A talk by Maggie La Tourelle followed by discussion and mulling over the subject over a glass of wine and a tasty buffet. The Salon is hosted by Josefine Speyer

A small buffet and a glass of wine or juice will be provided on arrival.

Maggie’s talk and PP presentation is about expanded consciousness at the end of life. Her mother had Alzheimer’s and Maggie discovered that in the midst of endless repetition and confusion her mother had moments of great clarity, deep wisdom and profound experiences in another world. These phenomena have been recorded in many people at the end of life but Maggie believes that Alzheimer’s, being a protracted end-of-life experience, offers us an opportunity to gain greater insight into what is happening when the veil between this world and another world thins.

One in six people over the age of 80 have dementia and there are over 100 different types, each of which presents in a different way. Alzheimer’s is the most common accounting for around 62%. It is a progressive degenerative disease that causes extensive death of nerve cells and loss of brain tissue. Maggie will show, drawing on what her mother actually said and recent research in the field of neuroscience that far from the death of the brain being the end, it enables emergence into another world.

The evening will provide an opportunity to explore our thoughts and fears about Alzheimer’s and the end of life and the possibility to reframe them in the light of new information. We can also consider what we might do now to reduce our risk of getting the disease and what steps we might want to take to manage the end stage of our lives.

Maggie La Tourelle is a writer and therapist who has worked in the field of holistic health care for over thirty years, integrating psychotherapy, NLP, kinesiology and energetic healing. She has ten years hands-on experience helping to care for both her parents at the end of their lives. Her book, The Gift of Alzheimer’s, was published this year and another of her books, Principles of Kinesiology, continues to be a classic in the field after twenty years. http://www.thegiftofalzheimers.com

Josefine Speyer is the host of the Natural Death Salons. She is a psychotherapist and clinical supervisor with a special interest in grief and loss. She is a co-founder of the Natural Death Centre (1991), a co-editor of the Natural Death Handbook (2003), and a contributor to the Natural Death Handbook (2012). She offers death education workshops, talks, death groups and bereavement groups, and has hosted Salons at her home for many years as part of the Natural Death Centre’s educational program.

What is a Salon?

The great European tradition of Salons originated in Italy in the 16^th Century. Salons became fashionable in France during the 17^th, 18^th and 19^th Century when women invited artists and philosophers for discussion and exchange of ideas to their ‘Salon’ (large reception room) in their home. Following this model, the Natural Death Salon offers the chance to talk about death and related topics in the relaxed and comfortable atmosphere of Josefine’s spacious living room, accompanied by some food and drink and in the spirit of openness and non-discrimination. If you come for the first time, please contact Josefine and say a little about yourself by way of introduction. You are welcome to join the mailing list and be sent invitations to future Salons, held at various times throughout the year. If you wish to to suggest a topic or a speaker, please get in touch. You are most welcome!