Cultivating Compassion Education Series

November Gatherings

Honey Grief and Healing Hearts:

You are invited to join our first CCALS Zoom weekend gathering and sacred circle of grief before the Holiday Season, Thursday, November 20 through Saturday, November 22. PLEASE register only if you can attend the entire retreat. Registration closes November 11. Put it on your calendar and forward this invitation to others who might be interested.

7:00 - 8:30 pm, Thursday, November 20

7:00 - 9:00 pm, Friday, November 21

10:00 am - 3:00 pm, Saturday, November 22

CCALS began offering in-person grief retreats in 2023, and has hosted seven of these live at our retreat center in Falmouth, MA, in recognition of the deep grief that living with ALS can bring. These retreats have been well received, encouraging us to offer an online version so more people can experience the power and healing of a grief ritual in community.

“Thanks for the wonderful weekend! It has helped immensely now, and I expect will pay benefits in the future as well. I felt like I learned and grew much.”—Juli, Honey Grief participant

Your full attendance and participation is required for continuity and

respect for the deep sharing that occurs when we hold grief with the reverence and awe it deserves.

For more information, contact Brenda Fox: 720-252-7939, brendafox@ccals.org

We look forward to being with you online in November.

Look forward to being with you online in November.

Monthly Gatherings

Sons and Daughters of ALS

Guided by Ron Hoffman,

CCALS Founder

November 6

7:00pm ET

Sons and Daughters of ALS, hosted by CCALS Founder and Director, Ron Hoffman, is designed for those 18 years to 30- somethings who have experienced a parent, or close loved one, struggling from symptoms, diagnosis, decline or death with ALS. Growing up with the intensity and complexity of ALS in our family can shake us to the very core. It is often hard to comprehend or describe the ways that this disease shapes our past, present and future. If you are living with, or have lived with, the impact of a parent with ALS, you are invited to join our zoom gathering for Sons and Daughters of ALS. With deep listening, in the company of others who know the similarity of the uninvited path of having a parent with ALS, we will gather in council to share our experiences with the broad motivation to bring heartfelt connection, awareness and healing.

Trauma Healing

November 12

7:00pm ET

Our own Trauma & Spiritual Care Liaison, Julie Yau, Ph.D., SEP, will be hosting a monthly gathering for our community focused on trauma awareness and healing. CCALS has long recognized how traumatic an ALS diagnosis is, and the continuing challenges and trauma that can arise while living with ALS. Dr. Julie is a renowned trauma specialist and author of the powerful trauma healing book, "The Body Awareness Workbook for Trauma." She is a dear friend and colleague of CCALS founder, Ron Hoffman, and has been supporting our families for nearly 20 years. To participate in this group, we are asking for a commitment of at least three months, and the purchase and reading of Dr. Julie's book.

Please contact james@ccals.org if you are interested in participating.

Email to join

Caregiver to Caregiver

November 13

3:00pm ET

Join the informal gathering designed to offer genuine support for those engaged in ALS caregiving. Enjoy the opportunity to be with other folks who have an intimate understanding of ALS and share your unique point of view as a caregiver. It is truly a wonderful experience to sit in council with ALS caregivers, to practice heart-centered listening, bear witness to our journeys and those of others, and to support and be supported without judgment.

Songs of Hope and Healing

November 19

4:00pm ET

This new gathering will be provided by Evy Amato, Music Therapist, with support by CCALS staff. Songs of Hope & Healing is being provided to uplift, connect, and empower individuals living with ALS and their loved ones through the healing power of music. Whether you're a lifelong music lover or simply open to the ways music can soothe and inspire, Songs of Hope & Healing invites you to join our song circle where voices are heard, stories are honored, and healing takes root—one note at a time.

Men of ALS

Guided by Ron Hoffman,

CCALS Founder

November 20

2:00pm ET

Join us for a time of brotherhood and belonging for men living with ALS, or men caring for someone with the disease. This group operates as a council circle that encourages deep listening, acceptance, and an invitation to be genuine about what is going on in your life.

Women of ALS

November 20

3:00pm ET

Enjoy the connection and unique perspective of other women living with ALS, female caregivers of persons living with ALS, daughters of those with ALS, or any woman touched by the disease. We will gather in council to share our experiences with the broad motivation to bring heartfelt connections and healing to the ALS journey. The Women of ALS gatherings create a safe space to explore the rich feminine perspective on lineage, sexuality, the role as caregiver, and the experience of compassion.

Mothers of ALS

November 24

1:00pm ET

CCALS offers this informal gathering specifically for mothers who have been impacted by ALS. This disease shines a unique and challenging spotlight on the relationships between mothers and their children. We will join with each other in council to listen deeply and bear witness to our experiences as we connect and discover new pathways through the intensity of an ALS experience.

Beyond ALS

No Gathering in Nov.,

Next circle Dec. 4

The Beyond ALS gathering will not take place due to our online Honey Grief Retreat and the Thanksgiving Holiday.

The next circle for Beyond ALS is scheduled for December 4 at 6:30 p.m. ET. Use the registration link below to sign up.

Join a welcoming group of men and women who have lost a loved one to ALS. Share openly with others who are rebuilding their lives after profound loss. This interactive gathering will highlight where we are now and what may feel different: our identity, our values, our approach to spirituality, and more. We will listen deeply to each other’s stories about the new experiences of building relationships, contentment with solitude, or challenges as a single parent. But, most importantly, come to enjoy and appreciate the company of others who have come to experience the precious nature of human life.