Hold Me -continued
A Hospice Worker Processes her Experience Through Touch Drawing
Shemaya Nancy Blauer

I found her trapped inside herself. A bear emerged within a tree, and transformed into a heart-filled opening. Then she appeared, suspended from her tired body that had fought so many diseases. Next she emerged peaceful, surrounded by loving ones, her body was young and soft. Despair returned and she cried out, shattering the calm. She reappeared as a weeping willow. Again, tears flooded from her eyes, and she knew that she was being held. Our bodies rose together into a world beyond time and space. This was part of her “goodbye...” to her child-self, her woman-self, and her crone-self. And like a phoenix, she rose, the curtain was drawn, and the journey was complete.

I sent this story for the E-newsletter as I was departing for the Oregon Hospice Association’s annual Professional Practices Exchange. I will be exhibiting these drawings and offering a Touch Drawing workshop at the conference.

I will present TD as a tool to help us thrive in the face of death and find the precious gifts of this work.

This Touch Drawing series was inspired by my deep conviction in the parallels between life, death, and rebirth. Click on images for slideshow.

© 2007 Shemaya Nancy Blauer

Shemaya Blauer, MSW is a Social Worker at Legacy Hospice in Portland, Oregon. She has developed a comprehensive understanding of the use of the expressive arts in healing, grief, trauma, personal growth and self care. Her passion for Touch Drawing continues to grow, as it is easily accessible to everyone, its applications are endless, and all it takes is touch and a willingness to express. She has been doing Touch Drawing since 1990. She can be reached at shemaya_toyou@yahoo.com.