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In this conversation, Rusty Rosman shares her experiences with caregiving and the importance of pre-planning for death through her book, 'Two Envelopes.' She discusses families' emotional challenges during end-of-life decisions and emphasizes the need for clear communication and documentation of final wishes. Rusty introduces the concept of two envelopes: one for immediate actions after death and another for post-funeral instructions, highlighting the significance of leaving a legacy and ensuring loved ones are prepared. We share insights on navigating grief, family dynamics, and the importance of preparation for end-of-life decisions. She discusses the challenges families face when dealing with loss, the fears surrounding death, and how to find purpose in later life. Rusty emphasizes the significance of communication and planning to avoid conflicts over generational wealth and possessions.

Rusty Rosman is the author of the book “Two Envelopes.” She spent years helping her parents and her in-laws as they aged. Over the years, Rusty saw many friends and their families conflicted over final arrangements and family confrontations. After making sure her parents updated their estate planning, Rusty encouraged them to write out their final wishes for their funerals and mourning period and then what they wanted done with their belongings that weren’t covered in their legal documents.

Rusty is one of four children. Having her parents put their wishes in writing made the heartbreaking experience of a parent’s death much easier for all four of them to navigate. From that experience, her book, “Two Envelopes,” was born.

Two Envelopes Book
Rusty's Info Page

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In this conversation, Marci Donaldson shares her journey from a small town in Wyoming to becoming a passionate advocate for end-of-life care. She discusses her early experiences with death, the impact of her mother's strength, and how these experiences shaped her career in hospice and nursing. Marci highlights the gaps in care for those at the end of life and her efforts to innovate solutions, including the establishment of Hopeful House and her new service for families seeking medical aid in dying. We talk about the importance of community support and the need for compassionate care during the dying process.

In our conversation, Marci shares her experiences and insights on navigating grief, the importance of community support, and the challenges faced in end-of-life care. She reflects on her journey through loss, the significance of music and rituals in processing grief, and her hopes for integrating psilocybin therapy into hospice care. The discussion underscores the significance of compassion, understanding, and innovative approaches in supporting individuals nearing the end of life.

Marci grew up in a town of 200 people in rural Wy as the youngest of six children and was raised by a single mother. She is a world traveler, a wife, and a mother to a 14-year-old son, currently residing in Gresham, OR. She discovered her passion for end-of-life care as a hospice volunteer and returned to college at the age of 32 to earn her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Johns Hopkins University. Marci has focused her career in the non-profit sector, serving for 25 years as a nurse, educator, end-of-life doula, mentee and mentor, board member, administrator, and program innovator.

Her career has been inspired by significant gaps in care that exist at the end of life, particularly around addressing existential suffering, the need for presence, and the lack of in-home support. She is writing her first book to address the gaps in education, preparation, and support for hospice workers new to the field of hospice care. Marci owns and operates End of Life Advocacy & Care LLC, a liaison referral and support service that assists individuals out of state in pursuing Medical Aid in Dying in Oregon.

Hopewell House - Portland, OR
Omega Home Network
EndofLifeAdvocacyAndCare.Org
Compassionate Communities Model of Care (PDF)
Email: MarciDonaldson@EndOfLifeAdvocacyAndCare.Org
Marci Digital Card: https://blinq.me/NNCT1tu5O38W
Psilocybin Facilitators in Oregon

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And we would love your feedback and want to hear your stories. You can email us at endoflifeconvo@gmail.com.

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In this episode, Karen Carlissi discusses her work as a death doula and the collaborative event she is hosting with Phoenix Destiny, focusing on supporting individuals who have experienced child loss.

We explore the concept of disenfranchised grief, the format of their workshops, and the importance of ongoing support for participants. Karen shares insights into the emotional landscape of child loss and the rituals that can help in the healing process, culminating in a poignant poem that encapsulates the essence of remembrance and love.

Workshop Flyer and Registration Link
Death Doula Panel Episode
Karen's Episode
Phoenix Episode

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You can find us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and BlueSky. You are also invited to subscribe to support us financially. Anyone who supports us at any level will have access to Premium content, special online meet-ups, and one on one time with Annalouiza or Wakil.

And we would love your feedback and want to hear your stories. You can email us at endoflifeconvo@gmail.com.

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In this conversation, Pamela Belyea shares her journey through grief after losing six family members in a short span. She discusses the founding of the Griever's Library, a nonprofit that provides grief resources to the community. We explore the importance of being present for those in grief, the role of community support, and the impact of literature on the healing process. Pamela emphasizes the need for compassion and understanding in dealing with loss and how her experiences have shaped her approach to helping others navigate their grief.

She speaks to the importance of children's literature in addressing themes of life and death, particularly in the context of grief. She shares her passion for supporting grieving children through literature and community engagement.

