β€œIf we do not grieve what we miss, we are not praising what we love.” ~MartΓ­n Prechtel Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ 
 
 

At the close of 2023, the Seventh Sense Care Collective has officially and legally become a reality here on the ancestral lands we reside on in Clinton Corners NY. To consecrate the bond with the human and animal beings that reside here on this land, now and before us, we ignited our inaugural fire this month.

We honor place as our home. Place holds our collective memory. Place is a state of mind. Relationship with place requires cultivation and interpretation from within us. We commune with place and we commune with those who were in this place at a time before this time, and those who will come after this time. We are grateful! Solstice blessings and onward into 2024! ~Karen & Kirby

 

Photo of Tokitae peering through a hole in a net; Courtesy of Terrel Newby.

In this For The Wild episode, guest Kurt Russo reflects on the profound connection he developed with Tokitae, a Southern Resident Orca held captive for decades. Kurt mourns Tokitae's recent death and explores how our relationship with animals can unveil deep insights into humanity. The conversation delves into the urgent need to protect natural spaces like the Salish Sea and the Snake River, emphasizing the material consequences of ecocide and commodification. Kurt addresses the spiritual dimensions of our treatment of the more-than-human world, posing critical questions about intentional cruelty and the collective responsibility to combat darkness for the well-being of all life on Earth. He says, Nature is our caretaker for whom and with whom we have a sacred obligation and an ancient covenant, and we are violating it.

Listen to the For The Wild episode On A Prayer of Mourning with Kurt Russo here.

 

How Will I Die?, 2015, by Judy Chicago

Judy Chicago, renowned for challenging taboos through her depictions of birth, is now extending her trailblazing vision to explore death. The End: A Meditation on Death and Extinction is currently on display as part of Herstory exhibition at the New Museum in Manhattan, running until March 3, 2024. Spanning Chicago’s six-decade career, Herstory showcases the artist’s diverse contributions, alongside The City of Ladies, featuring works from over 80 female artists such as Frida Kahlo, Hilma af Klint, Zora Neale Hurston, and more.

In The End: A Meditation on Death and Extinction (2012-18), Chicago explores her own mortality while addressing tragic and ongoing extinction of many other species. The artwork encourages viewers to contemplate their own fate as it is tied to the treatment of other species and the planet and understand the works’ foundation in the feminist principle that justice for women is connected to the need for a global justice that includes the humane treatment of all creatures.

Read more about Judy Chicago: Herstory at New Museum here.

See works from The End: A Meditation on Death and Extinction here.

Read How Artists Are Breaking the Taboos Around Depicting Birth in NYT Style here.

 

Corey Stoll and Sarah Paulson in Appropriate

In the searing revival of Appropriate on Broadway, Sarah Paulson shines as Antoinette Lafayette in a dysfunctional family grappling with grief and settling their late father's estate. Branden Jacobs-Jenkins's play delves into the Lafayette siblings' varying forms of awfulness, linked by greed and complicated by revelations of their father's troubling legacy. As relics of the past emerge, the family confronts uncomfortable truths, challenging the audience to question societal sins versus personal flaws. With unexpected twists, humor, and drama, Appropriate becomes a poignant exploration of how individuals cope with death, grief, and the complexities of family dynamics.

Buy Tickets for Appropriate here.

Read review in the Guardian here.

 

Robert Ingenito caring for his father, Jerry.Credit...Maansi Srivastava/The New York Times

The New York Times has a new series of articles that examine how the immense financial costs of long-term care drain older Americans and their families which includes: Soaring Costs of Care, Unaffordable Home Care, Assisted Living’s Extra Fees, Long-Term Care Insurance and Burden on Caregivers. The series offers personal accounts, statistics and actions we as a country can take.


Their Long-Term Care poll found that fewer than half of adults have seriously discussed long-term care plans with a loved one and a majority of older adults have not taken steps to plan for long-term care.

Read NYT Dying Broke Series here.

 

Courtesy of GetSomeJoy

Grief is always with us but can be especially present this time of year for many. We’ve decided to share this griefKit: Tools and considerations for raggedy times, a crowdsourced collection of articles and essays, books, communities, music, podcasts, poetry, movement, recipes, tools, and other insights on navigating grief and loss. It is curated with love by GetSomeJoy, a creative wellness agency and it’s really wonderful!


