quality time together. Talking, sharing, reliving childhood memories, laughing, joking, and crying. Unconsciously, we temporarily forgot the outside world, the time of day, the situations of life. We were creating good memories for the future.

Often, at funerals and memorial services, we learn things about a person we never knew; and, wish we had gotten to know the person more deeply. We wish we had spent more quality time with them, and created more good memories. Not having, or taking, the opportunity to do so can bring on guilt, one of the deepest emotions of grief. Guilt because of things you didn't do, things you wanted to do, things you couldn't do. In order to move forward with this emotion of grief, begin to look at your own life. Determine what things you can do with family and friends to begin, or continue, creating good memories.

Make quality time a priority on your schedule for family and friends. You will be so glad that you did. Here is an exercise to get you started:

Set aside several hours to dedicate to this exercise. Schedule a time that will work for you and whomever you choose to spend this quality time with, i.e., a family member, close friend, friend you haven't spoken to in a while, a mentor, etc. Set the parameters for this time so both of you agree. I suggest the following:

• No cell phones, iPads, etc.
• A place away from home or office to allow for no distractions
• No time constraints to rush ending the time together
• No uninvited guests allowed

Well, I'm sure you get the point. I am willing to bet that many will find this exercise difficult to do, especially if you adhere to the "no cell phone" parameter.

Remember that each day you are creating a legacy for the family and friends that you will one day leave behind. Why not make a decision to leave them many good memories?

I would love to hear your results. How did you feel after the exercise? Will you do it again? Why or why not?

Statistics show that it normally takes 5-8 years to recover from a devastating loss. Dora Carpenter, Certified Grief Coach, Certified Life Coach, and founder of The ANIYA Group Life Coaching Center, says it doesn't have to take that long. Her grief coaching practice offers hope, encouragement and support. In her book, "The Grief to Gratitude Blueprint... What to Do When Death Occurs," Dora gives tips on 24-72 hours following a death... and beyond. Download her book at http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0098B86XU. Read more about Dora at http://www.DoraCarpenter.com.

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For more information, you might enjoy reading my book, More Than Meets the Eye True Stories about Death, Dying, and Afterlife. Purchase paperback on Amazon.com. It's also on Amazon as an e-book for those who have Kindle or Sony Readers. The audio book is now available!
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Caregiving For Elderly Parents - Managing Money Issues

By Sharon Elrod

Many seniors have elderly parents for whom they provide caregiving. Senior citizens are helping each other when they talk about their various experiences with aging parents. These are some conversations recently observed among seniors talking about parenting their parents.

One had an aging parent in a nursing home in another city. On their behalf, they recently sold some property from an estate for which they were a beneficiary. The funds were then deposited in an account to be used exclusivly for the parent. The procedure was then explained to the parent, whereupon they stated that they expected the funds to be deposited in a local bank account, so they "...can write checks" to use the money. This elderly parent has a slight cognitive impairment and medical reports from several different offices have noted her poor judgment and inability to do effective reality testing over the past decade; she was also recently a victim of an identity theft scam that left her totally perplexed about how she was victimized. She hasn't had access to a checking account for several years, and it became the editor's job to determine how he would handle this situation with his mother.

He decided to write a letter to his mother detailing how the funds were reserved for her use, and why he would remain in control of them, which in effect meant she would not have direct access to the money. He asked her to keep the letter so when she had questions about why she couldn't write checks on the account, she could refer to the letter for a detailed explanation. The letter was written in kind and loving tones, using simple language she could easily understand. He expects to hear questions from her about the funds, and he will both answer the questions as well as refer her to the letter that explains the entire process. He is credited with maintaining a loving and supportive relationship with his mother throughout his life, never giving her any reason to doubt his intentions with relationship to her.

Another senior citizen is dealing with an aging parent who managed his own financial affairs until just the past couple of months. He is severely cognitively impaired and unable to remember anything beyond a few seconds. Long term memory is somewhat better, but even details are confused when he relates a memory from years ago. Over several months, it became clear to the editor and her siblings that he was unable to manage his various investments alone and, in fact, there was some concern about the possibility of identity theft and being a victim of scams on the elderly. She knew action had to be taken sooner rather than later.

She and her siblings agreed they would ask him to voluntarily execute the power of attorney he had prepared several decades ago, realizing that if he did not agree, they would be faced with having him declared mentally incompetent-a place none of them wanted to go. When approached about the POA, he readily agreed to execute it, which now allows two of them to participate in all financial decisions that must be made on his behalf. The siblings are credited with maintaining a loving relationship with him over eight decades which was likely the basis for him feeling comfortable with signing the document.

On the surface, these two experiences have very little in common. However, the seniors discussing the issue agreed they learned an important lesson in caregiving for elderly parents: There aren't any 'rules' for how to deal with financial issues with elderly parents. Each situation must be carefully evaluated, taking in to account all the dynamics and variables that affect where the parent is at a given point in time, knowing that can change in the future. The best advice coming from the discussion is to act from a position of love and caregiving for one's parent, evaluating medical, social, environmental, mental, emotional, psychological realities of the parent, and then asking yourselves how you would want your child/children to act if you were the one receiving care.

Article provided by Sharon Shaw Elrod. Senior Citizen Journal, Your Partner in Productive Aging, provides current and relevant information on topics of interest to seniors. Please visit my web site at http://www.seniorcitizenjournal.com/.

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For more information, you might enjoy reading my book, More Than Meets the Eye True Stories about Death, Dying, and Afterlife. Purchase paperback on Amazon.com. It's also on Amazon as an e-book for those who have Kindle or Sony Readers. The audio book is now available!
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How Angels Help With Communicating With the Dead

By Steve G. Jones

Communicating with the dead can be a complicated process. Some people choose to hire professional psychics or mediums such as the ghost whisperer John Edwards. But that route can be expensive and though it may may take more time and patience, you can communicate with the dead on your own - well, with a little help from your angels!

The first thing to remember when seeking to communicate with the dead is that you want to come from a place of love and light. This is where your angels can come into to help you. Your angels are nothing but love and light and protection so it makes perfect sense to ask them assist you on your quest to communicate with departed loved ones or spirits.

The first step is to write down in a letter your purpose for wanting to communicate. To do this find a quiet space in your house, light some incense and candles. Relax with a few deep breaths and then begin by writing down the name of person that has passed on you are hoping to communicate with, any questions that you want to ask them and any other information you are hoping to gather from your session. End your letter by asking your angels for their assistance in this endeavor, ask them to surround you with love and light during the whole process and be sure to thank them in advance for their love and protection.

