IAAP Newsletter:The Unified Field
Volume 5, Number 2
Andrew Shier
Coming And Going Across The Doorsill...
During the last six months I have had the privilege of assisting several individuals through the process of dying and death. As a result of these experiences I am caused to ponder ever more deeply the powerful contribution that Attunement can offer during this very specific transition—physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Given that we live in a culture that seems to not only shy away from talking about death and dying, but overtly supports Herculean efforts to stay eternally youthful at all costs, it feels timely to share some of my own thoughts and reflections on this particular topic.
The core of my experience revolves around two vital and vivacious women, one of whom was my wife's grandmother. Both of the women I refer to were strong, independent, and active contributors right up until the time that their dying process began. In the case of my grandmother in-law, I had been privileged to share long distance attunements with her three times a week for the last two years. Through this process, her sensitivity to the energetic connection between the two of us had become increasingly refined. Such was the clarity of this connection that in the last hours of her life when she surfaced consciously for the final time, my wife told her that I was closely with her during this time (even though I was not physically present) and her reply was "I know he is, he is right here beside me!"
This quality of direct communion and communication is one of the most distinctive aspects of the experience of assisting with the dying process. A conversation emerges through which very specific requests and perceptions can be discerned. For example, I was assisting the second woman with a process regarding a brain tumor. Although I had never met her or her daughter in person, the level of trust that the daughter had relative to me was strong and clear from our first phone conversation. In this initial call, I was very clear that in my work I seek no directed outcome, only that the deeper rhythm seeking to unfold will be allowed to do so. So, if her mother was meant to mend and recover this would happen, and if she was meant to die this too would become clear. Interestingly, from the very first session with this woman there was a deep and open quality of connection. Although she had already refused many other practitioners’ assistance, she was completely receptive to me. Thus, began our "dialogue". After a week or so of establishing a place of communion between the two of us, her own voice began to surface distinctly. Her main concern was that unless she would be able to continue to live in a vibrant and high quality manner, she was not interested in staying alive. As this question "hung in the space" between us, it became very clear that should she survive this cancer process her life would be much more compromised than it had been. As this awareness clarified, her resolve relative to letting go to the death process became clear. And, within a matter of one week she died.
This point of decision also carries a very distinctive quality to it. It is as though the Being then turns attention to the process of exiting the body and gaining the "wings" to move into other dimensions. The energy becomes very light and soft, there is a quality of slow pulsation that begins, and the actual attachment to the physical body could be likened to a small thread. At times, the Being may pulse more completely back into the body in order to become conscious again or to make a specific connection with a family member, for example. How long this will go on depends on many factors, and in my experience it seems directly connected to whatever needs to be completed with those people still alive. Once these earthly "responsibilities" have been taken care of, the final letting go can occur and the Being is released from physical form.
Over-identification with the physical is perhaps one of the most insidious distractions to our deeper spiritual work. This identification can translate as "noise" in consciousness. During the dying process this "noise" is one of the elements that begins to subside, and in its stead comes the place of peace and stillness. Interestingly, it is from this place of peace that the individual comes in contact with what the next steps will be. Until that point one may not consciously be aware of the option to let go and release the physical form. In this place of peace, the pain diminishes and a new awareness and confidence emerges that there is, indeed, somewhere to go beyond the physical realm of reality.
Working with a certain cadence and consistency during this phase of the process is vitally important. The need to be present throughout this juncture (although not necessarily in the physical sense), and coming back on a regular basis to "check in" with the person will continue to deepen the energetic connection and allow for the fears and concerns that may be working their way through a person’s consciousness to be held and embraced. This is so true with those who are older and have felt that they were ready to leave for some time; they just needed someone to help them in the transition. Thankfully, as a longtime worker of energy, I am well aware of the fact that we do need each other. And, although there is much that we can and need to do on our own, being able to receive the assistance of someone else during this very specific time is truly a blessing and an example of the fact that we are all deeply intertwined.
The 48 hours that follow the release from the physical body are an important part of the transition as well. Many cultural traditions recognize this time and have numerous ways of honoring this specific phase of the process: carefully and ceremonially washing the body, sitting with the body in silence and prayer, releasing the Being from all previous sense of duties and obligations, dancing, singing, lighting candles.
It is my hope that someday in the not-too- distant future the consciousness of human beings will begin to embrace the dying process as a natural and beautiful part of the experience of living. Certainly the organization Hospice is exemplary in this regard. Let us remember, as Rumi put it, that Beings "coming and going across the doorsill" is the way we were meant to flow to and from this particular reality of time and space.
--AS
David Coleman
PEOPLE LIVING THROUGH CANCER CONFERENCE
(David recently sent the following to Chris Jorgensen about a conference in Albuquerque, NM on June 26, 2004. With David’s permission, we thought to share excerpts of his experience with our readers.)
Dear Chris,
What a wonderful experience it was to share attunements at the People Living Through Cancer conference yesterday.
15 people signed up, but if there had been more time or another server, I'm sure we'd have been kept real busy. The material from the website was great because it gave people a chance to read about Attunement, then watch me (a massage therapist and myself shared a table) sharing attunements with others, and choose if they were interested. I gave people a 15 minute block of time and worked on the four upper endocrine glands. I noticed that most of the people that signed up came into balance real quickly. I think part of the reason was because the atmosphere had been set very beautifully by the keynote speaker in the morning, a cancer (brain tumor) survivor, through his music and storytelling. I didn't start sharing attunements until lunch time.
Many seemed to want to tell me about their Attunement experience. Several want to contact me for follow-up sessions even though I'm in Taos. I think there are some who would be interested in an Attunement Initiation. Several had experienced Reiki so were familiar with vibrational work.
The last person to receive an attunement is currently receiving chemotherapy for multiple myeloma, so came to me because she knew I had been through that process. She will be going to Little Rock for treatment soon. In fact, I might see her there when I go for my six-month checkup during the week of July 20th. I know what she will be going through so feel some real compassion for her.
I think the biggest learning piece I got was from the feedback that certain ones gave me. I felt certain vibrations with some clients that they put pictures to. It encouraged me to pay more attention to things I am feeling.
Once again, thanks for your support.
Blessings, David
