Welcome
Bev Foster, Executive Director
Back to Main Page
For me, music has both formed and helped me express my spirituality. It may be that way because music appeals to the human spirit and is inextricably linked to our longings, desires and deepest, inner parts. Music may bypass habitual defences and provide easier access to the deeper places. The depths may be psychological, spiritual, personal involving past experiences, unresolved issues or relationships. Experiencing music may bring inner exploration and an enhanced sense of perceptions, pleasure, hope, relatedness to self, others and God, courage and personal growth.
There are a variety of expressions of how music is involved in spiritual care especially at end of life and during after care. In this issue of Doorway, Dr. Lucanne Magill’s 2008 study on how music therapy impacts the spirituality in surviving caregivers of advanced cancer patients informs us of the feelings and themes that were common. Dr. Amy Clements-Cortes’ work on Episodes of Relationship Completion Through Song: Case studies of music therapy research in palliative care has recently been published and is creatively engaging work. We have included an excerpt from the book and a review by Kevin Kirkland. Rojean Loucks’ story is inspiring and offers insight into the work of a certified music practitioner. While existential suffering is difficult to define and label, Margaret Van Dyck outlines ethical principles in palliative sedation – a must read. We’ve also included Andrea Warnick’s review of the newly released The Heart Does Break: Canadian Writers on Grief and Mourning. Caregiver’s Corner and Rooms around the World offer stories and inspiration.
I hope you enjoy this rich issue of DOORWAY. If you have topic ideas or contributions you would like to make, please contact jhunter@room217.ca.
Back to Main Page
| 
