The Black and White Sphere of Death

​I would like to invite you to consider something with me - and that is the language we use when someone is sitting with cancer, or serious illness. We have a whole pat phraseology in place around who those who are doing well in their health struggles - they are ‘survivors’ and ‘winners’ in the ‘battle’ to achieve wellness again. We want so desperately to keep life and death in a literal, black and white sphere. By doing this we deny ourselves and our loved ones a full range of human experience. Yes, it is fraught and hellacious to suffer from ill health. But it does not solely transform us into gladiators. Yes, a cri de couer can wake strong energies inside of us to heal illness, but it is not the only thing. When we shy away from more sensitive and nuanced language, we shape the experience of being ill in a narrow way and unfruitful way.

Let’s see that black and white language to it’s logical end...those who don’t ‘survive’ have ‘failed’? Really? I believe culturally we have come to align death with a kind of failure...but it does not need to be this way. Let’s be aware of how we encourage our beloved and ourselves when there is a health struggle before us, and make some changes.
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(Originally posted-07/09/18)