Once you are ready to begin your session you can call on your own guardian angels. We are all born with multiple guardian angels that were assigned to us and only us to stay with us throughout our lives and provide protection and guidance. You can call on them by simply asking aloud or in your head for them to come be by your side and they will. You may not be able to see them but trust that they are there. After calling on your own guardian angels for protection and assistance I would also ask for the guidance of an archangel. You can pick anyone that you desire as they are all powerful protectors and messengers, but if you are unsure the one I would recommend calling on first is the Archangel Gabriel. She is a powerful archangel entrusted with many duties, but among them is the ability to help us receive visions. She assists us when we are blocked spiritually, and helps us to receive messages or visions, including those from our loved ones that have passed on. To call on her is as simple as calling on your own guardian angels, just ask for her and she will be by your side.

Now that you have written down your purpose for communicating with dead and called on your angels for guidance and protection you are ready to begin your session. Simply find a quiet space to relax, light a few white candles and begin by reading your letter aloud, then trust your inner voice and begin your journey towards communicating with the dead.

Steve G. Jones is a board certified Clinical Hypnotherapist. He is a member of the National Guild of Hypnotists, American Board of Hypnotherapy, president of the American Alliance of Hypnotists, on the board of directors of the Los Angeles chapter of the American Lung Association, and director of the California state registered Steve G. Jones School of Hypnotherapy. In order to keep up with the very latest in research, he regularly attends training conferences. Learn more by visiting:

http://www.betterlivingwithhypnosis.com/

Learn more about in Steve G. Jone's guide for astral projection

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For more information, you might enjoy reading my book, More Than Meets the Eye True Stories about Death, Dying, and Afterlife. Purchase paperback on Amazon.com. It's also on Amazon as an e-book for those who have Kindle or Sony Readers. The audio book is now available!
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Planning Funeral Arrangements

By Jason Ellis

Unless your loved one left detailed instructions on the type of funeral, it is up to you and other family members to decide on the most appropriate way to put your loved one to rest. The decision might be guided by his or her religious affiliation, or simply by financial means. Sometimes, you have to take into consideration the personality and passions of your loved one. For example, if he or she was avid environmentalist, traditional funeral is not a good option.

Most people opt for traditional funeral, but before deciding on that you should explore the options. Traditional funerals are by far the most expensive kind. Count to spend at least $10,000 and probably much more. Other options are not only cheaper, but are more environmentally friendly and make more sense.

Donating body to the medical science means that the entire body will be used by teaching hospitals. In most cases, it is free and the hospital takes care of the removal of the body, embalming and later cremation. This is a good option if your loved one ever expressed interest in it, if he or she had particular affiliation with some hospital or if you and the rest of the family believe that it makes sense that the body can continue to contribute to the society even after death. If interested in this option, get in touch with the local teaching hospital and ask them for details.

Cremation is another affordable option. If your state has a Cremation Society, they can arrange to take the body directly to the crematory. The cost is about $500. If you let the local funeral home take care of the cremation, the cost will be much higher.

You can arrange for a cremation even if you opted for a traditional funeral service, with viewing, embalming and the whole costly set. Some state legislations require that the cremation is arranged through a funeral home.

It is good to know that, according to the US law, the body can be cremated in a shroud, or a simple biodegradable box which is not a coffin, for a very small fee.

You do not have to accept the urn that your funeral home offers. If you decide to keep the ashes of your loved one, you can find a nice vase, urn or ginger jar that you will enjoy having in your home. Alternative is to scatter the ashes over the sea, in the park or in the garden, as your loved one would have wished.

Green burial is gaining popularity, especially among the more environmentally conscious people. The bodies are buried in shallow graves in special Green Cemeteries, without the embalming and in simple, biodegradable boxes. The graves are often marked with GPS or a flat stone, or with a tree or plant, so that the place can be visited later.

Some funeral homes now offer green burials in regular cemeteries, but the costs are much higher.

A Home funeral means that the entire process is done at home. There is no embalming

of the body, so appropriate refrigeration with dry ice has to be ensured. This consideration also makes home funeral faster than in the funeral home.

Home funerals are legal in most states and are traditional in many cultures. They allow family to say good-bye to the loved one in a very personal way.

Home funerals are also much cheaper than public funerals in funeral homes, what can be an important consideration in difficult financial times.

Traditional funerals are still the most popular in spite of the exorbitant costs, because of their familiarity. Traditional funerals are organized by funeral homes, who offer to take the body, embalm it, and prepare it for viewing, service and burial.

Funeral service can be religious or non-religious. If it is not religious, you are free to organize it the way you believe your loved one would want it, with friends and family sharing their memories, with the music he or she loved.

Don't forget that the funeral service is actually for the living, the departed loved one is past caring. It is the time and place to offer comfort, share the grief and celebrate life. It is an important part of the grief process.

Chances are you're undergoing some turbulent emotions at this time, planning a memorial service or a funeral. Remember, you're currently going through the 5 grief stages so try not to add any additional stress into your life at this time.
 

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For more information, you might enjoy reading my book, More Than Meets the Eye True Stories about Death, Dying, and Afterlife. Purchase paperback on Amazon.com. It's also on Amazon as an e-book for those who have Kindle or Sony Readers. The audio book is now available!
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Belief in the Afterlife - What Does Heaven Look Like?

By Hanna Kounov

I have been meditating extensively over the last months about the Afterlife and what that means to me. I know that one day I will leave this Earth Walk and return to the Source to be re-born again to learn, grow and become ever more connected to Spirit. It is a shame in a way that I will not recall my current life however but should my Soul feel the same pull towards Spirit as it has during this Earth Walk I am sure to be okay. Perhaps if I did remember the last life time it might stunt my growth in the next. Who can be sure.

This is my belief system... that my Soul will choose to leave this life and will choose to come back again and again until I don't need to do so anymore. What makes my Soul decide that it doesn't need to come back anymore... I can only speculate.

Not everyone believes the same thing I do. Does that make what I believe wrong - or for that matter is what they believe wrong? I don't think so.

During my last meditation I had a definite moment of clarity. Everyone's Afterlife is what they believe it to be! If you believe in heaven... then that is the Afterlife you will have. If you believe in Reincarnation then that will be your Afterlife experience etc.

Why not? Spirit can do anything in the Universe... maybe Spirit is the Universe and of course there is always the chance that there are parallel alternate Universes. Wow the mind boggles!!

If we just keep it simple I think I can say with certainty that we get what we believe. Our minds are the most powerful tool we have while we are alive. It can make or break us with its rhetoric. If we believe we can make things happen, even miracles, or we can ruin everything with a single negative thought. So therefore if we believe that we are going to go to heaven then that is what we shall receive. Spirit would not allow us to have such conviction and then give us something we never expected.

As a believer in Spirit I hesitate to consider what atheists will experience. I am not sure what they expect to receive; nothing? Is that what they will receive? I doubt it. I believe they will receive a chance to return and do it all again and hopefully in that life connect with Spirit after all we are given the choice every Earth Walk to do just that. I think it raises some interesting questions that I will have to meditate on further...

It is really anyone's guess...

