Dying people know they are dying. They attempt to share this information by using symbolic language to indicate preparation for a journey. Travel is a clear metaphor often used to describe this need to go forth—to die
Maggie Callanan and Patricia Kelley in Final Gifts
A guided journal for the final journey
A guided journal for the final journey
Embark on a deeply reflective and transformative journey with ‘Eternal Crossings Travel Journal’. This guided journal serves as a compassionate companion for those navigating life’s final journey. Through carefully curated prompts, this unique journal combines the spirit of travel with introspection, guiding you through life’s review, legacy crafting, vigil planning, and heartfelt connections with loved ones.
- Engage in structured life reviews that serve as a compass, illuminating the path of your personal growth.
- Craft your legacy project, drawing parallels between your life’s adventures and the footprints you wish to leave behind.
- Find moments of solace and creativity with calming coloring pages inspired by nature’s landscapes.
- Express profound messages to loved ones through dedicated sections for heartfelt letters, leaving behind a cherished testament of love, gratitude, and wisdom.
- Plan and personalize your vigil with thoughtful guidance, ensuring a meaningful departure.
‘Eternal Crossings Travel Journal’ is more than a journal; it’s a conversation guide when discussing life experiences, beliefs, personal legacies, and final wishes with loved ones or caregivers, in a structured and meaningful way.
Embrace the profound nature of this sacred passage, honor the past, live fully in the present, and gracefully step into the unknown of what lies beyond.
Life's Review and personal legacy
The Road home
Culture in Review
Culture in Review
By using the Eternal Crossings Travel Journal as a symbolic journey home, individuals can find peace and closure in reflecting on the meaningful moments of their lives, fostering a sense of peace, and having meaningful dialogues about values, personal legacies, and their final wishes.
Culture in Review
Culture in Review
Culture in Review
Passing on culture and values at the end of life is a significant way for individuals to leave a lasting legacy. This often involves sharing stories, traditions, and wisdom with loved ones. Through this journal, individuals can pass on and help preserve cultural heritage and values to future generations.
Scenic Views
Culture in Review
Scenic Views
Exploring childhood experiences during the end-of-life phase can foster a deeper sense of self-awareness, understand the impact of upbringing on an individual's identity and values, and gain insights into one's experiences. The journal can be helpful to strengthen family connections.
Landscapes
Culture in Review
Scenic Views
Adulthood life reviews involve reflecting on various experiences, achievements, challenges, and relationships. This journal allows individuals to assess their personal and professional growth, relationships, and contributions One often finds a sense of fulfillment and gratitude of life.
Journey map
journey map legend
journey map legend
Life reviews at the end of life often involve reflective processes where individuals assess and recount their life experiences, accomplishments, relationships, and significant moments. By using this journal, individuals can gain insights and a deeper appreciation for their life journey.
journey map legend
journey map legend
journey map legend
Life reviews begin with the past, reflecting on an individuals early life, childhood memories, and formative experiences to documenting pivotal moments and significant milestones that have marked their life's journey. This journal can help bring emotional healing, acceptance, and a sense of closure.
Travel Reflections
journey map legend
Travel Reflections
Through this introspective reflection practice, individuals can find a sense of fulfillment, gratitude, and acceptance as they approach the end of their life journey. This journal page enables individuals to identify the impact they had on others, thus leaving behind a meaningful legacy.
Travel Memories
journey map legend
Travel Reflections
Legacy projects at the end of life are meaningful undertakings that individuals pursue to leave a lasting impact and preserve their memories, values, and wisdom for future generations. These projects can take on various forms and often serve as a source of comfort, inspiration, and connection.
Travel Tips
Letters to loved ones
In the Future
Leaving words of advice for a legacy project is special as they offer future generations wisdom, guidance, and life lessons that an individual has gained through their own experiences. By sharing insights and knowledge, you can provide a valuable source of inspiration and support for your loved ones.
In the Future
Letters to loved ones
In the Future
Additionally, sharing words of wisdom can help foster a sense of connection between generations, ensuring that your values, beliefs, and life lessons are passed down and cherished by your family. It allows an individual's loved ones to feel a personal connection to them, even after they are gone.
Share a memory
Letters to loved ones
Letters to loved ones
This journal page allows for some creative legacy project ideas to be documented. Ideas such as cherished family recipes, a family tree that includes photos or stories, chronicling family history or significant life events, letters to family members, a collage of old photographs and more.
Letters to loved ones
Letters to loved ones
Letters to loved ones
Writing letters to loved ones can be a deeply emotional and meaningful way to express thoughts, feelings, gratitude, and wishes. These letters can be profound and cherished keepsakes that provide comfort and reassurance, fostering deeper connections with your loved ones.
