I'm opening up conversations around life, death, and the spiritual side of both of these things…
None of us are getting out of here alive, and I hope that as I host challenging conversations I help people to ‘live and die well’.
As a Near Death Experiencer, a certified Funeral Celebrant, and End of Life Doula, I’m available for personalised end of life planning, support and conversation.
Whilst many people don’t like to think about their own death before it happens, it can be a very important thing to do, and it can help to make a huge difference to those who deal with our affairs after we pass. For those who have taken the time to consider what they want after death, they often have strong ideas on what they want done with their remains. While burial has traditionally been the a preferred option, cremation has steadily gained popularity over the past few decades. In fact, around 70% of people who pass away each year in New Zealand are now choosing to be cremated*
If you’ve ever experienced the loss of a loved one, you’ll know that it can be a disorienting experience. The rollercoaster of emotions it takes us on can be exhausting and everyday tasks can seem extremely difficult.
What is an End of Life Doula?
There’s no denying it - none of us are getting out of here alive. In fact, our lives are bookended by two certainties; birth and death.
When a couple is expecting a baby, there’s a great deal of preparation involved. Including individual preferences for things like how the upcoming parents want the birth to go. They can choose where it will take place, who will be there, and what type of birth plan they want to follow.
In 2010 my friend's mother had a sudden fatal heart attack. In 2012 My Father was killed in an accident. In 2019, one of my best closest friends' husband never came home from work one day. And in the last few years, I’ve heard of so many more life-threatening medical diagnoses than ever before. Not positive, I know! But before you switch off from reading such a sad post, please bear with me to understand why I am telling you these things…
No NDE is exactly the same. There are no text book answers as to why some experience some things, and others do not. We are unable to answer quantitative questions around experiences or to understand relative comparisons such as time vs depth of experience, or beliefs vs type of experiences.
I always feel like today (April 5th) is my birthday. Technically it's not, but I always secretly celebrate it. Today not so secretly as it marks 30 years since surgeons brought me back, and my second life began 🙂
We had planned to be climbing Machu Picchu today, but with Covid-19 crashing the party, I've done a bit of rowing, some gardening and am planning to take the dog for a walk to the beach instead. This photo is our fav new spot.
Have you ever wondered where the tradition of wearing black to a funeral comes from? Read on to understand how this fashion became the norm for so many of us.
According to research, between four and eight percent of people around the world have had a Near Death Experience (NDE).
And just like the NDE experience itself, what happens after it takes place is unique to each person. Often there are shared elements, with an estimated 80 percent of people agreeing that the experience significantly altered their lives.
Can we tell when someone is going to die? It’s an interesting question isn’t it...
Well, I think the answer is yes, and that often there are signs that someone is going to pass away.
Many of us live our lives as if we have all the time in the world.
We put our dreams on hold until ‘later’, live as if we are invincible, and rarely pause to think what life would be like if we weren’t a part of it anymore. Often we prioritise things that aren't truly important to us, and waste time on things that will later turn out to be irrelevant. And research has shown that often, it is only when people are on their deathbeds that they truly comprehend how precious and fleeting life is.
There are two key habits that can rob our present moments of joy. They are, worrying about the future and... well, regretting the past.
One of my dear friends lost her husband a few weeks ago. It was a truck crash and he died instantly. I'll never forget the pain in her voice as she gave me the update. Sheer devastation. Now this isn't just someone I know of. I am talking about one of my closest friends.
