As a doula, I've had the incomparable honor of being present at life's beginnings and end. Either can (sometimes) be difficult. Both can (sometimes) be beautiful. Recently, I was providing phone support to an adult son who was tending to his terminally-ill mother. It was an exhausting, emotional journey for them, as it can (often)… Continue reading A Goodbye Lullaby
If you know me at all as a doula or death lit writer, you know I reference “intensity” far more often than “suffering.” This is because intensity—during birth, death, or grief—is pretty much a given. Whether it’s felt by the person actually journeying through or those surrounding them, and whether it’s emotional, physical, spiritual, or… Continue reading Attending to Suffering: Helplessness and Proximity
First, please know, you are held in gratitude. Whether you are a clinician, faith leader, deathcare worker, life coach, volunteer, neighbor, or loved one, the support you supply to others is crucial. Without it, many among us would feel lonely and neglected. So, thank you. Caring for people through the end of life can become… Continue reading A Letter to Death Care Providers & Partners
In honor of Alzheimer's Disease Awareness, I have decided to share some of my personal experiences caring for people with dementia. Life has presented me with some irrefusable opportunities to learn new lessons lately, and I hope some might reach—and resonate with—overwhelmed caregivers. Connection is always paramount, after all. First, though, it’s important to clarify… Continue reading Caregiving and Dementia: Connection and Loss
Although definitions vary slightly, the term “talisman,” from telesma (Greek) and tilsam (Arabic), is often defined as a physical object imbued with powers to repel negative forces or attract positive energy. There is evidence from as far back as 25,000 BC that prehistoric peoples readily used these symbols of protection, and they were very common in ancient Egypt—especially in… Continue reading The Talisman: Discovering Death Rituals as a Doula
Francesca Lynn Arnoldy 