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The Sage-ing Guild Communicator
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August 2009 |
2009-3 |
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In This Issue •News & Events •Good Ideas •Of Interest •Links •Membership •Merchandise •E-Letters Coordinating Circle Gary Carlson, ChairJudy Charlick Roger Golden Cheryl Goodman Johanna Lessner Trudy Medcalf Sandy Sabersky Paul Severance Contributors Judith Helburn, editorMike Hughes Brenda McCutcheon Rosalie Muschal-Reinhardt Zora Natanblut Note: several items in this newsletter are from HR Moody's "Human Values in Aging." Contact Us www.sage-ingguild.orgMembershipWisdom Circle: Key figures who have made significant contributions for elders in the world and who share our vision of "changing the paradigm from aging to Sage-ing®." We are honored to have the following sages in our Wisdom Circle: Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi, Angeles Arrien, Robert Atchley, Connie Goldman, Richard Leider, Wendy Lustbader, Rick Moody, and William Thomas. Professional members: Our membership is always open to both Certified Sage-ing Leaders and Sage-ing Circle Facilitators. Our trained Professional Sage-ing Guild members who by supporting the SG have access to the members-only web site and receive discounts for SG events and merchandise among other advantages. Associate members: Benefits of Associate membership include:
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Welcome! To the Sage-ing Guild's e-letter. Our vision is To change the paradigm from aging to Sage-ing. You are receiving this because you are either a member of the Sage-ing Guild or a Sage-ing Leader. If you do not wish to continue receiving this newsletter, planned for three or four times a year, click to unsubscribe. The Sage-ing Guild Communicator is open to anyone who is interested in conscious aging. One may sign up by sending an email to . Mission Statement: To change the paradigm of aging by building a community of leaders to transmit the wisdom of Sage-ing. OUR TEACHERS ARE THE THREADS WHICH WEAVE THE SAGE-ING GUILD TOGETHER! A-musingCarl Jung once remarked that a human being would not live to be seventy or eighty years of age if this longevity had no meaning for the species. "Surely the afternoon of life must have a significance of its own," he said, instead of being merely a pitiful appendage to life's morning. But what is the meaning of the last stage of life? Certainly, it, too, has meaning for the species. by Zora Natanblut My hair is graying. Mouth a twitching. Some say, I am witching. I am not groaning. I am crone-ing. As, I am aging. My wisdom's Sage-ing. Mother bear hold me tight. Guide my dreams and sleep at night. With Arch Angels circling around. While, I hold fast to my ground. Look at, the new Me, I have found. When visiting my 5 year-old granddaughter recently, she made sure she could see me in her "doctor's-office" (a small half-bathroom). This has become a regular event, but we don't get together regularly because of distance. I sit on the stool, and she arranges herself and her papers on the floor. She interviews me at length, scribbling my replies on her papers. (She hasn't gotten around to a hands-on evaluation.) This time, as soon as she settled herself, she very audibly passed a little gas. We immediately locked eyes, but after a brief moment, she said, "We didn't even notice that," and proceeded with her work. A while later, when it appeared as if the exam was winding to a close, I asked her, "Well, how am I doing, Doctor?" She looked puzzled for a couple of seconds, then loudly claimed: "You're going to the finals!!" (This evolved into another scenario, and you'll be glad to know I won in the finals.) —Anonymous News & Events
Good Ideas• More titles for Sage-ing Guild sessions and workshops:
• Email signature Brenda McCutcheon, SG Intern, has added "Ask me what Sage-ing is" to her email signature. Of Interest• Meeting Ancient Wisdom, Growing Into Elderhood. Copper Canyon, Mexico. February 22-March 5. Note: this is a date change from October. Facilitated by Jan and Mireya Milburn of the Milburn Foundation, Ron Pevny, and Elizabeth Cogburn. For more information, see the flyer. • The Third Chapter: Passion, Risk, and Adventure in the 25 Years after 50, Sara Lawrence-Lightfoot. Thorndike Press, 2009. Sara Lawrence-Lightfoot interviewed over 40 people who had gone through major transitions in the "third chapter" of their lives. Her style results in one feeling that those interviewed are familiar friends. You are happy to hear about Luther, Lucinda, Pamela and others as she integrates their stories throughout the book. It is as if one is reading one's own understanding of Sage-ing, rather than Aging. In a nutshell, those interviewed are looking for the Core Concepts of the Sage-ing Program. • Christian Approaches to Aging. The Center for Christian Ethics at Baylor University has made available Aging Study Guides and Lesson Plans for the following topics: "Caring as Honoring"; "When Suffering Continues"; "Declining with Grace"; "Aging from the Perspective of the Cross"; "Old and Full of Years"; "What's Retirement For?" These can be downloaded here. • The Art of Aging. Alice & Richard Matzkin. 2009. A lovely book featuring their art. To see a short video with Alice & Richard, go to YouTube. • Glorious Adventure, Carter Catlett Williams. Pioneer Network in Culture Change, 2008. Recommended by Gene Cohen and Bill Thomas. For details, go here (from Human Values in Aging) This book pictures a woman reaching her fullest vibrancy as an elder, once she ventures into inner territory that had seemed too forbidding in her earlier years. Letters from the father she could not remember were the means of coming to know him, learning of his love for her and hers for him, and coming to terms with his death. read more... • Finding Meaning and Purpose in the Second Half of Life is the theme of the July issue of Itineraries, the publication of Second Journey. Includes comments by Sage-ing Leader Maureen Dobson and Sage-ing Intern, Rosemary Williams. • Igniting Passionate Purpose is the theme of the Summer issue of Itineraries. Linda & Jim Henry are the co-editors. • Are you interested in joining a forum to discuss topics such as: In what stage of my life do I see my self? How do I feel about my own aging? How have I changed over the last 5 years, physically, cognitively, interpersonally, emotionally? Go to Elders Guild, sign in (create a password & give your email) and contribute your wisdom. This website was created by Barry and Deborah Barkan of the Live Oak Institute. • Facing end-of-life decisions by Dr. Martin Welsh. A medical doctor with Lou Gehrig disease discusses end of life issues in the LA Times. • The Boomer Century, a PBS presentation with Ken Dychtwald, can be found here. "A trip down 'memory lane' that brought tears to this Sage-ing Leader..." Links• The Eldering Manifesto: We thought you might be interested and willing to add your signature to the Eldering Manifesto. Please feel free to share the manifesto with friends and colleagues of all ages who are committed to making a difference. • Eldering is "Wisdom in Action"... ELDERING is committing to each other and to a common future. ELDERING is creating possibilities where none exist... • The Geezer Gallery seeks to challenge ageist thinking and stereotypes by providing opportunities for older adults to participate in the creative arts for both financial profit and personal edification. This goal will be accomplished through the establishment of a fine arts gallery where talented senior artists can display and sell their creations, and through the development of programs of art and programs of art therapy for the benefit of all older adults (age 60 and up) in the Portland, OR metro area. Unleash The Geezer! —Amy Henderson Founder/President • The Society for Spirituality and Social Work is a national network geared toward the development of "innovative approaches to spiritually sensitive social work practice and education." It sponsors national and international conferences and workshops and supports a variety of publications. |