Love and Light

Hanna Kounov is certified Psychotherapist, Author, International Speaker and Guide. 

 Hanna explains her coaching approach as follows: "As a certified Psychotherapist it became clear to me that standard Western medicine seems to address illness by applying a band-aid to trauma. This led me to open up to other ideas and "new" ancient ways of healing the body, mind, emotions and spirit. To that end I have embraced, and will continue to study Shamanism. Shamanism is a natural extension that connects seamlessly with my Intuitive Coaching style".

Hanna is a spiritual seeker and since the first fledgling steps that propelled her on her journey she has altered her attitude towards life, love and the pursuit of happiness. Find out more at: Website: http://www.hannadejager.com LinkeIn: http://ca.linkedin.com/pub/hanna-kounov/44/14b/532

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For more information, you might enjoy reading my book, More Than Meets the Eye True Stories about Death, Dying, and Afterlife. Purchase paperback on Amazon.com. It's also on Amazon as an e-book for those who have Kindle or Sony Readers. The audio book is now available!
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How To Help Your Child Cope With The Death Of Their Dog

By Gina M Dawson

One of my most vivid memories as a child was facing the death of my dog. When I discovered that an accident had killed my dog, my childhood mind was glad that my beloved companion was in heaven. I was happy that he had found eternal rest. My aunt and sisters scolded me when they found that I wasn't upset and crying. They told me that death was a sad time. In truth, as a child, I felt that I was seeing things very clearly. I would tell my childhood self that it is okay that I saw my dog as being with God.

I know that there is a better way to help your child through the death of their pet. Many of us don't know what to do when our child's dog dies. We often react and take the first action that comes to mind. Instead, may I suggest, that there is a better way. Planning for such a life changing event can help your child learn to deal with death. Learning early to face the passing of a pet will help them face the loss of a grandma, or parent, or sibling.

First recognize that the pet is gone. Avoiding the trauma by replacing their dog with another puppy is not the answer. He is not ready for a new puppy, and this will bring on more confusion. Let your child know that the pet has died. Explain that it is okay, and that we can say goodbye to their beloved pet. Let the child see the dog and know that life has left its body. Explain that their pet has died and is not coming back. If you believe in heaven, let the child know that the dog has gone to heaven, and that everything is okay. Reassure your child that it is not their fault that the pet is gone. Many times children will make it their fault that something bad has happened.

Second give your child time to say goodbye. Having a funeral for his pet will give your child a chance to come to terms with what has happened. This will allow him to go through the grief process. Don't rush your child in how he should feel about the death of his dog. It might take some time for him to get over the loss. Time spent missing his dog will allow him to learn to deal with death. This is a lesson that he will take with him throughout his life.

Third, allow time to pass before introducing another dog into the family. Avoid rushing into the relationship with another pet. A rebound effect, such as rejection of the new dog, or not bonding with the new dog, will occur. Causing a strained relationship with the new dog.

Finally, accept the way that your child wants to mourn the loss. Projection of your feelings on how your think a child should morn will prevent your child from learning to sort through his feelings. If he is happy that their dog is in heaven, let him be happy. Tears can always come later when he is ready.

Visit our website and blog for all the helpful dog hints you need to keep your dog and children healthy and happy. Gina Dawson is the owner of dawsondogs.com the one stop source for all your pets needs.

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For more information, you might enjoy reading my book, More Than Meets the Eye True Stories about Death, Dying, and Afterlife. Purchase paperback on Amazon.com. It's also on Amazon as an e-book for those who have Kindle or Sony Readers. The audio book is now available!
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Death and Burial in America: Going Out in Style

By Janice Doyle

Dying in the United States is an $11 billion industry - with even Walmart and Costco offering caskets today. More and more creative entrepreneurs are looking into the great beyond and turning the afterlife into a booming aftermarket.

But it's been hard coming. The industry has been very change resistant. In past decades when a family member died, funeral plans basically followed in the way parents had done funerals before.

In 1963, Jessica Mitford wrote The American Way of Death which attacked the funeral industry's unscrupulous business practices to take advantage of grieving families. The book became a major bestseller and led to Congressional hearings on the funeral industry. And things began to change.

What has happened in the funeral industry since then?

The number one change, everyone agrees, has been cremation as an alternative to the now $7,500 average cost of a traditional burial. For example, nearly 50 percent of all deceased in Florida are cremated (in Lee County 65%). In Japan and the Scandinavian countries percentages reach as high as 95%.

Cremation has brought its own industry. Undertakers have now developed every sort of way to upgrade and upsell cremation. From fancy caskets and fancy funerals of traditional burials, people may turn to cremation and a memorial service - and maybe more.

Whichever way a person chooses, today's consumer wants things done his own way, with special touches for the occasion of a loved one's dying, according to the National Funeral Director's Association's website.

Want to go "green" and bequeath yourself literally to the dirt with a "natural burial"? Eternal Rest Memories Park in Dunedin, Florida, offers that option.

Or go green in a Kinkaraco Green Burial Shroud with pockets for mementos and a stiff backboard and handles for lowering the body. (Would that be "mort couture"?)

Ashes, Ashes, What to do?

Cremation used to be simple. Have Grandma cremated and put her ashes in a box on the shelf. Now the sky (or the sea, or the forest) is the limit as to where your cremains may be placed.

Cremation uses heat, vaporization and flame to reduce the body to its basic elements. In Florida, this process costs from $1,000 to $5,000 depending on the level of luxury afforded by the funeral home itself.

Then, someone gets the ashes. Now what?

They can be scattered, kept in a box, made into a diamond ($3,500 - $20,000 at LifeGem.com) or launched into space ($600 for an up and back trip or $12,500 to be dropped on the moon). Ashes can be added to planting soil or made into pencil lead.

Jason Rew offers the Great Burial Reef option, an opportunity to actually help create life. His Bradenton, Florida, company offers a multi-tier-shaped urn made of concrete mixed with six special natural ingredients to create a coralized texture.

Once the 60-pound urn is put on the ocean floor, little fish and marine animals find the nooks and crannies and hide there, creating a new living space under water.

Families from all over have brought or sent loved one's cremains to one of the company's four ports of call (Sarasota, Chesapeake Bay, Miami and Boston). The cremains are sealed in the urn, put aboard a boat and taken three miles offshore where the urn is lowered into the water.

The company will ship the $1000 basic sealable Living Urn anywhere in the world and families can find a spot in any ocean for placement.

Well, what about all those shoeboxes and envelopes with ashes in them?

The National Funeral Directors Association estimates there are 7 to 11 million urns and boxes sitting in houses because no one knows what to do with the cremains. Rew says, "Get Grandma off the shelf and let your ancestor create life in one of our urns."

Folks are looking for alternatives and entrepreneurs - like Great Burial Reef - are giving them what they want, which is a good thing for the industry.

