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Dying and Death Options |
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Death
Midwifery - Natural Dying Options
On this page:
 overview
of Death Midwifery
Resources
on Bereavement and, Natural Dying processes
 General
Canada
- including list of Hospice Societies and Palliative Care
Services
U.S.
Death
Midwives
Pagan
Resources
Pagan
Death Midwife-related training
Books
on a Pagan approach to death
Overview
of Death Midwifery
In
ancient times, it was most often those who attended births,
who also cared for the dying and helped them make the transition
beyond. For
this reason, it is often referred to as 'death midwifery'
by Pagans (and some other traditions). In
modern times, it is the equivalent of spiritual and physical
hospice care (either in a hospice house or in one's own home)
- which also often includes all the preparations for burial/etc.,
the funeral services itself, the burying of remains (if legal
in that area) or scattering of ashes, and grief counselling
for those left behind.
Midwifery
essentially covers the whole process from the declaration
of terminalness and/or incapacitation, through to (especially)
the first year of grieving of family and friends (although
it may not be the same people dealing with each stage). Over
the past several years, a few organizations have developed
specifically to do this kind of work (see below) and teaching
others how to do it (including information on all of the legal
issues involved). Although
these groups are generally not Pagan, their approach (to the
issues of dying and burial) has considerable similarities
to those we might choose.
As
the Pagan community grows older, our members will have face
all the issues of how they chose to die, what rites they want
performed and how, and what they want done with their remains.
In a mini-survey on death that PPO conducted (for an inter-faith
panel on Death), most Pagans stated that they would prefer
a death midwife (or group), no embalming, a Pagan requiem
or memorial, and for their remains to return to the Earth
in the most ecological way possible. (PPO
is hoping to do a major survey on these issues at a later
date).
Most
people assume that there is no option to the very expensive
(and often de-personalized) funeral homes - embalming, elaborate
coffins, concrete shields (in the ground), cemetery plots,
etc.- but that is not the case.
There are legal requirements for various parts of the death
process, but in many regions, most of them can be carried
out by the family (or death midwifing group). In
some places, the dead can be buried on their own property,
as long as certain requirements are met. Many
people have chosen cremation to avoid the expensive processes
of burial, but these are also often almost as elaborate as
a funeral - and only slightly less expensive. There
is a general assumption that cremation is more ecologically-friendly
than burial - and while it generally is, there are issues
being raised about the environmental damage from it as well
(see information on the new 'freeze-dried' option, on the
page on News Stories).
Attitudes
towards dying and death are changing radically in modern times.
More
and more people (Pagan or otherwise) want to die at home with
no special life-continuing measures, have simple funerals/memorials,
and 'green burials' (see page on Natural
and Green Burial options). Memorial
societies - across Canada, the U.S. and the U.K. - as well
as Hospice Societies, are helping to make these options possible;
and more and more hospitals (including their chaplaincies)
are supporting this direction. Pagans
are also beginning to consider these options, and how they
might make use of them in their own religious style: it is
a new field, and still needs a lot of consideration and work.
Resources
on Bereavement and Natural Dying processes
General
Natural
Death Centre (U.K.) - click on U.S. and Canada
at side for more information North America options with similarities
to the Natural Death Centre.
Natural
Death Handbook - (U.K.) full text of the previous
edition, plus an order form for the most recent edition (available
in Canada) - also available though On-line
old copy
Life
Rites - Funeral Poetry
World
Federation of Right-to-Die Societies
- founded in 1980, consists of 38 right to
die organisations from 23 countries -
Member organizations
(including for Canada and elsewhere) - Canada
news on the issue
Death
Midwifery Live Journal - articles, discussion,
etc. - for those interested in developing Death Midwifery
options.
See also
Pagan Dying and Death Options
Canada
- see Natural Death Centre
above or contact
us
Choices
in Dying Society -"dedicated to improving
the quality of dying for all in accordance with the individual’s
wishes and beliefs...voice of moderation in the national fight
in Canada for effective pain care and choice for the dying"
- also a member of World
Federation of Right-to-Die Societies - P.O.Box
79521, Kingsway, RPO, Vancouver, B.C. V5R 5Z6, Canada - Tel:
1-604-451-9626, Fax:
1-604-877-0423 Email:choicesindying@telus.net
Dying
with Dignity (of Canada) - A
national organization dedicated to improving the quality of
dying and expanding end-of-life choices in Canada - includes
related Canadian news and articles - a member of World
Federation of Right-to-Die Societies - 55 Eglinton
Ave. East, Suite 802, Toronto, Ontario M4P 1G8, CANADA - Tel:
(416) 486-3998 or toll-free
at 1-800-495-6156, Fax:
(416) 486-5562, E-mail: info@dyingwithdignity.ca
- counselling
training
En~chanting
Beyond (Bedside Singing) -- using
specific accapella songs as a medium to supporot the two major
life-passages -- that of dying and giving birth
available
in Victoria B.C.
E~merging
Beyond (mediation) -- with
a focus on helping families through the difficult times around
a family death available
in Victoria B.C..
Songs
of Passage - using specific accapella songs
as a medium to ease the dying process on
the Victoria, B.C. Hopsice unit
Canadian
Hospice Societies and Palliative Care Services
(list of national
and provincial organizations) - courtesy of
Dying with Dignity of Canada
U.S.
Compassion
and Choices - various forms
of 'right to die' and dying with dignity services (connected
to End of Life Choices)
Crossings
- resource centre that integrates dying and after-death
care back into our family and community life.We
are a resource center for after-death care alternatives.
