Sacred Death Care Guide

 
 

What if what Ram Dass said is true? That death is like taking off a tight shoe.

In our western culture, we don’t really do death well. It is a natural occurrence that is not talked about nearly enough. People fear death instead of being open to the possibility that it could feel similar to the sigh of relief, liberation, and freedom one encounters when finally taking off a tight shoe.

When I worked as a nurse in hospice care, our focus was to provide emotional support to the dying patient and family and tend to the physical body as death neared. We taught how to prepare for and deal with the physical challenges of dying, and what to watch for as the last breath was surrendered. That, in and of itself, was a lot.

But there is so much more.

Death is sad and it is hard, but it doesn’t have to be as painful as it tends to be if you are open, curious, prepared, and able to address its challenges “holistically”. Hospice care beautifully embraces the mind and body, but not the soul. There is no fault or blame there; we simply haven’t been given the tools to understand the depth of importance in knowing the soul piece.

Until now.

Sacred Death Care is a soul based approach to grieving, loss, death and dying. It is the missing piece.

As a Sacred Death Care Guide (SDCG), it is our practice to embody curiosity instead of fear and support instead of isolation when facing death. And it is our belief that if death is done well, it can even create a beautiful village-making event.

A SDCG does not just prepare and support you and your loved ones during the time leading up to death, but also during, and after the last breath. After the last breath is where much of the really deep work begins.

The following are examples of things that you would/could experience in a SDC session. As your Sacred Death Care Guide I will:

  • lend you my lack of fear as I listen and hold a safe space for your most vulnerable and difficult thoughts, feelings, and challenges, free from judgement,

  • help you face what is real and true so you can move forward,

  • help you slow things down so that you can process and move your grief with openness and love,

  • share versions and stories of the soul’s journey through the natural cycle of dying, grief, death and loss,

  • expand your understanding of death and dying with new perspectives,

  • work with you to create deep, meaningful rituals to acknowledge every part of the dying process,

  • guide you through the ways to heal and assist your transformation to the next, new and different phase of life after death,

  • follow your lead, allow you to set the intentions of the session, and/or provide new perspectives for you to consider as you heal.

Who Would Benefit from Sacred Death Care Services?

  • Someone who has been given a terminal diagnosis and is trying to find ways to make peace with the circumstances and people around them,

  • A care giver or family member of a client or a loved one, who would like to have “tools” to openly talk about death and dying,

  • Anyone who is interested in learning how to openly address death and dying with a soul-based perspective,

  • Anyone who has recently (or long ago) lost a loved one -including a beloved pet- and is feeling (or still feels) stuck and unable to move forward,

  • Any person who is grieving a lost body part to illness or disease,

  • Any person newly diagnosed with a life changing illness,

  • Hospice, clergy, social workers, or volunteers who are looking to deepen their patient care experience with a soul-based understanding.

  • Any person looking to learn more about Sacred Death Care practices.

Are you or someone you know struggling with a past or impending death? This is a safe space for healing and a soft place to land as you navigate this crazy time. It would be my honor to work with you.