And no matter how hard a funeral director might put his foot down and think that a Star Trek casket or urn is tacky, the fact is, if someone wants to go out as a Trekkie, the Internet now lets you make it happen.

"The funeral industry has been very staid and traditional," says Rew. It's an industry that others say was the last industry to be dragged kicking and screaming into the 21st century.

But it's being reinvented, sometimes one death at a time.
 

The author is a free lance writer and editor in Florida specializing in senior issues, relationships, healthy lifestyle and travel.
 

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For more information, you might enjoy reading my book, More Than Meets the Eye True Stories about Death, Dying, and Afterlife. Purchase paperback on Amazon.com. It's also on Amazon as an e-book for those who have Kindle or Sony Readers. The audio book is now available!
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Caregiving For Elderly Parents - Decision-Making

By Sharon Elrod

Caregiving for elderly parents is an increasingly searched topic on the Internet. Many of us seniors are caring for our elderly parents, some in their own homes, and some in senior living residences such as assisted living and nursing homes. No matter the living accommodations, we have the same issues to consider as we care for our loved ones. 'Loved ones' means we may be talking about our parent(s), extended elderly family members (aunts and uncles) or close elderly friends for whom we have accepted care and responsibility in their last years.

The gamut of decision making options is available to you and others with whom you may share caregiving.. How do you decide how decision-making is handled? How much to you control, and how much does the elderly parent/relative control?
 These are some guidelines that you may find helpful as you continue on this journey:

• Always include the elder in as much decision-making as is possible given their unique situation with regard to cognitive functioning, safety issues, emotional state, physical condition, economics and practicality.
• Dad may want to make a 1500 mile road trip, but at 94, he can't find the wind shield wipers in the car. So you try to help him understand why he cannot make the trip, and explore other possibilities for going where he wants to go.
• Mother may want to cook three meals a day, but her shoulder injury from a recent fall prohibits her from being able to lift a pan from the cupboard to the stove. So you talk with her about options for meals including a delivery service (e.g., Meals on Wheels or a private in-home delivery service, depending upon economics).
• Aunt Isabel was found walking along side a country road over a mile from her farm house. It was raining. The sheriff deputy knew her and you, and she called you to come get your Aunt. Her Alzheimer's had progressed to the point that you finally had to make the decision to place her in a Memory Care Unit in the local Assisted Living Facility. She needed care and couldn't make the decision for herself. It was up to you to decide on her behalf because she could not participate.
• During your weekly visit with your father, in his own home, he tells you he wants only a private family burial service when he dies. He does not want a church service, nor anything in the funeral home. Although he has serious dementia, you believe he has thought this through and this is his choice. You honor his choice when he dies.
• Your aunt and uncle, ages 92 and 91, are still driving. You are aware of the safety issues as well as their need to remain as independent as possible. You talk with them about both safety and independence, and try to strike a bargain with them offering to drive them to appointments, grocery shopping and other transport needs. If economics allow and if they agree, you hire a private driving service if you are unable to do the driving for them. If economics do not allow, and if they agree, you strike agreements with two or three other family members to take turns driving for them. If they do not agree, you may need the assistance of a physician (neurologist?) to determine whether or not safe driving is still an option-particularly if you have reason to believe they are not safe driving.

The operative thought here is to include the elder in as much decision-making as is reasonable and possible given their unique set of life circumstances.

Article provided by Sharon Shaw Elrod. Senior Citizen Journal, Your Partner in Productive Aging, provides current and relevant information on topics of interest to seniors. Please visit my web site at http://www.seniorcitizenjournal.com/.

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For more information, you might enjoy reading my book, More Than Meets the Eye True Stories about Death, Dying, and Afterlife. Purchase paperback on Amazon.com. It's also on Amazon as an e-book for those who have Kindle or Sony Readers. The audio book is now available!
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Creating an Online Memorial Website Can Help With Grief and Bereavement

By Mark Dubray

Coping with the loss of a loved one and the grief that ensues can be overwhelming and sometimes difficult to manage. Death is one unavoidable certainty that we can expect in one's lifetime but that we rarely think about on a regular basis. So when it does occur, we are sometimes unprepared. This can cause a lot of stress in a person's life, and they may not know how to deal with it.

Bereavement from losing a loved one can be one of the most stressful events in a person's life. Stress, especially if persistent in nature, can affect a person's well-being and lead to serious health problems that may disturb multiple organ systems. The digestive, immune, cardiovascular and nervous systems may all be afflicted and lead to potential life threatening conditions such as bleeding ulcers, chronic infections, depression, diabetes, and heart disease. If a person does not address their grief and the stress associated with it, it may alter their overall health status for the worse.

With the advent of the internet, more people are using online means to seek out social support and facilitate the grieving process. One such medium is an online memorial website, where people can create a profile to commemorate a deceased loved one. Memorial websites can help to honor the legacy of loved ones through contributions from other people from around the globe. Photos, videos, and messages are some of the features that can be shared by family and friends and thus a place to preserve these memories for future generations to enjoy.

Online memorials have become a beneficial platform for those in mourning by allowing access to support from family and friends. Sharing meaningful memories of the deceased with others can help to initiate positive emotions. Research has shown that conjuring positive emotions and a strong social support network during times of grief can help reduce the effects of both chronic and acute stress, as well as allow a person to recover from grief faster.

Benefits of creating an online memorial:

1. It can give unlimited access to a support network of family and friends from all over the world.
2. It can help bring out positive emotions and, therefore, reduce stress and heal faster.
3. It can be a place to preserve favorite memories of a loved one through shared comments, photos and videos.
4. It can allow a bereaved individual to discuss their feelings, at any time of the day, with people who may be dealing with a similar grief.
5. It can be a place to create a family tree to be passed on to future generations.

It should be noted that in certain circumstances, such as with a sudden or traumatic death of a loved one, how a person copes can vary from person-to-person. At some point, there may be a need for professional intervention.

MemoryChestMemorials.com is an online memorial website that offers interactive memorial profiles to commemorate a loved one forever. It also donates a portion of its proceeds to a variety of charities.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mark_Dubray
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7453437

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For more information, you might enjoy reading my book, More Than Meets the Eye True Stories about Death, Dying, and Afterlife. Purchase paperback on Amazon.com. It's also on Amazon as an e-book for those who have Kindle or Sony Readers. The audio book is now available!
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Caregiver Stress - 6 Tips to Avoid Burning Out

By Martin R. Sabel

Taking care of an elderly parent can be a Jekyll and Hyde experience for family caregivers.
On the one hand providing care to an aging parent can be very rewarding. It brings the caregiver adult child and their parent closer together. On the other hand, increasing responsibilities ramp up caregiver stress and heightens tension within the family. Anxiety and worry increase when the caregiver is maintaining a job, caring for his or her own children, leads an active social life, and must travel to care for the elderly relative.

