For questions or further ideas about Elder Circles, contact:
Del Jones deljonesaz@cox.net 520-298-6542
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Elder Circles
TOPICS
There are many ways to choose subjects for Elder Circles. Usually they are designed around questions of meaning which people ask. Lists of such questions are found in books about conscious aging.
The most excellent booklet, “A Harvest of Years” by Cynthia Trenshaw, has a Guide for Proactive Aging Circles with ideas for gatherings, questions, i.e. Why do we resist depending on others? What do we believe about life after death? What personal stories about death/dying do we want to share? What books, poems, movies have shaped us? Purchase on the web: www.peerspirit.com
Some groups do a book study of the book, From Age-ing to Sage-ing, by Schachter-Shalomi. An excellent curriculum which includes handouts,agenda, etc., is available on the internet:
www.uua.org/documents/hoertdoerferpat/elderhoodspirituality,pdf
Other Book groups have chosen Reclaiming Your Place at the Fire, by Leider and Shapiro: and The Second Half of Life, Angelus Arrien.
Aging and Life Review is an internet course: www.usm.maine.edu/~mbrady/558syl.htm
New Mexico has a network of Elder Circles and their list on the web comes from a list of 8 years of circling: http://www.can-nm.org/Discussion%20topics.htm
Elder Circles in Tuscon have used:
Approaches to end of life; Embracing Your Legacy; Conscious Listening; Who am I becoming? Planning Your funeral; Inner wisdom, Wills, Ethical wills, Advance health care directives; Mentoring; Forgiveness; Mentoring for sustainability
