[Cancer]
[cancer] The chemo ritual
So we have made a ritual to help me get through chemo.
We acquired twelve small bottles and jars.
I wrote out a list of twelve of my hopes and twelve of my fears for the chemotherapy process.
We randomly inserted one hope and one fear in each bottle. Then the two of them placed their bonus hopes into the bottles, and we arranged them on my mantelpiece.
Now, every time I finish a chemo infusion (which will be the Sunday afternoons after the Friday sessions, when I can remove the pump I’m to wear for 48 hours), I will smash one of the bottles, releasing both the hope and the fear within. We’ll save the shards and scraps inside a larger bottle to remind me later. The diminishing line of bottles on the mantelpiece will be my countdown calendar showing how long I have to go until I’m done.
I’m not normally much for rituals, but this one feels powerful to me.
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Posted: 8:37 pm Thu January 07 2010 |
Comments
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OH I LOVE THAT. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE. Yes, definitely powerful!
That is absolutely, unequivocally, indescribably awesome. I’d say you have yourself the best support you could possibly have.
So much love..and what a wonderful idea. And here is the music to hear http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8QfoBHH8_Pk
What a wonderful ritual! My best wishes to you throughout this process.
Chalk me up as another atheist who really believes in the power of ritual. Some people may think a ritual’s intent is to act on the “out there,” but we can use them to act on the “in here.” That sort of power is especially strong in rituals we create for ourselves, with our own semantics. Voice of experience.
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