” Death to me is another kind of birth. To be able to help escort someone through that veil is a tremendous honor and a gift.”
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People who have been admitted to hospice care are terminally ill, with a life expectancy of six months or less. Care focuses on comfort, and treatment intended to cure the disease is discontinued. This is where Rick steps in.
An important part of his service to his patients is playing music for them. He plays, not as entertainment, but as a way to ease the transition from life to death. It is a very old tradition, going back to the the ancient Greeks, as well as to the Benedictine monks in Cluny, France, whose chants are still in use today.
“ Music patterns our energy. Everything vibrates, from a rock to the highest celestial beings,” Rick notes.“ Music is a way of tuning in with particular frequencies and it affects our very being. For example, if you play in the key of C for 10 minutes, the body releases particular endorphins, which lead to more positive and peaceful states.”
Rick Clayton’ s work has been described as that of a shaman and a“ psychopomp,” defined in Wikipedia as:“ Greek for‘ guide of souls’ [ Their ] responsibility is to escort newly deceased souls from Earth to the afterlife.”
Long before he became a certified practitioner of Music for Healing and Transition and a Reiki practitioner, he served an AIDS hospice in Indianapolis. This is where he first used his harp. The harp and the guitar playing, his intuitive feeling for vibration and energy, his knowledge of essential oils, and his particular spirituality are all dedicated to bringing peace and harmony.
“ I am helping to escort the person into that land of rest and peace. Reiki and music are tools that smooth the energy out. I try to bring balance to the body. Reiki is the great equalizer, helping the body process
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July / August 2015 • Our Brown County 21