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what is gentle dying?
Sitting at the bedside of someone who is dying is one of the most moving experiences we'll ever have.. and many of us wonder what on earth we can do at this time to be of practical help and to express our love and care
Finding the right words, knowing whether we are able to touch and comfort , without getting in the way, can be so difficult especially if they're in a busy hospital ward, busy care home or even a hospice
Gentle dying is a tender approach to helping people to die with tranquility and dignity where ever they are
It is a simple method using traditional ways of helping to soothe someone one in the final days and hours,once medicine has reached its limits
Anyone can learn the ideas behind Gentle Dying - It doesn't require hi-tech machinery, drugs or technical expertise, all you need is a loving heart ,gentle hands and a wish to devote your time in a very special way
Gentle dying is a method that uses touch, sound, colour, beautiful aromas, prayers, songs, breathing and visualisation techniques to make people feel loved and supported as they die
xx"" I felt as if an angel's wing had caressed my face and I felt cleansed and whole again"- Sarah Frey
Every community around the world has its traditional way of sitting and watching with the dying
In Tibet they chant and ring singing bowls, in India precious oils are used to anoint and soothe
In Africa they tell elaborate stories about the ancestors and those closer to home
In the Scottish Isles, the song of the native Redshank bird is sung, interwoven with the dying person's name to prompt the soul's journey
We are complex beings consisting of body, mind and spirit. We think, feel, talk and move about
We have an inner voice within us that is "us", a lifetime's worth of relationships, experiences, a huge range of emotions which colour our lives. We have active bodies, inquisitive minds, yearning souls and last, but not least, vast intelligence
Dying affects us on all these levels. All these aspects of ourselves inter connect with each other. When we are dying, all these traits present their own needs to be resolved and given a sense of closure- leaving us free and able to move on with lighter hearts
contact Gentle Dying at gentleydying@live.co.uk