Culture activist, worker, author ~ Stephen teaches internationally and is the creator and principal instructor of the Orphan Wisdom School, co-founded the school with his wife Nathalie Roy in 2010, convening semi-annually in Deacon, Ontario, and in northern Europe.

He has Master’s degrees from Harvard University (Theology) and the University of Toronto (Social Work).

Apprenticed to a master storyteller when a young man, he has worked extensively with dying people and their families, is former programme director in a major Canadian hospital, former assistant professor in a prominent Canadian medical school.

He is also a sculptor, traditional canoe builder whose house won a Governor General’s Award for architecture.

Since co-founding the Nights of Grief and Mystery project with singer/ songwriter Gregory Hoskins in 2015, he has toured this musical/ tent show revival/ storytelling/ ceremony of a show across North America, U.K. and Europe and Australia and New Zealand. They released their Nights of Grief & Mystery album in 2017 and at the end of 2020, they released two new records; Dark Roads and Rough Gods.

He is the author of Come of Age: The Case for Elderhood in a Time of Trouble (2018), the award-winning Die Wise: A Manifesto for Sanity and Soul (2015), Homecoming: The Haiku Sessions (a live teaching from 2013), How it All Could Be: A workbook for dying people and those who love them (2009), Angel and Executioner: Grief and the Love of Life – (a live teaching from 2009), and Money and The Soul’s Desires: A Meditation (2002). He was a contributing author to Palliative Care – Core Skills and Clinical Competencies (2007).

Stephen Jenkinson is also the subject of the feature length documentary film Griefwalker (National Film Board of Canada, 2008, dir. Tim Wilson), a portrait of his work with dying people, and Lost Nation Road, a shorter documentary on the crafting of the Nights of Grief and Mystery tours (2019, dir. Ian Mackenzie).

His books, recordings and DVDs are available for purchase at the Orphan Wisdom Shop.

How To Live Full & Die Wise (Stephen Jenkinson)

Notes from the chat: 
People pleasing tendencies 
Saying no and listening to your body makes space for so much more. 
Fear : saying yes to your authentic self 
Survival phase of healing 
Thriving phase of healing 
Surthriving :
Myths - she doesn’t believe we have to be fully healed to fully live. 
Sometimes we are both surviving and thriving. 
Finding joy in pockets of moments. When you’re still in survival mode (making it moment to moment) 

“Our goal is to free our self” 

“On the other side of trauma there’s so much more than our past self can even envision” 

“Repetition rewires the brain”

Consistency 

Brain is mailable. We can train the brain by repeating behaviors. 

Compassion is crucial. We can develop new path ways with compassion. 

First step : “take step over the overgrown grass”

“Take steps in your meadow”

Each time you come back to it it’s less over grown and creates a pathway.

The psychology of seeing yourself wining = manifesting 

Mindfulness: greater awareness 

Finding time for mindfulness: (5 minutes a day) 

More efficient than 1 hour weekly 

Make your daily task mindful (washing dishes, brushing teeth, sweeping floor) 

Mindful listening: how we show up in relationship. Taking time to listen. (Practice) (pause is listening) 

Mindful living: 

“You’re not alone” - eases the pain 

I am proud of you

You’re safe with me

I’m here with you

I am listening to you

Your feelings are valid

You’re not alone

You matter to me

How can I best support you?

You’re a pain doesn’t define you

Repetition Rewires The Brain with Dr. Jen Wolkin

In this track, I talk about step one and lesson one from my new course on people pleasing. You can register for the course here,

https://sylvester-mcnutt-iii.mykajabi.com/offers/eokY498e/checkout

Repetition Rewires The Brain with Dr. Jen Wolkin

SylvesterMcNutt

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