Conscious Aging Class
Day 1 – Myths, Lies and Truth
Opening Treatment, Intros
Music – I’m Here to Remind You – David Ault
Website – download book and talk about Online class
Introduce myths and lies and fears about aging
(If Toni not present, play 1st video)
Play Pat Carrington’s first audio – 24 min.
Discuss Feelings about Aging – focus first on
Positive and then on fears
Do Fear to Faith Exercise
Affirmative Prayer
Day 2 – Myths, Lies and Truth
Music: Have No Fear from Art of Peace by Elaine Silver
Reports on Fear to Faith
Play second part of video on techniques
Explain EFT
Watch EFT Documentary or shorts from YouTube on EFT
Consider playing Pat Carrington & maybe Do EFT with Pat Carrington’s 2nd audio
Closing Treatment
Day 3 – Life Review
Music: Turn, Turn, Turn
Talk about types of Life Review
Jane Fonda
Video on Life Review
Show scrapbook- encourage creation…
Start Journaling with 12 major lifechanging Events
First 3 journal exercises from Intensive Journal work
Ie. Ahha moments; flesh one out; introduce dialogue if time
Day 4 – Life Review
Music: I’ve Had the Time of My Life—from Dirty Dancing
Meditation with Jeremiel
Talk about dialogues – esp with persons – doing stepping stones, twilight images, focusing statement
Dialogue with Body –
Descriptions of experiences – call out
Focusing statement
Twilight reading
Sharing – reading first – then, any other sharing
Dialogue with Circumstance of Aging –
Day 5 -Spirituality of Aging
Music: You Can Relax Now – Shana Noll
Use WHO AM I meditation video
Video on Spirituality of Aging
Discuss Identity Loss as we age
Day 6 – Spirituality of Aging Continued
Music: Lessons to be Learned
Richmond’s video
How do you see the aging process as a spiritual practice?
Letting go — of clutter; of people; of old beliefs
Why Bad things happen to Good people — any lessons like that in your life? The Dance
Ram Dass video
Exercise for finding ESSENCE of what you loved to do and can no longer do (Aging includes its share of reverses, losses and sorrows. What makes the difference is our attitude about them. If a bad knee means we can’t jog anymore, we needn’t despair; we can take up swimming. If we lost money in the recession, we can cherish what we still have. If we become ill, we rejoice when we recover.)
Forgiveness – talk about what may have come up in doing Journaling exercises and then do a ritual or exercise on Forgiveness
Gratitude.
Music: Michael Feinman’s “Grateful”
Gratitude Letter. Sit down and write a letter to someone who has exerted a positive influence in your life but whom you have not properly thanked. This can be a teacher or a mentor from your past, a grandparent, or anyone else who helped you in some way. The letter doesn’t have to be very long, but make sure that you’re specific about what the person did and how it affected you
.Generosity. offers many tangible methods to cultivate a generous spirit. Among these is a contemplative exercise from the Tibetan Buddhist tradition that allows us inwardly picture recipients of our generosity and direct
May all beings be peaceful.
May all beings be happy.
May all beings be safe.
May all beings awaken to
the light of their true nature.
May all beings be free.
– Metta Prayercompassionate feeling toward them.
Day 7 – Preparing for Future
Music: Jerry Florence’s Remember Me
Show the 4th video
Dealing with Future
Listen to Famous Eulogies
Write your own Epitaph
Write your Eulogy
Day 8 – Closing Class
reflections from last week
Music: I Hope You Dance
2nd half of the last video
!0 things you are most grateful for. Song: Grateful
What does my soul still wish to do — write intention – Share
Talk about Volunteer Activities
Feedback – what we covered
Anything added or subtracted
Music: The Learning Journey