Compassionate Companion: vigil planning
coloring page
Vigil planning
coloring page
Coloring pages for individuals can be a meaningful and therapeutic activity. Using familiar images like nature scenes might evoke positive memories. There are additional journal pages that invite individuals and their families to take part in a relaxing and enjoyable activity.
companioning
Vigil planning
coloring page
Compassionate companioning is the practice of providing emotional, spiritual, practical, and active listening support to individuals facing terminal illness or nearing the end of their life journey. This journal page helps express hopes and desires valued throughout an individuals final days.
Vigil planning
Vigil planning
Vigil planning
Vigil planning aims to create a peaceful and serene atmosphere, ensuring that the individual feels surrounded by love and care as they transition from this life. Vigil planning includes location, environment and atmosphere, interactions at beside, special objects, and final wishes.
the Vigil plan
Vigil planning
Vigil planning
The vigil plan is the detailed arrangement that outlines support and care provided to an individual during their final journey. This plan includes provisions for emotional, spiritual, and physical support, ensuring the individual is not alone and their needs are met, and surrounded by loved ones.
on the road
through the tunnel
through the tunnel
In the final months prior to destination, this journal page focuses on documenting places to see and things to do in the months to weeks before departure. Examples include Bucket List reflections, or connections and conversations with friends, family, or people important in one's life.
through the tunnel
through the tunnel
through the tunnel
In the weeks to days prior to destination, this journal page serves as a guide for prioritization, planning, and personal rituals. Communicate your intentions and wishes for emotional care and practical support during this time, ensuring understanding and alignment with loved ones.
at home at last
through the tunnel
at home at last
At this time, transition to the other world has been accomplished. This journal page act as a gentle guide to mark the closure of the sacred journey with love and rituals. Rituals serve as meaningful expressions of love, respect, and closure for deceased loved ones and the bereaved.
A chosen poem
through the tunnel
at home at last
This heartfelt poem by Henry Scott-Holland can bring comfort and peace to a loved one or close friend in their time of loss and mourning. A chosen poem that is read out loud helps honor the memory of the departed loved one. This ritual allows for a moment of connection, reflection and remembrance.
Inspired by my mother-in-law
Creating the Travel journal for the final journey
The inspiration for the Eternal Crossings Travel Journal began when my dear mother-in-law, entered hospice. At the time, I was an active hospice volunteer serving terminally ill patients and their families for over two years. I had recently completed professional End-of-Life Doula training in hopes someday I would be able to start my own practice. With my training and experience, I was confident I would be able to guide my mother-in-law, my husband, and his family through what’s to come. However, I didn’t realize just how difficult having a conversation could be with a loved one about death and dying. It was as if suddenly, I was allergic to the “D” word.
I remembered during my hospice volunteer training and seeing first-hand how dying people use “travel” metaphors or symbolic language when they are approaching end of life. Dying people may talk about standing in line, packing for a trip, or making references to a place they need to
be.
Symbolic language serves as a powerful tool for individuals to articulate their feelings about the end of life, making the process more relatable for themselves and their loved ones. I realized I needed to communicate to my mother-in-law using the same “travel” metaphoric language.
At first, I wondered the best way and what type of symbolic journey I could use to gently guide end of life conversations with my mother-in-law. But then, the idea came to me. My mother-in-law would embark on a “road trip” through the mountains of Colorado to her favorite fishing spot. The very same place of her honeymoon, and where she would soon be reunited with her beloved husband who crossed before her. The Eternal Crossings Travel Journal was born.
In the days following, and with the help of an incredibly talented illustrator, Piper MacLeod (pipermacleoddesigns), I carefully designed the Eternal Crossings Travel Journal. I incorporated “travel” metaphors as prompts such as Travel Reflections and a Journey Map (Life Review), Travel Memories (Legacy Projects), Packing List Planning (Vigil Plan), Travel Companions (Conversations with Loved Ones), and several more. Using this guided journal for her final journey, my mother-in-law could find peace and closure in reflecting on the formidable moments that shaped her life. She shared meaningful dialogues about values, personal legacy, and her final wishes with her family. From that day forward, the Eternal Crossings Travel Journal served as a poignant tool and cherished keepsake for our family.
Thank you for joining me on this journey of love, remembrance, and eternal crossings. J ~
Rituals
Vigil Valentine Box
Vigil Valentine Box
Vigil Valentine Box
A vigil valentine box is a heartfelt and personal tribute to a loved one, particularly during a vigil. The box might be used to collect letters, notes of love, and special memories in honor of the individual. It is often said that hearing is the last of the "five senses" to go during the dying process. Sharing vigil valentine messages during a vigil can serve as a touching way to express love, gratitude, and remembrance among those gathered to commemorate the life and legacy of loved ones.
Memory Board
Vigil Valentine Box
Vigil Valentine Box
Creating a memory board before the passing of a loved one can be a deeply meaningful and a comforting way to honor an individuals life and legacy. This board often includes photographs, keepsakes, notes, and mementos that represent cherished moments, experiences, and relationships shared with the individual. By assembling a memory board, friends and family can reminisce and celebrate the special memories which can bring solace and a sense of connection during difficult times.