The Nugget Newspaper - News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon

Sisters author Terri Daniel will offer a workshop on dying, grieving and the transition from physical to nonphysical life at Cascade Fitness on Sunday, February 5, at 3 p.m.

Using interactive exercises, guided meditations and visual imagery as tools for navigating the grief process, Daniel shares her perspective on death and dying.

Her workshop begins with a brief introductory lecture about the misconceptions and mythologies associated with traditional Western views of death, and throughout the presentation those notions are gradually replaced with more empowering, less frightening concepts.

The presentation is anchored by a 15-minute guided meditation that assists participants in connecting with the enduring love that bonds them to their departed loved ones, instilling an awareness that these relationships have not ended, but continue to exist energetically.

"This workshop is not just for people who are grieving," Daniel said. "It's for anybody who's interested in exploring life after death."

Daniel believes that "the primal fear of death is at the root of all neuroses. The ego's innate terror of extinction and isolation is the driving force behind extreme behaviors that are designed to establish dominance and control, such as violence, rape, war, abuse, manipulation and bigotry. The soul knows that it can't disappear, but the human personality lives in fear of annihilation. My plan is to provide an alternative view that presents death as another form of birth, through which the work of our souls continues, free of dogma and judgment."

Daniel is the author of "A Swan in Heaven," written in the aftermath of the death of her son Danny, who died at age 16 after struggling with a degenerative disorder that transformed him from an active, healthy seven-year-old into a wheelchair-bound teenager who wore diapers, was unable to talk and could not use his hands.

There is a $15 fee for the workshop, which is open to all. RSVP is requested at 549-4004.

For more information visit http://www.swaninheaven.com.