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Presentations
and Workshops given by Mary Treacy O'Keefe
(See descriptions of retreats or see past
presentations)
Mary is an accomplished
speaker. She has given presentations to groups large and small about
her experience living through thin places with her family, her studies
in theology and spirituality, and her relationships with people she
has met through Well
Within, a nonprofit holistic wellness resource that provides integrative
healing classes, services and support to people who live with chronic
and/or life threatening illnesses, at little or no cost to participants.
Below are descriptions
of specific presentations that Mary has given:
Thin Places:
Where Faith is Affirmed and Hope Dwells
Session Format: One-hour presentation
Theologian Marcus
Borg observes that 'thin places' are experiences or places "where
the veil momentarily lifts, and we behold God, experience the one
in whom we live, all around us and within us." One of the best
ways to identify and share our thin place experiences is with a soul
friend. By sharing stories from her book, Thin Places: Where Faith
is Affirmed and Hope Dwells, Mary Treacy O'Keefe will demonstrate
how soul friendships and thin places help us live more fully by opening
our hearts to Divine messages that provide wisdom, faith and hope
in our daily lives.
Living Fully
Through Soul Friendships
Session Format: 1 hour presentation
One of the most
useful gifts for living a long, balanced, and fulfilling life is
a soul friend. Soul friends help us heal, enhance our immune system,
identify and use our unique gifts, bring peace, wisdom, joy and
laughter to our lives, and foster a deeper relationship with the
Divine. Sharing our stories, including the 'thin place' experiences
of our lives, helps refresh our souls and restore our spirits. This
presentation will include stories and information from Mary's book,
Thin Places: Where Faith is Affirmed and Hope Dwells. She also will
discuss briefly her work at Well Within, a nonprofit wellness resource
center where sharing stories helps foster healing for people living
with serious illnesses.
Introduction
to Mind-Body Skills: How to Manage Stress and Maintain a Strong Immune
System
- Discussion of
the importance of developing coping tools
and techniques for managing the stress and anxiety that inevitably
affects both survivors and caregivers.
- Short discussion
of biofeedback. Participants will be given 'bio-dots' to measure stress
levels throughout the day
- Meditation and
'soft belly' breathing: discussion of the benefits and various types
of meditation, including transcendental, mindfulness meditation, "relaxation
response", Centering Prayer, labyrinth
- Demonstration
of the power of imagery and visualization
Experiential activity: 5-10 minutes of Mindfulness meditation time
The Immune Power
Personality
A discussion
of research contained in Henry Dreher's book, Immune Power Personality,
concerning traits possessed by people with strong immune systems-all
things we can duplicate in our own lives
Support Groups
to Soul Friendships: The Healing Power of Relationships, with Others
and God:
- discuss research
demonstrating the importance of expressing our feelings to others
and the role of support groups
- explain the
concept of "thin places" and soul friendships as a means
of sharing stories and receiving spiritual support.
- the importance
of prayer and maintaining hope, both for our health and for eternal
life.
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As we journeyed
through the intense grief of our losses, we realized that our thin-place
experiences and memories brought each of us much-needed comfort and
affirmed our belief in eternal life. We learned that to be present
in the sacredness of the dying process can be an amazing thin place.
(page xvii)
Keep
in Contact
Share a story,
ask a question, or just send comments to mary.treacy.okeefe@gmail.com.
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