Sacred Rituals for Caregivers A Continuing Education Workshop in Self-Care for Professional Caregivers Presented by Daphne C. Reiley ©2014 Ripples of Grace

 Caregiver for four years as mother progressed through Alzheimer’s disease.  Called to offer support to caregivers.  Core belief is that we all need to be good listeners because we all need to be heard.  Facilitates support groups, provides individual spiritual direction, initiates threshold gatherings, leads prayer circles, and leads workshops on various spiritual disciplines.

“What is sacred? It’s the ground of our being. It’s the whole of which we are a part. It’s what imbues our life with meaning and beauty.”  Joanna Macy, Interview with Yes! Magazine

What are some of the ways that you access the sacred in your life?

 1. Who in your life has modeled "sacred rituals"?

 2. What sacred rituals were you taught as a child by your family, mentors, or faith community?

 Consistency  Constancy  Connectivity Voilá…your Cup is filled!

 Putting on Makeup  Making Coffee  Meditation  Yoga  Stretching  Prayer  Journaling  Dancing!

 Are any of the ways you have of accessing the sacred in your life adaptable as a personal daily ritual for your well-being?

"If we do not cultivate attentive awareness we will miss the divine presence springing forth all around us in unrestrained beauty and power." June Cannato, Radical Amazement

 Break into groups of 5 people  Take 2 minutes each to describe a personal ritual that you find sustaining.  If you don’t have one, offer your thoughts on what you might try or ask for suggestions during your 2 minutes.  At the end of 10 minutes, we will hear from each group.

 Quieting Our Thoughts  Breathing Techniques  Mindful Movement  Physical Stillness

 Meditation  Guided  Example Meditation  Non-Guided

 Internal benefits:  Stillness  Calmness  Sense of solitude

 Internal benefits:  Stillness  Calmness  Sense of solitude  External benefits:  Graciousness  Patience

 Friends  Mentors  Family  Clergy-types  Community

 Joy  Rest and grounding  Clarity of purpose/direction  Sustenance to pass along to patient

 Working individually, note down your ideas about a ritual you can begin today.  Please complete and turn in the Evaluation included in your packet.