The Other Shore is a gentle invitation to reflect on our journey in this life. It encourages us to consider what we might want to do, say or let go of before we come to the end of life. What kind of boat are we building that will carry us to the other shore? If we are given the gift of time to contemplate our own mortality, we may find opportunities for new perspectives on what is most important to us.
I discovered a passion for working with others around death and dying after joining my family to care for my father when he was dying in 2012. You can read more about my father's home funeral and burial here.
I am a multi-faceted and highly sensitive person, and bring the skills of intuition, curiosity, gentle guidance, and organization to my work as a death & dying companion.
In 2019, I earned a certificate in the Art of Death Midwifery with Olivia Bareham in Los Angeles, and in 2021, a certificate in Community Deathcare from Anne-Marie Keppel's Village Deathcare Citizen Training. I am a member of the National End-of-Life Doula Alliance and earned the NEDA proficiency badge in Scope of Practice, Code of Ethics, and Core Competencies for End-of-Life Doulas. I am also a Reiki practitioner and have always gravitated towards spirituality as a source of comfort and exploration. I previously served as a board member of the National Home Funeral Alliance, a 501(c)3 that educates and advocates for inclusive and accessible community-led deathcare. Currently, I also work part-time for Shambhala, a Buddhist organization where I have studied Buddhism and meditation since 2009. You can see more about my experience and training here.
I believe that when we are fortunate to have the time and space to contemplate our own death, it is important to also consider that there are not equal opportunities for all humans within deathcare, the medical system, and society at large. People die in many ways and make many diverse choices about their own deaths. I stay away from defining what is a "good" death. I offer my own deathtending practice for the benefit of all beings and seek to always widen the lens of my work to include equity and justice.
I spend most days with my life partner, Sean and daughter Ayla.