To Nischala about your brother (was Spiritualizing the environment)

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Nischala wrote:

 

> I am wondering if anyone has any advice regarding how I may create a

> more spiritual, uplifting environment for my brother who is in the

> hospital being treated for Leukemia. Everyone in our family except

> myself are completely non-religious, and are unable to maintain a

> positive outlook on his condition - thus, the energy around him is

> very "heavy". Right now, the people taking care of him are feeling

> very pessimistic and sorrowful, and this is affecting his

> consciousness to such an extent that he is suffering from depression

> and will not talk (of course, much of this is also related to the

> chemotherapy and the shock of learning that he has a terminal illness)...

 

 

 

Dear Nischala ~ I am so sorry for what your brother is going through, yet

how fortunate he is to have you for a brother. Your very caring concern for his

welfare alone creates a "spiritual" environment, even if he won't talk.

Eventually, he will want to talk; he will need to talk. And if you have been by

his side, as it sounds that you are, patient, accepting, he will know he is

safe in expressing his feelings with you. I have tried to think what has

comforted me when I've been hospitalized, or even through this chronic illness

that

eats my body with pain every day. Nature is very healing. If there is a

window in your brother's room, and you are allowed to, I'd open it (the

shades),

even if only for a few moments each time you're there. The healing energy of

the sun will reach into your brother's room and its warmth into his body.

 

If you are allowed to have pictures, perhaps you could bring a lovely

landscape, not trite, just lovely, to hang on the wall where he can look at it.

If

there are galleries where you live, you might even find an original print,

which would be cheaper to buy than a painting. When I was doing better, I bought

a painting that a friend of mind did. It is simply a very large flower, a

flower that looks like a star, full of color, embraced by golden light, with

vivid colors surrounding it. As I have gotten sicker and had to spend more

time in bed, looking at that painting makes me happy. I feel connected to the

"spirit" of the star, to the joy of the colors, to the heart of golden light.

Perhaps you could find something like this. And if you can't, and you would

like a copy, I will ask the artist if she would mind me photographing it and

making a print to send to you. She is very much into healing herself, so I

can't imagine that she'd object.

 

If your brother is allowed to have flowers, a simple bouquet ... not the

overdone hospital type of bouquet, but just something simple ... wildflowers,

babies breath ... no gaudy ribbons or balloons, just a sweet little bit of

nature. A flower shop can do this but you have to be very clear about the

simplicity. They could also put the flowers in a simple basket, which is very

lovely.

 

Of course, I wouldn't suggest bringing all of this stuff to your brother's

room all at once, but just gradually, as you visit. If you have a picture for

the wall, you can just bring it in and say, "oh, I saw this, and I thought of

you."

 

These things, though not overtly "spiritual" are spiritualizing in nature.

Think of all the pictures of Amma sitting and watching the ocean, or of her

playing with animals. She understands the enherent divinity at the core of the

natural world.

 

Some good tapes would be almost anything by Robert Gass. If you go to Barnes

and Nobels site, you can even listen to clips from the cds. He became very

well known for his early, so beautiful rendition of Om Namah Shivaha. My tape

of it became ruined, and just listening to the clip made my heart open with

joy. Although I probably wouldn't spring one so specific to a particular

religion on your brother at first. But Robert Gass has many cds. There is one

called "Enchantment," which has Western and Eastern spiritual music. He has a

cd

of Native American Music. He has a cd of just "Healing Music." So you might

want to check him out.

 

But aside from all these ideas, you are the best gift to your brother ~ your

love, your attention, your concern, your presence...none of this will be

lost to him, and sooner or later, no matter how far down we've gone, the

presence of Love will reach out and call us back.

 

Jai Ma ~ Linda