Dying like birthing is a gateway. I didn’t truly know this until I spent three days and nights with my Grandmother before she died on Thanksgiving.

When I stepped away, and my vigilant Aunt did too, my grandmother exchanged her last breath.

I am so grateful to have been very close to her all my life, including at the end of hers.

I am so grateful to have a practice of witnessing, presence, and surrender.

On November 15th we had our third seasonal collaboration of Community Acupuncture at Shuniya in Uptown Kingston. All proceeds from the suggested $10 donation go to the Washbourne House in Ulster County.

The Washbourne House is a resource for those experiencing domestic violence. In addition to a 17 bed shelter for adults and children in a confidential location, they offer these services:

• Non-residential support groups. Women who are not in need of shelter services can attend a weekly domestic violence support group. There are two English-speaking groups meeting in the early evening, in Kingston; one of those groups includes childcare. For information about these evening groups, contact Chris at 331-7080, x 328.
• Groups meeting during business hours are these: A Thursday, Spanish-speaking group in Kingston; a Tuesday, English & Spanish speaking group in New Paltz ; a Wednesday, English & Spanish speaking group in Ellenville. For information about these three groups, contact bilingual counselor, Maria, at 331-7080, x 313.
• Short-term individual counseling and case management, including safety planning for yourself and your children. If you are not ready to be in a support group, or if your schedule conflicts with existing support groups, people can meet you for short-term counseling. Call Chris at 331-7080, x 328. For bilingual services contact Maria at 331-7080, x 313.
• Activities/events at the shelter. Holiday parties, barbeques, and food pantry are available to former residents and to individuals in non-resident programs.
• The domestic violence Family Court advocate can provide assistance in drafting petitions for emergency orders of protection. Call Pilar at 340-3617.

More information can be found online here: http://www.washbournehouse.com/ or by calling the 24 hour hotline: 845.338.2370.

However it’s made, by chemicals and gendered instruction, by paradigms of violence, there’s more to the story of stress response than fight-or-flight. Read more here: http://www.apa.org/monitor/julaug00/stress.aspx .

Someone recently asked me what reading or listening has been inspiring and resourceful for me, and I shared names of the first stack of books next to me. Here’s some of that and others.

Listening: Tara Brach http://www.tarabrach.com/audiodharma.html

Reading (sometimes again and always):
Eloquent Silence Nyogen Senzaki
Animal Dreams Barbara Kingsolver
The Way of Zen Alan Watts
The Seasonal Hearth Adelaide Hechtlinger

I’ve endeavored to write, without completing, a 50,000 word novel in two of the last four years that I’ve known about NaNoWriMo. I’m going to do it again! By that I mean also that I will likely not finish.

National Novel Writer’s Month (NaNoWriMo) has a range of support for all willing to try: http://nanowrimo.org/ .

You needn’t partake of the elaborate procrastination resources or use the website at all, but dropping the growing file into the word count creates an encouraging bar graph to measure your doings.

Email me at tuihealthcare@gmail.com if you’re looking for some good writing spots in Kingston, New York to hole up in during some of our more grainy Autumn days ahead… perfect writing weather.