Consulting with Michael

        My interest lies in the area of "dying process," a term I coined in late 1999 when I registered it as a domain name.

        Dying process is far more than just the biological deterioration and emotional strain associated with physical death, although that is the predominant way of thinking about it; i.e. bodily death ends life.  When properly understood however, dying process can be seen to have predictable patterns that are purposeful, goal-oriented and even valuable.  The latter perspective is quite a far cry from the former, and once it is taught to patients, families and caregivers, dying process becomes far more sensible and thus, less intimidating.

        It does not take much imagination to grasp how being exposed to a sensible and practical understanding of dying process would be a great help to all parties concerned; patients, families, caregivers and clinicians.  Unfortunately, sensible, practical understanding about dying process is uncommon.  Indeed, it is downright rare.

        The most challenging task in achieving a functional understanding of dying process is this.  Traditionally we have two distinct ideas about who we are.  One is, we are a body.  The other is, we are some sort of non-physical or spiritual entity.  The question is, how can these two perspectives be stitched together into a functional whole?  And especially, how can this approach be taught without offending anyone’s intellectual or religious sensibilities?  In other words, how does one construct scientific explanations that are not concrete, and how does one construct spiritual explanations that are not associated with any particular religious doctrine? 

        These are the core issues one must address in order to achieve a sensible and practical understanding of dying process.  It can be done, but it takes years of experience, research and thought.  Even then it still must be explained and written out in logical, easy-to-grasp syntax before it can be effectively shared.  This has been my life’s work.

        My career could be divided into two distinct stages.  The first involved a lot of hands-on nursing, and the second has been spent reviewing and writing about what I learned in the first stage.

        After meandering through this website it becomes apparent to the reader that my area of interest and study is vast.  That is because there is far more to dying process than first meets the eye.  In order to make any headway in studying the subject of dying process one must be prepared to delve into medical science, quantum science, psychology, parapsychology, philosophy, theology, the nature of emotions, the nature of addictions, reviewing one’s own experiences and carefully observing the statements and behavioral patterns of others.  But perhaps the most important object of study and contemplation is consciousness itself.  It is, at once, the most difficult subject to study, while at the same time it is the key to it all.         

        I help agencies improve their understanding of dying process, which in turn helps them to provide more consistent and effective care, and to do so more efficiently.