It's full moon tonight and they say you experience stronger emotions during full moon.

While I like new moon as it brings new beginnings, I like full moon for the energy of completeness and culmination.  Chinese people like full moons for its symbolic meaning of union and perfection. 

On this full moon day, I had a random chat with an overseas friend and learnt that he is going through stressful time because one of his parents is terminally ill.  I feel for him.  And it reminded me of the deaths I have seen in recent years. 

For sharing I sent him this earlier blog entry I wrote: Going "Home" after my father's passing

In it I shared my learnings from reading the book The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying, and the consciousness shift I experienced regarding life and death, which is a complete, perfect and continous process.  I wish him strength. 

Since my father passed away, I have seen other people in my life pass away and I noticed how differently I am dealing with it now.  "Death" is no longer a "taboo" for me but rather a natural course in nature.  My life has become much lighter because death is not a mystery or a horrible ending anymore. 

I am still healing everyday of course.  And I know that I will continue to experience seeming "loss" which will continue to help me grow. 

The hardest thing to say is perhaps I fully accept everything that has happened, and that I wouldn't change a thing about my past.  But this is what gives us real peace. 

I see my work in the wellness field as a way to help people live to their life's fullest potential, and it is not only in the physical sense that I hope I could help.  I hope  in whatever I do or say I am also able to inspire people to face life/death with acceptance and courage.  And I truly believe experiencing "loss" especially the "death" of someone close to us can provide the most transformative experience in life. 

I also believe physical "death" or exit process also provides athe travelling "soul" a unique growing experience.  I believe we are all spiritual beings having a physical experience, it's like our soul is travelling and staying in different hotel rooms... One day we need to check out and move on. 

On this full moon night, I am remembering my friend Juli.   She passed on earlier this year to breast cancer.  With all her natural healings she outlived her doctor's prediction so I would say she had time to prepare her exit.  She lived her life with full participation and love of good times.  I still remember she came to her last Halloween party fully dressed up with her oxygen support and walking stick, while most of other guests did not bother to dress up... She got the "best dressed" prize!

I was able to lend her my iPod with the audio book of The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying and other spiritual books as well as chants which she asked me to.  She was using the iPod in her last days.  I trust it has been of help to her.

A few months before she passed on, we had dinner together.  She was still living her life like a normal person. It was a few months after my father's passing and I just finished reading The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying and I wanted to share with her. 

I remember having a new idea and I said this to her: "Juli, we don't know who of us will leave this world first (because you never know) but I just wanted to say this, if anyone of us dies first, we must remind the other, when the ships sinks, don't hold on to it, don't sink with it.  Remember, we have wings, and we can fly"

She said, "Guess what's the name of this restaurant?" (It's her idea to go there and I didn't remember the name)

"Wings", she said with her signature big smile...

We had a roaring laugh. 

I never found out why the restaurant name it this and if they are known for their chicken wings...I remember wondering about it.  

I will always remember this restaurant and its name though.  And when it's time for me to go, I will remember it... That will be my cue... Chicken wings...!

And I trust that Juli had soared with her wings...and I can almost see her looking down from the moon tonight, with her big smile, eating chicken wings...!