. This August 24th marked the 4th anniversary of the passing of my dear friend and teacher the late pioneering thanatologist, Elisabeth Kubler-Ross MD.
We met in 1979 in Escondido California when I attended my first Life Death Transition workshop.
Several workshops later Elisabeth wrote a reference letter in my behalf and told me to take it to hospice. So began my work with the dying ,and a 25 year friendship with a dear colleague.
Elisabeth was a person of passionate spirit.She taught me to open my heart to the spiritual nature of life.
Sunday August 22,2004 I came out of my shower, went into my bedroom ,layed on top of the bed to relax and looked out to the tops of the trees from my 3rd floor attic apartment.
I live in the middle of San Francisco in a nice but very crowed neighborhood. I walk past the homeless to do my daily errands and the underground trains come out of the tunnel right across the street . My mornings of looking out to the trees are a gift that I treasure.
As I gazed towards the trees I saw a pair of wings rising from the stairs below my deck. I raised my head in curious awe when an eagle appeared, perched on the railing, and looked into my room.” Oh my God! “I exclaimed.” what is this?” It was a small golden eagle or hawk. Neither would have been flying around my neighborhood ,and this did not fly over. It came up to intentionally perch on the railing of my 3rd story deck.
I sat in utter amazement and wondered what it meant. After about two minutes it flew away.
I immediately got my animal spirits book and looked up hawk. A Native American omen of healing, rebirth, and a sign that I should be alert to what is coming ahead. The eagle is the messenger to God who takes our prayers to Heaven. I knew I was being given a very important message but I wasn’t clear what it was.
I emailed a good friend in Arizona and related the event.
Tuesday morning August 24th I received an email telling me of the death of my dear friend Elisabeth’ Kubler Ross.
I took a shower and went into my room to lay on top of the bed and look out to the trees. As I looked out I came to clarity:
Elisabeth’s totem animal was the golden eagle. The golden eagle had been sent to me to tell me good bye from Elisabeth. I wept in deepest gratitude for this gift, and for the wisdom to recognize it.
May the spirit of Elisabeth Kubler Ross continue to soar. May her spirit continue to enlighten where the truth is needed .My dearest friend and teacher, I feel so blessed.
I look forward to your stories of vision and spirit.
Many Blessings Irene Smith
Irene -
Thank you for sharing your story about Elisabeth. I still remember the weekend I first met you in April 2005 in an Everflowing Workshop and the changes in my life that have taken place since that weekend.
I can only hope that I can give back and continue to learn from your example.
Peace -
Lora
Left by Lora on August 28th, 2008
Dear Irene,
This is an amazing story.
I was visited in a dream by my beloved aunt when she passed away ten years ago. She was an adventuress and eventually settled in the Arizona desert. She set a great example to me in exploring spiritual matters from alien life to earth stewardship. Every kid should have such a far-out friend among their family elders.
In the dream I swam out to sea, and found myself in a community made up of the most radiant, loving beings I had ever met. I spent some time with them, playing in the warm water of their home, and when it was time to go, I swam back to the beach, and walked up to the road to hail a taxi. A taxi stopped, and a woman in the back seat said she’d share the cab with me. She was holding a cocktail in one hand, and a cigarette in the other. I told her about the radiant people I had met. She said they were my family, didn’t I know that. I noticed that she looked exactly like my aunt, and spoke and behaved like her.
In the morning I would learn that my aunt had died that night.
I believe that she appeared in the dream to say goodbye and have a few last words before we would meet again. Her presence in my life was a gift, and the meeting in the dream, the conversation in the dream an extra special one that I am so grateful for.
Peace, Elizabeth
Left by Elizabeth on August 29th, 2008