Trust

Trust

Whenever I see a patient, whether they were just recently diagnosed, are weeks or months into their process, or have a few short hours until last breaths are taken, I am reminded every single time what a true honor it is to care for someone who is nearing the end of their life. The moments I get to spend with a patient and family are personal for me and while it is my job and I am paid to do this work it has never felt like “work” to me. I think that people, like myself, who provide end of life care, feel that it is a calling. For myself, I believe this to be true.

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Wisdom At the Center of Death & Dying

Wisdom At the Center of Death & Dying

Some inspiration rests solely in an exploration of collective human wisdom or wisdom traditions within spiritual study, and some of the fresh thinking results from a contemporary mindset of the 21st century. The overlap is found in new innovations that draw from accumulated human wisdom. The recent emergence of death doulas and end-of-life coaches is part of that innovation.

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When Someone Wants to Die

When Someone Wants to Die

[Poem] When Someone Wants to Die by Tarron Estes. Put yourself in this place of longing for death. Place this longing inside all the other dreams and wishes and extraordinary experiences life has ever given you or anyone. Prepare yourself to be bigger and better than you ever-felt possible. As you hold one of life’s most feared, unwanted, hated, inevitable realities in you own body and mind.

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End of Life Literacy Protects Us All

End of Life Literacy Protects Us All

Let’s face it. Elder care isn’t ideal care. No one wants to age and die. We don’t like to hear about or see into the reality of aging, death, dying. Most of us don’t want to talk about it, much less know how to find ease in being with people who are facing the later stages of aging and death. The reality is, we have allowed medicine and politics to govern end-of-life, a sacred life event, with a bottom-line mentality. While we are facing the reality of an ageing baby boomer generation which will impact systems and economies, maybe what life is asking from us as a culture, is to wake up to the reality of our mortality and what quality-of-life means to us beyond the great saviors of medicine, politics and economies.

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Death Literacy

Death Literacy

Death literacy embraces a soulful interplay both through inspiration, exploration, and education. It embraces new forms of bringing forth the new death positive movement which includes sacred passage doulas. The intention for death literacy is to expand the conversation by being provocative using the term death literacy.

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Dying Well

Dying Well

One could argue that “wellness” is by nature an ever-shifting concept that serves to fill in what is missing and unhealthy across many sectors—whether healthcare, travel or real estate. And that it’s a fast-growing market because it addresses needs unmet, with a conceptual identity by nature “supplemental.” Death Doulas and those creating far more eco-friendly burials are practicing wellness. The medical world has simply not put enough resources into end-of-life care and research.

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Transitioning With Death

Transitioning With Death

Is this what happens when I die when anyone dies - but in a condensed way? I’m suspecting that when I die, my “life” as defined by that which is inside my Box will be just chucked out as useless stuff - good while it was needed to live my life - but now as I die, useful? Satisfying? Who I am? 

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Becoming an End of Life Doula: Born in Grief

Becoming an End of Life Doula: Born in Grief

Even in my mother’s womb, the aura of grief surrounded me.  Less than six weeks before I was born, my aunt passed away from cancer.  She was only 31 years old and left behind a grieving husband, 3 young children, her parents, and 3 siblings. I was named after her. I was born into a world of tragic loss and equal celebration of life. You see, my birth gave hope to my family. 

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Sacred Passage End of Life Doula: Phase One

Sacred Passage End of Life Doula: Phase One

This is part of my story of becoming. Becoming who I am, a medicine for others to tap into and utilize. I am becoming a Sacred Passage End of Life (Death) Doula because like many reading this, I feel a pull  towards facilitating people of all ages in acknowledging their mortality to more truly live the life they desire and supporting individuals in their more immediate dying process. Beyond this, something about it simply feels “right”.

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A Death Doula's Intro to Purpose

A Death Doula's Intro to Purpose

Ego pontem - “I am a bridge” - would seem to be the most accurate way of expressing who I am, although my best friend would argue that I am a lighthouse (ego sum praeberi fari). I have always been someone to try to bring encouragement to others, to cheer them on as they make their way in life, art, relationships or health crisis’. I bring joy and use heart-led conversations to illuminate their paths, while they find “their way” in peace.

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End of Life Choices

End of Life Choices

While many roads can fundamentally lead to this redemptive place, the first step is living consciously in relationship with a singular truth: we are all going to die.

To acknowledge this truth is essential in navigating a beautiful death. To deny this truth is the surest chance to create a passing mired in struggle and fear.

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Acknowledging Loss and Grief

Acknowledging Loss and Grief

I knew I was pregnant.
My husband and I had just started trying for our second child, and having been pregnant before I was picking up on subtle (and not so subtle) changes - what I thought was morning sickness, a certain aching in my back, and the exhaustion that a full night's rest could not cure. Before even mentioning it to my husband he asked if he should pick up a pregnancy test because he was picking up on my symptoms too. Excitedly we waited for a positive result.

And it was negative.

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Death Doula Training

Death Doula Training

A Sacred Passage End of Life Doula Graduate shares her story - “My friend was having a very difficult time accepting the reality that her mom was nearing the end of her earthly journey. By this point, her mom was unable to speak very much after surviving and overcoming a debilitating stroke several years ago. When I visited with them, I engaged with the lovely elder by asking those big, bold questions. By the end of our conversations and prayers, her daughter KNEW that what she wished was not reality…”

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Death Doulas Help Us Remember

Death Doulas Help Us Remember

“I am an End-of-Life Companion. I, like you, have always been building. I have had it in me all along. The Conscious Dying Institute was the guidance I needed to step into my role in a helpful, fulfilling and healing way. I gave myself permission and found my grace.”

Betsy Munro Jeffrey, a Sacred Passage End of Life Doula Graduate, shares her story of being an end of life companion for her grandfather and conversations with her children about his passing.

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