Download the griefKit here.
 

Mr. Hickerson is experimenting with gummies to help him sleep longer. He often wakes up too early, around 4 a.m. Credit...Jackie Russo for The New York Times

In the United States, a growing number of seniors are embracing cannabis, seeking relief for issues like sleep, pain, and anxiety. This shift, from 0.4% in 2007 to over 8% in 2022, reflects dissatisfaction with traditional medications and an increasing openness to cannabis. For many seniors, the journey involves trial and error. Nancy Herring, 76, turned to cannabis when her husband faced Parkinson's and insomnia, finding solace in an indica strain. Meanwhile, Carminetta Verner, 88, started a cannabis club in her Maryland retirement community, advocating for seniors suffering from pain that traditional medicine couldn't alleviate. The lack of formal guidance prompts a grassroots effort among seniors to share insights, while companies capitalize on the trend, offering educational sessions and senior-friendly cannabis products.

Read NYT piece Why Some Seniors Are Choosing Pot Over Pills here.

National Library of Medicine abstract on Characteristics and Patterns of Marijuana Use in Community-Dwelling Older Adults here.

 

Daniel Dorsa/ The New Yorker

Christian Wiman, a poet and memoirist living with a rare form of cancer for 18 years, explores profound questions about faith, morality, and God in his latest book, Zero at the Bone: Fifty Entries Against Despair. Combining poetry, criticism, theology, and memoir, Wiman's work offers an urgent and eloquent perspective on life, death, and despair. The book delves into Wiman's preoccupation with despair through fifty brief pieces, interweaving his reflections with the poetry and prose of influential writers like Wallace Stevens and Emily Dickinson.

Read The New Yorker piece here.

Listen to Christian Wiman on NPR Fresh Air here.

Find his book Zero at the Bone: Fifty Entries Against Despair here.
 

my grandfather and home

by Mosab Abu Toha

i

my grandfather used to count the days for return with his fingers

he then used stones to count

not enough

he used the clouds birds people

absence turned out to be too long

thirty six years until he died

for us now it is over seventy years

my grandpa lost his memory

he forgot the numbers the people

he forgot home

ii

i wish i were with you grandpa

i would have taught myself to write you

poems volumes of them and paint our home for you

i would have sewn you from soil

a garment decorated with plants

and trees you had grown

i would have made you

perfume from the oranges

and soap from the skys tears of joy

couldnt think of something purer

iii

i go to the cemetery every day

i look for your grave but in vain

are they sure they buried you

or did you turn into a tree

or perhaps you flew with a bird to the nowhere

iv

i place your photo in an earthenware pot

i water it every monday and thursday at sunset

i was told you used to fast those days

in ramadan i water it every day

for thirty days

or less or more

v

how big do you want our home to be

i can continue to write poems until you are satisfied

if you wish i can annex a neighboring planet or two

vi

for this home i shall not draw boundaries

no punctuation marks

Read my grandfather and home by Mosab Abu Toha here.

Purchase the book Things You May Find Hidden In My Ear here.

 

Resources

Relationship expert Esther Perel joins Endwell to discuss the importance of love, sex, humor and forgiveness, and prioritizing pleasure, throughout all stages of life, including the end. Perel states, it’s that it actually maintains a sense of dignity and humanity to continue to talk about sex in the places where they try to dehumanize you the most.

Listen or read the transcript to The Truth about Sex and Intimacy at End of Life here.

Listen on Spotify.

In this profound book, Life, Death, Grief and the Possibility of Pleasure, Oceana Sawyer offers guidelines for pleasure-centric death care and ways to live with grief. To constantly be creating and carving out moments for our grief to be felt, that is how we live more deeply and vividly.

Order the book here.
 

Exit Strategy’s Art & Culture Monthly Reader is curated by Karen Bellone and Kirby Lee, co-founders and doulas for the dying at The Seventh Sense serving Hudson Valley, NY. Our intention is to refocus the narrative around death, dying and grief to raise awareness and consciousness, through the lens of arts, culture, storytelling and innovation.

Please feel free to forward this newsletter to anyone you feel might benefit from these resources and articles.

Click here to subscribe.

instagram twitter facebook

1640 Bulls Head Road, Clinton Corners, NY 12514, USA

Unsubscribe