The tasks of caregiving - running errands, cooking, cleaning, home maintenance, taking your mom or dad to doctors - appointments often exacts both an emotional and physical toll on the caregiver. In fact the pressures of caregiving are so great that 58% of caregivers show symptoms of clinical depression.

Pay attention to how you are feeling. To be an effective caregiver to your aging parent means staying alert to the warning signs of excess stress. Some of the common signs of caregiver stress include:

• Feelings of sadness
• Moodiness
• Excessive crying
• Low energy
• Feeling isolate
• Difficulty sleeping
• Over and under eating
• Withdrawal from family and/or friends
• Excessive wait gain or loss
• Anger towards the care recipient or other family members

These signs are leading indicators of depression. Depression impacts not only your ability to care for someone else, it harms your mental and physical health, too. If you feel you need more help, you're not alone. According to a study by Home Instead, the national in-home, elderly companionship and home care company, three out of every ten family caregivers agree they could use more help.

Six Tips That Manage Stress and Avoid Caregiver Burnout

1. Hire professional, non-medical caregiving assistance to give you important relief from the daily demands on you.
2. Ask your family and friends to help. It's less expensive than hiring someone and you know the qualify of care your parent will get.
3. Get informed about your elderly parents condition. Contact disease specific support groups. They offer a wealth of information to help you understand what is happening to your loved one and what to expect in the future. Most have active caregiver support groups that can help you better cope with increasing stress.
4. Get your loved one assessed. A geriatric care manager can provide an accurate needs assessment of your loved one. Doing so extends your caregiving abilities, can conserve family resources, and often helps prevent the need of a nursing home.
5. Learn stress-management exercises such as yoga or tai-chi. The exercise is good for your overall health and the emphasis on inner balance and relaxation is good for your mental well-being.
6. Take a break. Caring for an elderly parent is a job. Getting away from the daily grind allows you to recharge yourself. Make arrangements to take a few days off and arrange for help with family and friends, volunteers from church or professional caregivers.

Caregiver burnout is avoidable. To manage caregiver stress requires proactively taking care of yourself while taking care of your aging parent.

With the right information, you can reduce caregiver stress, keep your life in balance, save money and get better care for your elderly parents. To help you reduce the anxiety of caring for an elderly parent, I invite you to instantly access my FREE Weekly Eldercare Advisor. You'll discover both practical caregiving strategies and important resources for taking care of elderly parents without bankrupting yourself emotionally or financially.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Martin_R._Sabel
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/3746282

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For more information, you might enjoy reading my book, More Than Meets the Eye True Stories about Death, Dying, and Afterlife. Purchase paperback on Amazon.com. It's also on Amazon as an e-book for those who have Kindle or Sony Readers. The audio book is now available!
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Three Reasons Why Green Cemeteries Are a Better Choice

By Will Dunham

Green cemeteries are quickly catching on in popularity among people who are planning their end-of-life process. To date, there are around 200 tracts of land that have been developed as green cemeteries in the United States alone. There are also such natural burial grounds being developed in other countries across Europe.

There are many reasons why natural burial is growing in popularity. Many people have now even begun to consider them as a better choice to traditional burials. Three of the most important reasons why green cemeteries are a better choice than burial in traditional cemeteries are listed below.

1. Burial in these cemeteries is more inexpensive than traditional plots. It usually takes thousands of dollars to fund a traditional burial. The family of the deceased will have to spend on pricey bronze caskets complete with trimmings, a plot of land in a cemetery, the concrete vault that will hold the casket, the headstone, and other things needed for a burial. The costs for these can add up to thousands of dollars.

Burial in green cemeteries, by comparison, often costs only a fraction of how much it takes to be buried in a traditional cemetery. Caskets and burial vaults are not needed. Also, instead of headstones, administrators of green cemeteries usually require planting a tree over the grave.

2. Burial in green cemeteries are environment-friendly. Bronze caskets and their metallic trimmings, the concrete vault, the headstone and other things needed for a traditional burial make use of non-renewable resources. These non-renewable resources are also non-biodegradable. In addition, the embalming process in traditional burials makes use of chemicals that can be toxic to the environment.

On the other hand, these cemeteries do not require the use of caskets or concrete vaults. If a casket is to be used in burying the body, it should be made of a material that is biodegradable. More often than not, a shroud is all that is needed for the burial. Also, the use of toxic embalming fluids is highly discouraged in natural burials so they would not seep into the ground.

3. Burial in green cemeteries promote the natural cycle of life. Even Christians, who first promoted the now traditional casket burials, believe that we will all return to the ashes from which we were made when we die. More than just a religious phrase, the term "ashes to ashes, dust to dust" refers to the natural cycle of life.

We are meant to return to the earth when we die so that our bodies can help in supporting new life. Supporting new life is what we do when we choose to be buried in green cemeteries. Many people believe that this is a much more meaningful end to a life.

There are many green burial choices available. The most important decision is whether the person will have a burial or be cremated. If the person is buried will it be traditional or in a green cemetery. If cremated will their ashes be scattered or buried. Scattering ashes [http://www.scatteringashes.net] is a wonderful route for a memorial service. By choosing cremation, the person has already chosen a more green route than traditional burial. The burial urn is not so much the issue, as burial of a metal casket and toxins are a not good for the environment. I hope this had given you soon useful information. Thank you for reading.
 

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Will_Dunham
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/2898967
 
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For more information, you might enjoy reading my book, More Than Meets the Eye True Stories about Death, Dying, and Afterlife. Purchase paperback on Amazon.com. It's also on Amazon as an e-book for those who have Kindle or Sony Readers. The audio book is now available!
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After-Death Communications - Receiving Messages From the Deceased

By Deborah Heneghan

When a loved one dies, they typically visit us shortly after their death. Some call this an after death communication; I call it a rock star moment. This is your personal Big Bang moment with your deceased loved one. But, please don't despair if you've never experienced a rock star sign. Some people never do, or some receive these signs years later. Personally, my biggest rock star moment was seeing my sister in my bedroom soon after she died. This jump-started our initial communication. Maybe something similar has happened to you, but you weren't sure if it was real. Perhaps you worry that you blew your big moment, that your window of communication has closed. Not the case. You can start any time by merely saying to your loved one on the other side: I miss you. I'm thinking about you. Are you okay? I'm here. Send me a sign. Let them know that you're feeling excited, happy, tired, angry, depressed. Whatever particular mood you're in, share it. Ask (for signs) and you shall receive.

Invite your loved one into your world. They've entered another, and may be waiting for an invitation back into yours. Trust the process, and your communication will soon flourish.

