Death Anxiety: What am I going to do if he goes first?!
I recently made a confession to my friend and clergy mentor: I -- someone who has dealt with a great deal of death and personal tragedy...
Always Go Now
On Tuesday, while still reeling from the fresh grief of our cat Remington dying that morning, my partner got the call that an old friend...
Ritual Offerings in Burials
The desire to bury our dead with items dates back, as far as we now know, to the Neolithic period. Members of the Natufian culture --...
Being a Death Doula for an Animal Companion
Westerners have a euphemism for when an animal dies -- they're waiting at the Rainbow Bridge. The idea originates from a series of...
Light a Candle for Me
As I write this, my tiny temple is lit with several candles for the dead and dying. A woman I consider to be a mother figure lost her...
My Father's Death Doula
I became my father's death doula quite by accident. From the moment he entered hospice, I spent every night after work and every weekend...