Aging, is more than a physiological process; it involves shifts in our emotional, psychological and spiritual well-being. We move in and out of independence, dependence and inter-dependence. Our understanding of aging has changed over the years and these views vary as well by cultural and spiritual traditions. All of us, irrespective of age, are a part of each other’s aging. As a spiritual
community, we bear witness and celebrate a new life, young people going off to college, and marriages. We also come together to honor the ending of a life. Growing older, need not be merely looking forward to decades-long decline into personal diminishment and impoverishment” (SchachterShalomi & Miller,2014, xiii). Rather, Schachter-Shalomi & Miller suggest that Spiritual Eldering ©
allows us to shift from an emphasis on productivity or doing to being, that emphasizes using one’s wisdom to support ourselves and those who are younger around us.

The purpose of the fall/winter session, Changing the Paradigm, From Age-ing to Sage-ing is to invite adults of all ages to share their internal wisdom so that we may examine and learn from each other about the opportunities and challenges in growing older. From Age-ing to Sage-ing: A Revolutionary Approach to Growing Older, by Zalman Schachter-Shalomi and Ronald S. Miller will serve as the basis for our four session exploration of new concepts in aging. The authors invite us to examine the Theory of Spiritual Eldering and Sageing© as new models of late-life development that draw on three sources: (1) “models of the traditional elder whose wisdom guided the social order for thousands of years; (2) state of the art breakthroughs in brainmind consciousness, and (3) the ecology movement which urges us to live in harmony with the natural world.”

A study guide developed by the Unitarian Universalist Association, “From Age-ing to Sage-ing: A Profound New Vision of Growing Older” offers us a structured way to explore a new way to look at aging.

Our first session will establish the guidelines for group sharing. Each session will include Opening Words, the Lighting of the Chalice and an overview of the session which can include readings, thought provoking questions, time for sharing and individual contemplation. The following is a general outline of the four sessions. Each session’s details will be repeated in the issue of The Chalice in which it takes place.

CHANGING THE PARADIGM: FROM AGE-ING to SAGE-ING SERIES

Session One – September 23, 2018 – 12 noon to 2pm – The Sanctuary
 Spiritual Eldering and Personal Transformation
 Deepen our understanding of aging and elder-hood
 Re-memorying and En-visioning – Significant people in our lives
 Visiting our Lives as Cycles of a Year
 Various views of “Life’s Stages”

Session Two – October 28, 2018 – 12 noon to 2pm – The Sanctuary
 Art of Life
 Life Transitions – from older to elder
 To whom would you write a letter of appreciation?
 Expressing ourselves – Physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually

Session Three – November 18, 2018 – 12 noon to 2pm – The Sanctuary
 The Eternity Factor
 Examining the losses in our life including diminished hearing, vision, mobility, and the death of
family/friends
 Jung’s Elder Archetype – views of maturity that transcend the ego
 Earth Centered traditions – The Crone; the Grandmother Lodge
 Writing an Ethical Will
 Perspectives on death and dying – Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity

Session Four – January 20, 2019 – 12 noon to 2pm – The Sanctuary
 Mentoring and Elders as Healers of Family, Community, and Gaia
 Ways in which we have been mentees and mentors
 Intergenerational Giving
 Becoming Sages- How we can serve the planet, country, community, family

We strongly recommend that you commit to attending each monthly session. Participation will be enriched if you are able to read the chapters in the text prior to attending. A generous donor has already purchased ten books. You may borrow one now if you wish to start reading. Sign-up sheets will be available in early August. Please see any member of the Adult Religious Education Committee if you have questions (Kathryn LaMar; Diane Meyerson; Shelia McClellan, Ethel-May Shaw, and Mileva Saulo Lewis).