Events for October 2024

"Ancestry Circle" is Sage-ing International's (SI) pilot CREATIVE EXPRESSION CIRCLE (CEC). It has been offered successfully for two years and we are ready to announce its third season. We will focus on recovering forgotten ancestors, honoring them, and finding ourselves by telling the family story.

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.