"We are all visitors to this time, this place.
We are just passing through.
Our purpose here is it observe, to learn, to grow, to love
...and then we return home.”
Aboriginal Proverb
Welcome
I enjoy talking about death and dying
as if it’s the most natural thing in the world,
because it is.
I haven’t always been this death friendly. It started when I became a carer for my terminally ill father. I had no idea what I was doing, where to go for support or how I was actually going to survive Dad’s death. Yet here I am, advocating for us all to give grief a chance and to respect death. By respect I mean acknowledge death’s presence and make the necessary plans to support a dignified death and dying chapter.
The beautiful by-product of getting my own death ducks in a row is that I feel more alive than ever. The great mystery that is death means we never really know when our time is up but I rest easy knowing I have things in place to guide those around me when my time comes. Because it will.
Over the years since Dad’s passing, I have created what I craved when I was catapulted heart first into the role of a carer. Today, I walk along side folk as an end of life tour guide, helping you (or your loved one) choose your own adventure. I try to live life according to my values and I plan to die by my values too. This is not guaranteed of course, however having no plans in place is not only stressful, it can be traumatic. We can meet our own mortality with far more reverence.
The western world see’s death as a failure, something to avoid at all costs. Death has become medicalised, sterilised and without even realising it, we have outsourced the care that used to happen in our own homes. When surveyed, most Australians would prefer to die at home though sadly, the vast majority die in hospitals or facilities with little to no end of life care plans or directives in place.
Together, we can change this. Heart led, community orientated, conscious death care is being resuscitated. Pun totally intended. Death care is being brought back to life because we want more for ourselves and, rightly so.
I have a fascination for what it means to truly live well and die wise. I have spent over a decade studying and facilitating trauma informed yoga and meditation offerings to support living well. Now, I pour my attention into dying wise.
I know in my bones we can meet death -
before, during & after … differently.
My work is a melting pot of end of life caretaking, community education, grief guidance and yoga & meditation. I support people with life limiting illnesses, families, individuals and groups as they navigate end of life by offering tender care, advocacy and deep listening skills to bridge the gap between clinical and community care. I'm particularly passionate about getting our death ducks in a row, while we are alive & well!
