In this episode of The Brilliant Body Podcast, host Ali Mezey, co-producer Florence Popoff and guest Karen Bellone discuss the often avoided topics of death, dying, and the natural capability of the body. They explore deep-seated fears surrounding death, how modern society is distanced from it, and the importance of having open conversations about mortality - of humans and other animals. They also dive into the idea of conscious living and dying, the discrepancies in generational attitudes toward death, and how engaging with the natural cycles of life can expand awareness. Reflective of cultural beliefs and personal experiences, this episode encourages listeners to open up and discuss these difficult yet enriching topics.
MORE ALI MEZEY:
Personal Geometry® and the Magic of Mat Work Course information:
BIO:
Founder, Doula, Educator: Karen Bellone, MFA, is a Certified End-of-Life Doula and Death Educator. She is the founder of The Seventh Sense in NY’s Hudson Valley, where she is an integral part of a worldwide community that is reigniting the wisdom of death within our modern lives. She is also founder of Exit Strategy for Dying, a monthly Death, Arts and Culture Readers supporting a resource hub to educate and refocus the narrative around death and grief through the lens of arts, culture, storytelling and innovation. Prior to embracing her passion for end-of-life work, Karen has had a long career as an award-winning filmmaker and internationally collected photographer. She received a BFA in Film Production from New York University, and did graduate work with the world-renowned Actors Studio, through their inaugural program at the New School for Social Research.
After training and becoming certified with INELDA (International End of Life Doula Association), Karenworked with an innovative hospice in Los Angeles where her skills as a death doula were developed and broadened. In addition to working with patients in various stages of their life journeys, she was responsible for training the volunteer staff, nurses and other hospice and medical professionals to bring more understanding, humanity and compassion into their work with the dying. She spoke regularly with groups, such as the Alzheimer’s Project, about the role of the doula at end-of-life, and the space that can be held to bring about ‘a good death’. She believes strongly in the ability to demystify and assuage the fear that surrounds death in our culture and to foster safe passage for the dying, as well as to aid the families and loved ones through grief and bereavement.
As a visual artist and storyteller, Karen acquired a multitude of skills throughout her career that unlocked a deep passion for the healing power of visual and auditory perception on human consciousness. She integrated these strengths and resources into tools to bring aid and comfort for those imminently facing their mortality. Working with somatic and sensory awareness, Karen utilizes visual, sound and meditation therapy, personalized guided imagery, and commemoration of the sacred in the form of ritual, legacy and memory work, in order to bring comfort - physically, emotionally, spiritually to celebrate and commemorate the life of the individual. In addition to her ongoing private practice, Karen is currently directing a feature film about living American artist Michelle Stuart, whose work also engages with the elemental and ineffable nature of existence.
RESOURCES:
In Buddhism, death is viewed as a natural part of the life cycle and an opportunity for spiritual growth. The concept is deeply intertwined with the notions of impermanence (anicca) and rebirth (samsara). Rather than being an end, death is seen as a transition, where the energy of one's consciousness continues in a new form, influenced by karma—the cumulative effects of one's actions, thoughts, and intentions. The ultimate goal is to break free from the cycle of death and rebirth through enlightenment, which means reaching a state of liberation (nirvana) where the mind is free from suffering and attachment. Mindfulness and acceptance of death are considered essential practices, as they help individuals live more fully and prepare for the moment of death with clarity and peace.
Green burial is an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional burial practices that emphasizes simplicity, sustainability, and minimal impact on the earth. It typically involves using biodegradable materials, avoiding embalming chemicals, and opting for natural settings like conservation areas or designated green cemeteries. The goal is to allow the body to decompose naturally, returning nutrients to the soil, and preserving the surrounding ecosystem.
Lambing season in Scotland, typically from March to May, is a busy and vital time on farms, as thousands of lambs are born each spring. This period is crucial for the meat industry, with farmers carefully tending to both ewes and newborns to ensure their health and growth. While lambing is often seen as a symbol of renewal and the start of spring, it is also a time of intense labor and long days for shepherds, who balance the joy of new life with the practical realities of raising livestock for food production.
A Dream Within a Dream
Take this kiss upon the brow!
And, in parting from you now,
Thus much let me avow —
You are not wrong, who deem
That my days have been a dream;
Yet if hope has flown away
In a night, or in a day,
In a vision, or in none,
Is it therefore the less gone?
All that we see or seem
Is but a dream within a dream.
I stand amid the roar
Of a surf-tormented shore,
And I hold within my hand
Grains of the golden sand —
How few! yet how they creep
Through my fingers to the deep,
While I weep — while I weep!
O God! Can I not grasp
Them with a tighter clasp?
O God! can I not save
One from the pitiless wave?
Is all that we see or seem
But a dream within a dream?
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[From time to time, a word or phrase goes wonky. Please forgive my wandering wifi.]