Hospice, the Dying process, Death
Researching this Hospice paper has been interesting. People who responded to my various questions (here and on e-lists and personal e-mails and so on) were mostly Hospice volunteers, with a few nurses and chaplains. In all three categories about half had told their supervisors of their Pagan religious or spiritual orientation, and about half had not.
Nearly all who had shared that info reported responses along a continuum from 'wary curiosity' to 'warm-hearted acceptance.' None reported negative response.
Most who had chosen silence commented that they felt certain of rejection; some feared reprisal.
Almost everyone said that their patients and the patients' families didn't know -- and felt that this was appropriate. "It's not about me, it's about them -- and it's about their spirituality, not mine" was a typical comment.
Nobody I corresponded with mentioned a piece of my own experience -- that some of the Christian volunteers I work alongside see nothing wrong with talking about their own spirituality, naming their denominational affiliation and so on. Is this a self-imposed double standard?
Several of us noted that Pagans in the family are also being quiet, with the comic result of suddenly discovering each other at a Pagan event after weeks of sharing the work with the dying person. Broom closets are as weird as other closets, I guess.
The other thing I'm noticing is that there is almost no writing on this subject. Must be time to write a book. Is this a book I'm willing to write? I dunno yet. Hmm.
Nearly all who had shared that info reported responses along a continuum from 'wary curiosity' to 'warm-hearted acceptance.' None reported negative response.
Most who had chosen silence commented that they felt certain of rejection; some feared reprisal.
Almost everyone said that their patients and the patients' families didn't know -- and felt that this was appropriate. "It's not about me, it's about them -- and it's about their spirituality, not mine" was a typical comment.
Nobody I corresponded with mentioned a piece of my own experience -- that some of the Christian volunteers I work alongside see nothing wrong with talking about their own spirituality, naming their denominational affiliation and so on. Is this a self-imposed double standard?
Several of us noted that Pagans in the family are also being quiet, with the comic result of suddenly discovering each other at a Pagan event after weeks of sharing the work with the dying person. Broom closets are as weird as other closets, I guess.
The other thing I'm noticing is that there is almost no writing on this subject. Must be time to write a book. Is this a book I'm willing to write? I dunno yet. Hmm.