and could be positive or negative or both in analytical application to the atmosphere of the Hospice. Is the patient's regression in the service of the ego? If so, in what ways? Does countertransference occur? How is it handled? As far as I know, the Hospice has not carefully explored such questions. It might be to its advantage to do so. My own conclusion is a religious one. The god of the Hospice is a god with everlasting arms and overflowing breasts. It is a god of powerful comfort. Although the Hospice might well examine the possible analyses from Freudians and others, I am convinced that it has begun at the beginning. What contemporary man tends to forget is that any healing requires a return to the beginning. Primitive man knew this. An ancient cure for healing a toothache begins with an account of the first toothache and how it was healed. Healing of the terminally ill requires their return to a basic trust in another. This is the necessary first stage in the development of those about to die. But it is only the first stage in dying as it is in living. For regression to be in service of the ego, there must be a return to other stages. For integrity, there must be movement from this renewed basic trust to autonomy, initiative, industry, identity, intimacy, and generativity. That such things can be is attested to by patients at the Hospice who do move ward beyond regression and basic trust. It is welcomed when it occurs. It is encouraged by staff in many explicit ways. But the atmosphere of the Hospice is not always conducive to this movement. The powerful comfort which rules the house may implicitly inhibit the patient's growth. I conclude that the Hospice has created an ideal situation for movement into the first stage for the dying. That it has achieved this so well is what makes the need for a second stage so clear. When Goethe was about to die, he cried, Light, the world needs more light. Many years later, the philosopher Unamuno heard this and wrote: No, Goethe was wrong, what he should have said was 'Warmth, the world needs more warmth.' We shall not die from the dark, but from the cold. Because of warmth, the dying at St. Christopher's Hospice are living. or both in analytic l application e atmosphere of the Hospice. Is patient's regression in th service t e ego? If so, in what ways? Does tertransference occur? How is it led? As far as I know, the Hospice ot carefully explored such quess. It might be to its advantage to so. o n conclusion is a religious . The god of the Hospice is a god everlasting arms and overflowing asts. It is a god of powerful fort. ough the Hospice might well ine the possible nalyses from dians and others, I am co vinced t it has begun a the beginning. at contemporary man tends to et is that any healing requires a rn to the begin ing. Pr mitive man this. An ancient cure for healing othache begins with an account of In tLB