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The Art and Soul of Sanctuary: Abode Co-Founders Edwin and Patsy Sasek on Weaving Beauty into End-of-Life Care
About this Episode
For the final episode of the season, host Natalie Buster sits down with the visionaries behind Abode Contemplative Care for the Dying: co-founders Edwin and Patsy Sasek.
Edwin and Patsy share the journey of creating Abode, a space that many guests, staff, and volunteers describe not just as a facility, but as "coming home". They detail how their vision transcended mere caregiving, instead weaving their profound love of art, nature, and spirituality into the very foundation of the building.
Learn about the spiritual significance of the property's design, including the over 20 oak trees whose roots symbolize communication and support for the home's mission. Most movingly, Edwin shares the special story of how prayers and scriptures from various world traditions (Muslim, Buddhist, Christian, Native American) were physically written on note cards and placed inside the walls and on the beams during construction, ensuring the house itself is a constant source of blessing and grounding.
[00:00:00] Host's First Impression: Natalie describes her first visit to Abode, feeling that it was a special, peaceful place, like "coming home" and a "safe nest."
[00:01:05] Introducing the Visionaries: The host introduces co-founders Edwin and Patsy Sasek.
[00:01:15] The Integration of Art and Spirituality: The Saseks discuss how they wove their love of art and spirituality into the atmosphere of Abode, making it a sacred, social, and spiritual place.
[00:03:06] The Foundational Philosophy: Edwin and Patsy explain the goal of designing Abode to feel like a beautiful, welcoming home grounded in compassion and warmth.
[00:04:24] The Art of Nature: The founders discuss their intentional search for a property with abundant nature, finding over 20 oak trees whose presence instantly told them, "this is it."
[00:05:54] The Metaphor of the Roots: Patsy explains that the roots of the trees are a powerful metaphor, communicating and providing support that nourishes Abode’s mission and community.
[00:08:16] Prayers in the Beams: Edwin shares the story of how they added prayers and scriptures from various world traditions to the interior walls and beams of the house during construction.
[00:14:19] Imagination and the Language of Dying: Natalie discusses the importance of being open to the imagination, dreams, and the unique language a person experiences at the end of life.
[00:15:36] The Full Sensory Experience: Patsy discusses how art, music, yoga, and other sensory experiences act together to provide peace in a guest's last days.
[00:17:10] The Story of the Repurposed Doors: Edwin tells a story about turning "trash" into treasure by repurposing old doors from a hotel for use at Abode.
[00:21:14] Guest Story: Carolyn and Watercolors: A story is shared about a guest named Carolyn who rallied for months and found emotional release through painting with watercolors, which were later used in a Christmas appeal.
[00:25:14] Guest Story: Ceramics for Catharsis: Edwin tells a story of another guest who made beehive-like ceramic vessels to express and release anger and grief.
[00:26:34] Art as an Antidote to Fear: Edwin discusses how art is the antidote to fear, bringing people into a "liminal space of awe."
[00:33:31] Mindfulness in Everyday Life: Discussion on integrating mindfulness into simple actions, like washing dishes, to foster awareness and gratitude.
[00:36:23] Being Engaged vs. Doing: Edwin reflects on the importance of appreciating "being engaged with" life rather than focusing on "doing."
Hosts & Guests
No transcript available for this episode.
