Before getting into my story~ I will get straight to the point-
I am asking for financial support for a very special "Death Doula" training that I wish to take. As an independent artist, the cost is a lot for me to cover on my own and I am grateful for any contributions, Now here's the story and my why taking this training is so important to me. Thank you for your consideration.
This past year I have gone through a big transition in my life and so naturally, I have been feeling into my next developmental phase and how I can best serve other humans in a meaningful and transformative way. I am so grateful for the current ways I am able to serve utilizing my skills and natural born gifts. And as a multi-disciplinary healing artist I know there are always more ways I can grow in my "toolbelt," and in the ways in which to serve.
A few circumstances in my life had been pointing me towards serving in the field of death/dying. A few years ago I started volunteering in Hospice care, and it was such a rewarding experience to hold space for people in their most vulnerable time of facing the fact that they are dying. I would sit with them and keep them company and if they desired I would also play music with them. And then came the time for my closest companion, my beloved dog, to transition and I held the space for that, which was a very deeply transformative time for me and I learned so much about being truly present in the preciousness that is life. I actually wrote a very special song during that time of my dog's passing called "Walking Each other Home".
This kind of space holding is also very similar as to when I assist in the psychedelic ceremonial space-
It's about holding a space of love, nonjudgement/acceptance and not trying to fix or change the person who I am holding space for- so that they can feel safe to just BE in their process- which might mean expressing a full spectrum of emotions, and communicating very deeply personal things that they might not tell anyone else. It's a position to be in that I hold very sacred and a profound honor.
So, when a dear friend of mine, who is also a family therapist, sent me the info on an upcoming Death Doula training on the Big Island of Hawaii, I got a full body YES. What is unique about this training is that is also embraces Psychedelic journey work. Working with psychedelic medicines can be profoundly helpful for people who are facing the reality of death and in the case of this training. While many psychedelic medicines are still unfortunately not fully legal, Ketamine is and it is showing to be very safe and supportive medicine for use in this field of care ( and a very helpful alternative to opiates/morphine).
This training is in Early February and I am seeking financial support for this training as it is a lot for me to cover all on my own, being an independent artist. The cost of the training is $4200. It is my hope that I may receive even just half of this amount which would help me greatly not be so stressed about finances, as I am also currently without a home, but am seeking one! This is the website that tells about this training: https://inspiredendings.org
A little more about this unique training offering from their website:
"This Unique Offering
This training will give you the confidence, knowledge, and skills necessary to provide compassionate care for those at the end of life as well as their chosen families and others who love and care form them. You will practice building capacity in order to bear witness and hold space for the wildness of death. This patient centered care is based on the goals and values of the patient including what is spiritually and culturally significant.
This special training for women only is the first in a series that will guide participants in how to sit, hold respectful space, for an individual who is taking psychedelics in order to find a place of peace with dying, an experience that we will all have. We believe this should be woven into the future of palliative care. We do this safely under the guidance of Dr. Charfen and her medical team.
We have infused this training with material that arose as a result of the intense education received during the pandemic, witnessing global grief and the Black Lives Matter movement. The result was a magnified view of the deep fractures in our health care and death care delivery systems which exposed the inequalities in support services which has a disproportionate affect on marginalized and underserved communities."
Thank you so much for your continued support and consideration!