Allow me to share a rock star example for animal lovers (that's you, right?): Joyce and her family were obsessed with their only animal--a beautiful and vibrant German Shepherd, Leo. At eight years old, he contracted kidney disease. It was a quick and devastating decline that forced the family to put him down. Joyce and her mother couldn't get over it. Although they were a spiritual family and knew that it must have been "his time," and even believed they'd see him again one day, their hearts and intellects were miles apart. Nothing seemed to relieve their grief. Even a year later, Joyce's mother would cry every time she saw another big dog. They weren't letting him go, and had lost much of the joy in their family life.

When alive, Leo was 85-pounds, with a habit of thrusting his heavy frame against the sliding glass door to their dining room when he wanted inside. He'd stand on his hind legs and rock the glass back and forth with his front paws. It was a loud, bad habit, but they loved his energy and enthusiasm, and thought this was funny--marveling at how the glass didn't come crashing down.

Long after he passed, Joyce was at the house by herself, standing at the dining room table going through mail, when suddenly the sliding glass door began to rock wildly back and forth. Living in the Bay Area, she assumed they were having an earthquake and ran outside. But nothing else was moving. Something whispered to her that it was Leo; that he was trying to get her attention. She ran back inside and stared in amazement at the still-moving glass. She knew what Leo wanted. He wanted her and her mother to move forward with their lives, to stop grieving. When her mother came home, she told her what had happened, and they never mourned another day. It worked. The glass stayed silent.

Letting go of a loved one is one of the biggest challenges we'll ever face. We miss them, want to freeze them in time, and feel the comfort of their presence again. This, however, can freeze the both of you in place. Letting go makes room for evolution--of yourself, of them, and of what's meant to be. You can still communicate constantly. After all, they're with you day and night. But the grief must make way for celebration of who they were and still are. Letting them go isn't forgetting about them, it's letting their spirit fly. In turn, they're free to love, care for, and guide you.
 

To understand more about how to transform your grief in to guidance and blessings from your loved ones on the other side, and how after death communications can change your life for the better, please go to Closer Than You Think, LLC at: http://www.closerthanyouthinkthebook.com. For teleseminar and personal coaching information go to: http://www.closerthanyouthinkthebook.com/tele.html

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Deborah_Heneghan
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/4406245

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For more information, you might enjoy reading my book, More Than Meets the Eye True Stories about Death, Dying, and Afterlife. Purchase paperback on Amazon.com. It's also on Amazon as an e-book for those who have Kindle or Sony Readers. The audio book is now available!
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Pet Loss - 10 Tips to Help Soothe Heartbreak

By Sandy Rakowitz

Everyone who has animals knows at some point that they will have to face their death. Whether the death was gradual at the end of a full life or a youngster meeting an untimely death, or a sudden illness or injury prompting their passing, most of our animal's life spans are shorter than ours.

Losing a pet can be just as difficult, traumatic and heartbreaking as losing a family member, because they ARE family! This can be a delicate, tender, emotional and deeply personal time.

Everyone deals with loss in many varied ways. Whether the beloved who died was an animal or a person loss is still a loss. The fabric of daily life definitely changes with the loss of your companion and good friend. Animals bring so much comfort, security, loyalty and love. Animals have a way of reaching into our hearts so incredibly deeply.

I have had the honor of living with many animals over the years, and had to face many deaths. From cats wondering off, accidents, illnesses, and long and sweet endings, I have gotten quite a bit of 'practice' with this challenging transition.

While I don't think there is a formula for getting through loss, I have found some common things that have been helpful to soothe my heart and have helped me find my way through death and loss. For some, talking about their loss can be rather difficult and intense. I hope that these tips are helpful and inspiring.

Tips for Grieving the loss of a beloved animal;

1) Be honest about your feelings and thoughts. Know that you have the right to feel deep loss, heartache, guilt, depression, lack of emotion, denial and even anger.
2) Follow your instincts- to take time to know what you need, and to tend to your heart
3) Send prayers- for yourself, and for your animal who has passed
4) Plant a tree, flowers or a garden in memory of your beloved
5) Create a memory board and/or picture slide show or tribute video
6) Display pics around the house or create a special place to honor your loved one
7) Journal, write or draw your feelings using different colors for expressing feelings
8) Cry...giving yourself permission to cry
9) Talk with a trusted friend who can really listen. Talk some more!
10) Know that the connections in your heart that you have had with your animal will always remain.

You will always be linked even though they are no longer in their physical body.

Grief has its own rhythms and goes up, down and all around. Grief does not have a neat time schedule and it rears up sometimes when you least expect it. Sometimes it shows up months or even years later. Taking time to veg out, cry, write, talk... whatever you need do to help your heart and to honor the memory of your animal is all important. Take the time you need. Trust your instincts.

Feelings of grief often do not fit into a neat package....and heartache takes time to mend.

Find ways to express what you loved and appreciated and what you learned with your animal friend. Express your favorite memories. These are all your prayers.

What have you found to honor your heart and your furry, winged or scaled friend who has been part of your family and is one of your beloved?

Sandy Rakowitz of One Heart Healing Center for People & Animals, the Holistic Tips Expert who helps people & their animals live healthier, more vibrant, intuitive, fluid & inspired lives. Sandy has over 20 years in the field of Animal Wellness. Providing Practical Health & Behavior Solutions for People, Horses, Dogs, Cats, Exotics. To set up an appointment with Sandy; http://www.onehearthealingcenter.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sandy_Rakowitz
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/4732134

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For more information, you might enjoy reading my book, More Than Meets the Eye True Stories about Death, Dying, and Afterlife. Purchase paperback on Amazon.com. It's also on Amazon as an e-book for those who have Kindle or Sony Readers. The audio book is now available!
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Afterlife Experiences - What Are They and Can They Be Believed? (Shocking But True!)

By Danny Fredricks

What is an afterlife experience? Are they credible? Believable? Or all a bunch of "Bull" that gullible people believe to make themselves feel better?

The truth is, there are a wide assortment of valid experiences that seem to STRONGLY suggest that there is an afterlife. Most of these experiences have very little to do with religious beliefs, or dogma, or what we were taught as children growing up.

For example?

NDS's, or near death experiences, have gained lots of popularity in the last 30 years, due to 2 very important developments:

1 - Advances in science are allowing more and more people to be "brought back" from the brink of death, especially in cases of cardiac arrest and patients who were previously clinically dead and NOT retrievable

2 - Huge public interest as a result of books like "Life after Life" and "Beyond and Back" has spawned an avalanche of publications on the near death experience... some very good and scientifically strong, and others, silly and hard to believe

Other afterlife experiences include psychic mediums, who are as popular today, and as believed credible, than at any other time in recent human history. (some say that belief in an afterlife is pushing 75% around the world, and that has gone UP even while belief in organized religion has gone down)

TV shows like "Medium" and "Ghost Whisperer" and even the many ghost hunting programs have made the topic of psychics, and the afterlife VERY in vogue... that much we can all agree is true.

But are these experiences BELIEVABLE, or are they simply wishful thinking?

