Stories of Conscious Dying (Book Excerpt)

Art’s Story

"A sterling example of living life to the fullest during its final stages

was Art, a close friend of my husband, John, and the officiate for

our wedding. He lived a rich and robust ninety years, dying just

a week or so after his birthday. When we first met, he was living

with his second wife, Judith, on the coast near Half Moon Bay, and

while long since retired from the work-a-day world, he was active

and engaging, usually busy with projects that he continued until

just near the end. Art was a modern day Renaissance Man. He was

a storyteller, poet, and believer in the rights of all humans to live

their dreams as he listened closely to what anyone had to say. You

always felt heard by him.

Then, several years before his death, he began to have serious

heart trouble. His active days began to slow somewhat although

he still continued to attend spiritual study groups, local plays, and

enjoyed the company of friends and family. He knew well that he

was dying, but he chose to live each day to the fullest. In fact, just

several years before his death, he recorded a music CD, “Hero,”

which he then gave to his loved ones.

A ninetieth-birthday celebration was planned, and Art was by

then unable to attend, and even though he did get dressed and was

determined to walk across the street to the neighbor’s home, he

wasn’t strong enough. His friends instead dropped by, chatted with

him, and then returned to the party albeit without Art’s presence. A

few days later, he was admitted to the Veteran’s hospital and by the

end of the week he was slipping in and out of consciousness while

remaining peaceful, knowing that his time was drawing to a close.

He did not struggle nor did he complain but instead allowed the

natural course of events to unfold. It was a Saturday afternoon when

John and I went to say our good-byes, and by then his breathing

was more labored, his attention no longer on the physical elements

around him. Judith and friends had brought music that played in the

background and the whole “vibe” was calm and serene.

I had brought my drum, and we formed a small circle around

Art’s bed as I began to sing “We Are the Old Ones,” a chant I wrote

in 1989 while sitting on the Bell Rock Vortex in Sedona, Arizona,

and later recorded in 1994 on “Flight of the Hawk: Shamanic Songs

and Ritual Chants.”

“We are the old ones,

We are the ancient ones,

We are the old ones

And we bring you peace.

Lay your body down

Lay your body down,

Lay your body down

And rest, and rest.”

Soon his wife, Judith, John, and one other close female friend

who had been in spiritual circles with Art all joined in, singing

quietly and helping him find his way back home. Art showed no

resistance at all as he entered the final stages of the transition and

took his last breath several hours later. We will all remember those

last moments with Art, one of the most amazing men John and I

have ever known."

excerpt from Spiritual Turning Points A Metaphysical Perspective of the Seven Life Transitions
All rights Reserved c. 2011