End
of Life Choices group (U.S.A) - originally
the Hemlock foundation - includes various information on 'end
of life' choices, including the legalities (by state) on the
'right to die', patient advocacy, and education materials
- for more information
ERGO
- Euthanisia Research and Guidance Organization - laws and
legal development world-wide
Finding
Your Way - various resources on the spiritual
side of dying
Graceful
Passages - CD music (music with sayings) and
book
Music-Thanatology
- a particular kind of music developing
to aid in the process of a peaceful death - article
Sacred
Dying Foundation - training and resources in
're-sacredizing the dying process' (including book "Sacred
Dying: Creating Rituals for Embracing the End of Life")
- Macha Nightmare (co-author of Pagan Book on Living
and Dying) is their Pagan advisor
Thresholds
- providing care for dying and natural burial in California
(plus other useful resources) (and calming music while you
search the site).
Death
Midwives - each site offers
resource information on natural death processes, funeral/memorial
services, green burials, etc.
U.S.
Home
Funeral Directory - list of services offered
in the U.S., state by state (more than below and updated)
A
Sacred Moment -
Char Barrett - Seattle, Washington
state
Ceremonies
for Life's Thresholds - Nora Cedarwind Young
(ordained Priestess and Hospice Chaplain) - Olympic Peninsula
in Washington state
Create
Sacred Space for Conscious Transitions
- Joellyn and Richard St. Pierre - Virginia Beach, VA - training
available
Crossings
- Elizabeth Knox - Takoma Park, Maryland
Crossing
Care Circle - Donna Belk and Sandy Booth -
Texas
Final
Passages or Natural
Death Care Project (same site) -Jerrigrace
Lyons - based in California - training available
Sacred
Crossings - Olivia Bareham - Los Angles, California
Soul's
Journey Services
- Marilyn Strong - Washington
state
Thesholds
- Barbara Kernan and Eric W.
Putt - Lakeside, California
Canada
information
available soon -- Victoria, British Columbia
Death
Midwifery Canada -- support egroup for those involved
in some aspects of the development of Death Midwifery in Canada
(contact Pashta
to subscribe)
Remember
Network -- creative funeral/memorial services
-- support to develop them where and how the family wishes
-- Toronto, Ontario.
Pagan
Resources
Washington-Baltimore
Pagan Clergy Association - excellent and in-depth
resources - Pagan counselling (including Death and Funeral
Preparations - see sidebar)
Pagan
Transitions (U.K.) - various articles on dealing with
death (bereavement, natural death processes, green burials,
books, poetry/prayers, rituals,
etc.) from a Pagan perspective.
Immarama
- Pagan Death-midwifery and burial instructions - directed
at neo-Pagans, but applicable to all religious (and non-religious)
faiths - covering natural burials, preparation of the body,
shrouding, preparation of gravesite, concerns, etc.
Echoed
Voices - Macha Nightmare's overview of Pagan death
processes
Tryskelion
- variety of Pagan options
The
Yew tree - Pagan resources on death options
Sacred
Flame circle - funeral rites
Ivy's
Pentacles - Pagan Requiem
En~chanting
Beyond (Bedside Singing) -- using
specific accapella songs as a medium to supporot the two major
life-passages -- that of dying and giving birth
available
in Victoria B.C.
E~merging
Beyond (mediation)
-- with
a focus on helping families through the difficult times around
a family death available
in Victoria B.C..
Pagan
Death Midwife-related training
Cherry
Hill Seminary
is a specifically Pagan seminary, offering a variety of pastoral
training programs with some on-line courses.We
are looking for Canadian students who would be willing
to write a testimonial on Cherry Hill's programs - please
contact
usSee
Cherry
Hill Testimonials
Cherry
Hill course list - of particular interest to those
involved with pastoral care -
Call of
the Dark Mother: Working with the Dying, Death and Grieving
- PMC611
A survey course in death, dying and grieving to better prepare
Pagans who hear the call to this sacred work, and also those
who encounter it as part of their overall priest/esshood.
Introduction to Pagan Pastoral
Counseling
This course will explore a variety of Pagan and other models
of pastoral counseling.
Each student will develop a personal understanding of what
pastoral counseling means to them, within the context of
their own Pagan beliefs and community.
We will also examine some of the typical situations in which
people seek the counsel of their clergy, and some helpful
approaches to dealing with these situations. (and further
electives in pastoral care).
Survey
of Chaplaincy - PMI620, PCA620
This class will explore the issues faced by Pagan clergy
who minister to the religious needs of our people within
non-Pagan institutional settings, such as college campuses,
hospitals, military bases and prisons. Each
of these situations presents specific spiritual challenges.
Chaplains
also need to work with non-Pagan colleagues and administrators,
some of whom are clergy of other religions, and to comply
with institutional procedures and other requirements. By
keeping their balance, Pagan chaplains bring spiritual support
and guidance to Pagans in unusual situations.
Books
on a Pagan approach to death
The
Pagan Book of Living and Dying - the Reclaiming Collective.
An
excellent book including meditations and reflections on death
and dying, funerals, supporting carers and the bereaved, poetry,
and much more. Highly
recommended.
The
Druid Way by Philip Carr-Gomm is all about the
journey of life-and-death and has a sample funeral.
A Druid
Funeral (booklet published by The British Druid
Order), available from The
Druid Network.
The
New Book of the Dead by Dolores Ashcroft-Nowicki
A book of rituals and meditations for the process of dying,
coming to terms with grief, and funeral rites.
A Witch
Amongst Us by Lois Bourne
Includes some excellent and very interesting material on her
time as a nurse, when she spent a lot of time nursing the
terminally ill, and saw their deceased relatives coming to
guide them on the way to the other world.
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