My own experiences prove to me that something very special, very hard to define and even life changing takes place during an afterlife event. People who have NDE'S, for example, are almost uniformly no longer afraid to die, and seem to change their entire lives as a result.

People who see, speak to or even interact with loved ones who have crossed over report similar changes - a loss of fear of death, grief relief, comfort and a firm belief that they will see their loved ones again... after this life is over.

The truth is, you have to sort of seek out answers for yourself, rather than read articles like this one, if you truly want to open yourself up to the magic, and the mystery of what may await us all. I am a believer... ONLY because I've had experiences that cannot be explained away... PERIOD. I've spoken to mediums by phone and in person who I am 100% convinced, by what they shared, were in communication with spirits or loved ones who are "with" me each and everyday.

I've had out of body experiences. I've had a few "ghostly" encounters as well..:-)
To me, the best examples of these cases suggest that we are MUCH more than a physical body, but rather we are ALL spiritual beings having a very embodied experience and our mission is to explore, to investigate and to ENJOY this life so that we may learn, grow and continue on in the next one! (The benefit of all of this is - I'm now NOT afraid to go... but I still look forward to lots of exciting years HERE as well. :-)

Ready? Join our FREE Psychic Community right HERE!
OR...
Click HERE ====> To Talk to an Authentic Psychic Medium NOW!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Danny_Fredricks
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6095992

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For more information, you might enjoy reading my book, More Than Meets the Eye True Stories about Death, Dying, and Afterlife. Purchase paperback on Amazon.com. It's also on Amazon as an e-book for those who have Kindle or Sony Readers. The audio book is now available!
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Eco-Friendly Funerals: Ashes to Ashes and Dust to Dust

By Lee Power

People are choosing to live an eco-friendly or green life, so it comes as no surprise that they choose to have an eco-friendly or green funeral. An eco friendly funeral may be the deceased's choice or the bereaved family may take their own initiative. a green funeral ensures that the body decomposes naturally and completely and it becomes one with nature. This adheres to the adage "ashes to ashes and dust to dust". Some people may think of it as a new age fad, but in fact, it is returning to age-old practices that our ancestors practiced.

If you would like to plan an eco-friendly or green funeral, you will need to locate a funeral home that offers green funerals as part of their services. They may be specialists or a green funeral may be among the different services they offer. There are a number of green funeral homes in the country. They offer complete services as well as a burial in the woodlands. This would mean that no separate place is marked out as a cemetery. Instead, the body is buried in natural environment, with local trees and green vegetation around it.

An eco-friendly or green funeral turns out much less inexpensive when compared to the now traditional funerals. One of the first aspects of a green funeral is that the body is not embalmed. This ensures that no toxic chemicals used during the embalming process are let into the sewers. The next step is to choose an only wood or cardboard casket that will decompose completely with time. The eco-friendly caskets do not have any metal parts. Some families may also decide to bury the body without the casket, with only a shroud to cover the body. The next step would be to avoid a vault so that the casket and its contents decompose naturally with time.

A woodland burial is a complete eco-friendly or green funeral. In most incidents, a sapling is planted to mark the hand-dug grave that is slowly taken over by the natural vegetation around. You may opt for a simple headstone if you wish to.

If you're searching for a more eco-friendly method to arrange for the management of your remains after passing away, think about the following five alternatives:

• Bios Urn: While using the remains of cremation and thus not actually eco-friendly, Bios Urns enable ashes to be combined with the pre-packed earth of a ready-to-plant tree or shrub seedling.
• Alkaline hydrolysis: This procedure may seem a bit industrialized and consequently environmentally damaging, however, it is in reality probably the most environmentally-friendly answer to dealing with human remains to be developed. Quite simply a person's remains are immersed in a tank of chemical substances which break down tissue very quickly and change bone tissue into a floury compound.
• Corpse-eating mushrooms: Fungus grows on rotting organic substance, making it a perfect solution as a way to naturally eliminate human is still.

• Green burials: The conventional burial isn't necessarily harmful to the natural environment, it's only the additions we have created like complex embalming procedures and "secured" burial containers. By choosing a more naturally degradable casket and requiring that morticians stay away from embalming in favor of other possibilities, you may still have a "traditional" burial with out it becoming bad for the environment.
• Donate to science: No matter if for use by a school of medicine or even for observation at a human body farm, giving one's body to scientific research isn't just environmentally friendly.

Living an eco-friendly life implies needing to take into account the environmental effects of how we deal with dying. If you are seriously interested in learning to be an eco-friendly person, then you should think about environmentally safer options to conventional methods of dealing with human remains by visiting Funeral Blues - a store dedicated to helping you choose! http://funeralblues.org

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lee_Power
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6889855

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For more information, you might enjoy reading my book, More Than Meets the Eye True Stories about Death, Dying, and Afterlife. Purchase paperback on Amazon.com. It's also on Amazon as an e-book for those who have Kindle or Sony Readers. The audio book is now available!
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What You Need to Know About Hospice Care

By A Aaronson Death and dying is a difficult topic to think about and talk about but one that cannot be avoided indefinitely. It is something that every person must be willing to discuss at some point in their life. You may have a family member who is not doing so well. His physician may be bringing up the subject of hospice but you may be reluctant to consider it. Perhaps you are not as clear about what this care is all about. Lifting the veil can help bring you peace of mind and can make it easier to make the right decision for the person you love.

Hospice is often thought to be a place, such as a hospital or a health center. But it is actually a service and not a place. This form of palliative care can be brought into the home of the ill person. It can be provided at a nursing home, assisted living facility or in a hospital setting.

Most people wish to stay in their own homes as long as they possibly can. Hospice care in this case can come right to the residence. But if the individual's condition worsens and/or their care becomes too difficult to manage and they must move elsewhere, short-term inpatient care can come to the new location.

Hospice provides your loved one with a variety of professional services. Routine nursing visits are available for your family member, as are after hours visits, if need be. What this means is that the nurse will visit as regularly as the person requires. She will make an assessment as to whether changes need to take place. She will also make arrangements for medication to be delivered to the person. If medical equipment and supplies are needed, she will arrange for that as well.

Emergency medications and oxygen will be sent to the home or nursing facility in order to be on hand in the event of a crisis. When you choose this type of care for your loved one, you can rest assured that the nurse(s) who will be working with your loved one, have every area covered.

As a concerned and loving member of the family, your role will be acknowledged by the nursing staff assigned to your ailing relative. You are sure to have questions about what is taking place. These services are designed to keep your loved one as comfortable as possible. The nurses will field any questions that you have. They will provide you with as much information as you need to better comprehend the situation and to understand the condition of the aging individual. They will also do their part to help you and your family to prepare for what is to come.

Help is never far away when you choose hospice care. Help will come to the residence of the individual. You do not have to take the person to the physician's office. If a problem arises on a weekend or on a holiday, help can be obtained by making a telephone call.

