In many shamanic societies, if you came to a medicine person complaining of being disheartened, dispirited, or depressed, they would ask one of four questions: When did you stop dancing? When did you stop singing? When did you stop being enchanted by stories? When did you stop being comforted by the sweet territory of silence?… Continue reading Grief Art
There's a special mailbox tucked into a quiet walking trail in quaint Hinesburg, Vermont. For more than a decade, its origin story was unknown. In 2020, the person who originally installed it finally fessed up. It was Barry Lampke. He'd been missing the connection he had shared with his father before his death. They used… Continue reading Immortal Mail
Recently, my daughter and I were watching Grey's Anatomy. The character Mark Sloan (played by Eric Dane) slipped into a coma following an end-of-life "rally," or final burst of energy. The cast of clinicians then discussed Sloan's advance directives. He had requested to end life-prolonging interventions if there were no signs of recovery after 30 days.A… Continue reading Side Doors to Tough Talks: How to Approach Planning Conversations about the End of Life
Death illiteracy is a significant social and public health challenge. Our difficulty in accepting our mortality, combined with a reluctance to plan for life’s eventual end, can lead to unnecessary suffering and isolation. However, by improving our individual and collective understanding of death, we can take meaningful steps to foster a greater sense of connection… Continue reading Community Death Literacy
An essential part of a doula practice is introspection. When I am granted access to the most profound moments in another person's life, I can't help but be moved. And changed. Sometimes I'm even rattled. Almost always, I am awed. If this weren't to happen, it'd be an indication that I had closed off my… Continue reading Life Goes On
Francesca Lynn Arnoldy 