Mary Francis will offer an overview of the cultural approaches to death and dying, as well as her direct experience as a hospice social worker and chaplain. An introduction to the energetics of death, loss, grief, and the afterlife will also be offered. These topics will be delved into more deeply in the workshop series that follows this webinar and begins on October 17th.

In a fast-paced, 2-hour presentation drawing on the stories of many of the pioneers of that movement, coupled with historical photos and video clips, you will learn of the early days of Reb Zalman with the Spiritual Eldering Institute, followed by the formation of the Sage-ing Guild which is now Sage-ing International. We will celebrate Reb Zalman’s 100th birthday (and recognize the tenth anniversary of his death) and Sage-ing International’s 20th anniversary. We will talk about the future of our organization and what we are going to do for you.

n this uplifting webinar series, David Chernikoff draws on Buddhist and other contemplative teachings to guide us in cultivating and celebrating the blessings of spiritual maturity. In seven once-a-month webinars which began on June 19th, 2024, we study and experientially explore the following topics: integrity, generosity, patience, compassion, wisdom, lovingkindness, and equanimity. Together we create a safe, supportive learning community as we increasingly embody the wise and loving elders we each have the potential to be.

The mysteries of death, dying and the dead can be known by the living. Many people have had experiences with disembodied spirits (ghosts or dead people), near-death experiences, interdimensional experiences, and the thin space around death and dying. Rt. Rev. Dr. Mary Francis Drake is one such person with decades of such experience to share to validate others as well as encourage hope in the process of living well and dying wisely.

In "Optics of Aging" stereotypes of ageism are confronted and the beauty of aging is revealed through five Rhode Island elders who have shaped the landscape of Rhode Island and beyond. Their voices take flight against the backdrop of archival imagery that captures the vision of an earlier time.

What does it actually mean to harvest and cultivate one's wisdom in later life? For four years, Ronnie Dunetz has led an online group that has been tackling this challenge using lively, explorative group reflection, exploration, and conversation. By bringing our authentic selves to such conversations we enable the cultivation of our insights and wisdom. This new Harvesting your Wisdom Circle will invite members to engage with a vast array of “off the beaten track” topics that will challenge, empower, and assist our growth of wisdom in our sage-ing processes of later life.

When you ask elders what they are most worried about as they age, their answer is generally not the economy, the Coronavirus, or even climate change. Most often the response is cognitive decline. Two common misconceptions, however, are first that cognitive decline is an inevitable part of aging and second that it is unavoidable if you have a high genetic risk. The truth is that approximately 40% of your C health may be under your control and attributable to healthy lifestyle behavior choices and proper management of other health conditions.

This is the 3rd and final Episode in the Life of Reb Zalman, as told by his family and closest friends, to honor his memory of the centennial year of his birth. Episode 3 will bring you the two major turning points that led to the Sage-ing Movement and Jewish Renewal. There is a real-life background story to Reb Zalman's well-known exercise, The Testimonial Dinner: "A Banquet for our Severe Teachers;" We will also hear about personal insights contributing to his move in 1956 which led to his 40-day retreat at age 60, where the inspiration came for his classic book, From Age-ing to Sage-ing; and how that move changed his religious vision and became Jewish Renewal.

The wisdom of elders is to move from a self-centered narrow view of life to a more expansive and inclusive embrace of the other. The challenge is to hold on to one’s own spiritual integrity while reaching out to others. Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi embodied this wisdom and in his meeting with His Holiness the XIV Dalai Lama showed the significance of spiritual imagination for dialogue. We will see how Reb Zalman first established a heart-to-heart connection. Then breaking free of his original agenda, Reb Zalman could follow the Dalai Lama’s curiosity about angels and this spontaneous and exciting exchange led to an extraordinary transcendent moment.

David Chernikoff draws on Buddhist and other contemplative teachings to guide us in cultivating and celebrating the blessings of spiritual maturity. We will study and experientially explore lovingkindness. Together we create a safe, supportive learning community as we increasingly embody the wise and loving elders we each have the potential to be.