Dying Gracefully
What ever happened to dying of old age???
I have been reminded this week several times about the gentle art of dying.
It has become increasingly difficult to do just that…
You know – dying, to become dead, pass over, deceased, kick the bucket 
None of us like to talk about it, do we? it’s a very taboo subject.
The media constantly bangs on about how to live, how to get the most out of life.
Why? Have we forgotten how to live for ourselves?
They tell you how to preserve your body surgically and chemically so you look younger, slimmer, healthier.
Why? Nature is perfect in herself. Every season is beautiful.
They tell you how to eat healthily, dress youthfully, and pull a partner!!!
Why? Just be true to who you are.
I had two wonderful Grandparents who taught me well in the gentle art of dying.
My Grandmother was on her way to her local tea room for a morning coffee…
When she slipped and broke her hip.
She spent 3 weeks in hospital.
Then one afternoon she said to my Mum she was ‘tired’ and wanted to go to sleep.
After finishing her cup of tea she nodded off and never woke up
Now… did she die of a broken hip or old age, bearing in mind she was 103!!!
My Grandfather had a chest x-ray which showed he had a lung cancer.
He lost weight, (not a bad thing!), took to his bed, and gathered the family around.
He was not in pain and was totally with it.
Friends from far and wide came to pay court and say ‘goodbye’.
When he did start to feel discomfort he and the doctor decided to start on some medicine.
The medicine made him sleep deeply.
On the day he decided to die he sat up in bed with his two sons around him and with all his grandchildren there.
He had a glass of Guinness and a piece of cream cake before slipping into a deep sleep.
Deep enough for him to ‘let go’…
Perfect, elegant and very graceful…
Did he die of lung cancer or was it his time at 89?
If we investigate and intervene with any old person we will find some sort of malfunction of the body.
It is only natural!
But sometimes, leaving things to run their course – for nature to take over – to gracefully accept the inevitable is not a bad thing.
Everything has a cycle, comes full circle, dies and is reborn.
Death is the very celebration of a life well lived!
Never, ever, be afraid to die and be reborn.
Whether this is changing your job, relationship, location… or simply going to sleep each night!!!
Every little death is a perfecting of the main event.
Live a lot, laugh a lot and love a lot
Begin each adventure with hope and enthusiasm.
Enjoy it to the full, push your boundaries.
Finish with a sense of satisfaction and completion… let go.
Don’t die of a malfunction… ha ha ha!!!
Die each day full of love, laughter and joy.
And when the day comes for your exit, departure, the snuffing it bit…
You will feel complete, be ready, and let go gracefully
Using your Reiki energy for yourself each day, gives you that sense of grounding, serenity and wisdom.
Using it for someone who is struggling to let go will do the same for them too.
Releasing the groundedness into lightness, changing serenity to surrender, and wisdom to freedom.
Just my thoughts on the subject of course
Now, so as not to leave you all in such a reflective mood on a Sunday before lunch…
Here are some photos taken yesterday at Wallington House, a National Trust property near here…
It was a lovely day and we went for afternoon tea, very English, don’t ya know
All the National Trust properties do excellent food and it is usually served in the servants hall or old rectory, stables, etc.
They were having an event and lots of people were joining in with Scottish dancing on the lawns.
Complete with the chaps in tradional kilts
Well, Geoff’s is calling and I shall do my best to come home feeling I completed my lunch… ha ha ha!!!
Have a wonderful weekend…
Judith.