If you have a loved one in need of hospice grand rapids has excellent resources available. To learn more about these services come to http://www.wingsofhopehospice.com.
 

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=A_Aaronson
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7449686

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For more information, you might enjoy reading my book, More Than Meets the Eye True Stories about Death, Dying, and Afterlife. Purchase paperback on Amazon.com. It's also on Amazon as an e-book for those who have Kindle or Sony Readers. The audio book is now available!
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Open Your Personal Portal to Cosmic Awareness

Have you had a strange experience and afterward felt like you were another person in your same body?

Are you having unusual body sensations that can’t be defined (or diagnosed) in medical terms?

Have you been receiving downloads that seem to have activated psychic or spiritual gifts?

Do you feel as though you have been visited by your higher or future self?

Have you found yourself speaking in a mysterious unknown language?

These are signs, which indicate that you are ascending in consciousness and accessing and/or merging with more evolved aspects of your soul. Your DNA is shifting to hold a higher octave of vibration within your physical body and this is building your light body. Would you like to learn more about what is happening and why? Would you like to share your experience with others who are going through this phenomenon?  Open Your Personal Portal to Cosmic Awareness  Beginning with a Friday night fellowship on May 17, 2013, “Walk-ins Among Us ~ Open Your Personal Portal to Cosmic Awareness” will be held at the beautiful Hyatt Place Hotel (Airport) on Royal Parkway in Nashville, Tennessee.

On Saturday, May 18, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., the speakers below will offer insight about integrating higher cosmic frequencies that come as a result of a soul exchange or soul merge/braid (also known as a walk-in). You will also have free time to fellowship with other walk-ins in attendance.

Walk-ins Among Us

May 17-18, 2013

Hyatt Place Hotel, Nashville, TN 37214

Reserve your space at the conference now!

This conference coincides with the release of Yvonne Perry’s new book, Walk-ins Among Us ~ Open Your Personal Portal to Cosmic Awareness.  

As our planetary system travels around the Milky Way Galaxy, the Earth aligns with other cosmic bodies that affect the magnetic pull on our planet. Within that evolutionary continuum, some humans experience a sudden transformation that awakens spiritual gifts and psychic abilities. In our current time of ascension, people are experiencing visitations, cohabitations, and even trading places with more evolved aspects of their soul in various dimensions. This embodiment of higher consciousness brings pathfinders, way-showers, lightworkers, and healers to our planet to help anchor the new paradigm of oneness and unity associated with the Divine Mother.  

 

Those who have experienced a life-transforming event will find help and comfort in this eye-opening book. Walk-ins Among Us is written by a walk-in to help others understand the soul exchange process and how to integrate higher vibrations that clear energy imprints not aligned with love, light, and joy. Through cosmic encoded activations, readers may receive downloads and learn how to stay centered and actively involved in their own ascension process as they discover their mission, purpose, and role on Earth.
 

Walk-ins Among Us

May 17-18, 2013

Hyatt Place Hotel, Nashville, TN 37214

Reserve your space at the conference now!

Virtual seats (with live chat room) are available for $39 per participant.

 

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PURCHASE the paperback book, Whose Stuff Is This? Finding Freedom from the Thoughts, Feelings, and Energy of Those Around You at http://tinyurl.com/EmpathAmazon.
The e-book version is now available for Kindle, iPhone, iPad, and other digital reading devices on Smashwords.com. Get the PDF on the author's website: WeAreOneinSpirit.com.
Why not have someone read the book to you? Check out the audio book MP3 file version.

The author, Yvonne Perry, is available as a spiritual coach. See http://weare1inspirit.com/services/coaching/ for information about a free 15-minute evaluation to see if coaching is right for you.
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For more information, you might enjoy reading my book, More Than Meets the Eye True Stories about Death, Dying, and Afterlife. Purchase paperback on Amazon.com. It's also on Amazon as an e-book for those who have Kindle or Sony Readers. The audio book is now available!
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Helping Your Dog Cope With the Loss of a Canine Companion

By CS Swarens

If you had more than one dog and one passed away, it is important for you to realize that the dog left behind may go through a grieving process. Just as humans mourn the loss of an animal companion or a human loved one, there is a great deal of evidence showing that dogs go through a grieving process as well. Therefore, it is important for you to be aware of this fact and to take the steps necessary to help your grieving pet get through the loss as best as possible.

Recognizing a Dog in Mourning

Recognizing that your dog is in mourning can sometimes be difficult. After all, they cannot talk to you and tell you how they are feeling. At the same time, a dog in mourning will typically exhibit some specific behaviors. Some of these behaviors may include:

o Lethargy
o Aloof behavior
o Loss of focus
o Disoriented behavior
o Lack of appetite
o Lack of interest in surroundings
o Disruption in sleep patterns
o Becoming "distant"
o Becoming overly clingy
o Excessive vocalization
o Being quieter than usual

If your dog was unable to see the deceased dog after it died, such as may be the case if you take the dog to the veterinarian to be euthanized and you choose not to bring it home, your dog may also wait anxiously for the other dog to return. In fact, it is not uncommon for dogs to go through separation anxiety when another canine companion dies.

Helping Your Mourning Dog with the Loss

If your dog is showing signs of grief after losing a canine companion, it is important for you to try to help it work through its grief. One way to do this is to provide the surviving dog with more affection and attention. Trying to engage your pet in an activity it enjoys will help take its mind off the loss, but be aware that some dogs in mourning will be resistant to playing. The key is to keep trying and to continue to provide your dog with attention. Most dogs in mourning will return to their normal activities in about two weeks, though some can take up to 6 months before they fully recover from the loss.

If your dog is expressing its grief in an undesirable way, such as howling or otherwise vocalizing excessively, you should use caution when giving it attention. If you provide your pet with attention or give it treats in order to stop the vocalization behavior, you will be  reinforcing the behavior and your pet may continue the behavior even after the grief has past. Therefore, it is important to provide your pet with the affection and attention it needs while it is engaging in appropriate behaviors. So long as the undesirable behavior is related to the grieving process and you do not reinforce it, the behavior should subside after your dog is done mourning.

If your dog seems to be severely depressed and is not moving through the mourning process at a good pace, you may want to consider talking to your doctor about giving your pet anxiety medication. Otherwise, remember that with time comes healing and, with the help of your love and affection, your pet will likely return to its normal self.

CS Swarens is the CEO of Find a Pet Online. 800 998-7065 For additional information on dogs, cats, birds, horses, and exotic pets visit the internet's resource for pet classifieds Research pet information with detailed profiles of over 430 pet breeds.
 

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=CS_Swarens
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/2584791

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For more information, you might enjoy reading my book, More Than Meets the Eye True Stories about Death, Dying, and Afterlife. Purchase paperback on Amazon.com. It's also on Amazon as an e-book for those who have Kindle or Sony Readers. The audio book is now available!
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