Pamela Belyea is a licensed architect and co-founder of Seattle’s Gage Academy of Art, where she served as director for 23 years. After losing six family members in 15 months, Pamela channeled her grief into founding the Grievers Library—a volunteer-run bibliotherapy nonprofit providing free grief books to children, teens, and adults through book boxes in and around Seattle.

The organization’s website also offers unique online resources – “Global,” a directory of grief books available in public libraries worldwide; “EZreads,” a directory of short, meaningful excerpts from grief books; and a list of Crisis Hotlines.

Calling the Grievers Library her “ComPassion Project,” Pamela is dedicated to keeping it refreshingly non-commercial. The library is supported by the generosity of community businesses, donors, and volunteers.

Grievers Library Website
Seattle Times Article
Local Vashon Island newspaper article
Community Quotes of Support

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You can find us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and BlueSky. You are also invited to subscribe to support us financially. Anyone who supports us at any level will have access to Premium content, special online meet-ups, and one on one time with Annalouiza or Wakil.

And we would love your feedback and want to hear your stories. You can email us at endoflifeconvo@gmail.com.

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In this episode, we welcomed Fran Parker. Fran is a writer who loves Earth and the diversity of life on planet Earth. Her awe of humanity's potential, her communication with God, and her journeys in dreams and meditations led her to write the book God's Gift to Gaia: Guidance for Awakening Humans.

Messages from Jesus led to a book sequel, Jesus Joins the Dialogue. Fran has a Ph.D. in Intercultural Education. She is Wakil's mother’s cousin, and they’ve had many fascinating conversations over the years. In today’s podcast, she'll share stories of her communications with close deceased relatives—her mother and father (who died in 1997) and her daughter Cathy (who died in 2020).

In this enlightening conversation, Fran Parker shares her profound experiences with death, communication with deceased loved ones, and the transformative impact these experiences have had on her life.

She discusses the telepathic messages she received from her mother after her passing, the connection to nature and elementals, and the broader understanding of life and death.

We emphasize the importance of recognizing the diverse ways we can communicate with the spiritual realm and the natural world, encouraging listeners to embrace their own experiences and stories.

Fran shares her profound experiences with life after death, emphasizing the spiritual connections that persist beyond physical existence.

She discusses the role of butterflies as symbols of communication from her deceased daughter, Cathy, and how these interactions have shaped her understanding of grief and connection.

We explore the choices made by loved ones at the end of life, the joy found in grieving, and the excitement for what lies beyond.

Fran also touches on her telepathic communications with spiritual figures, revealing a rich tapestry of experiences that challenge conventional views of life and death.

Lani Leary

Many Lives, Many Masters, by Brian Weiss

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And we would love your feedback and want to hear your stories. You can email us at endoflifeconvo@gmail.com.

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In this conversation, Karen Carlisi shares her profound journey from being an English language educator to becoming a death doula. She reflects on her early experiences with death, including the loss of loved ones, and how these moments shaped her understanding of life and death. Karen discusses her transition into the role of a death doula, its responsibilities, and the challenges she faces in educating others about this profession. She emphasizes the importance of community support and self-care in her work, highlighting her collaborative efforts with other doulas to bridge gaps in societal understanding of death and dying. Karen shares her insights on self-care, community support, and the fears surrounding end-of-life experiences. She discusses her personal practices for nurturing herself, the importance of community in activism, and her reflections on death and dying. We emphasize the need for planning, acceptance, and the profound journey of love and loss that accompanies life transitions.

Karen's Website

Pacific Death Doula Collaborative

International End of Life Doula Association (INELDA)

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And we would love your feedback and want to hear your stories. You can email us at endoflifeconvo@gmail.com.

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In this conversation, Mirabai Starr shares her profound experiences with death and loss, detailing how these events have shaped her spiritual journey and her work. She discusses the impact of her brother's and first love's deaths on her life, leading her to explore the sacred dimensions of grief.

Mirabai also introduces her current projects, including the Wild Heart Space community, which supports individuals navigating grief as a spiritual path. She emphasizes the importance of recognizing all forms of loss and the transformative power of grief in connecting with the divine.

In this conversation, we delve into the complexities of grief and loss and the healing power of writing. We explore how writing is a spiritual practice and a means to navigate emotional challenges.

The discussion emphasizes the importance of embracing suffering and the mundane aspects of life as pathways to spiritual growth.

We also reflect on the challenges of balancing creative work with the demands of life and the necessity of allowing oneself to feel and express emotions authentically.

Ultimately, we invite listeners to recognize the sacredness in everyday experiences and walk the ordinary mystic's path.

Mirabai Starr is an award-winning author of creative non-fiction and contemporary translations of sacred literature.

She taught Philosophy and World Religions at the University of New Mexico-Taos for 20 years and now teaches and speaks internationally on contemplative practice and inter-spiritual dialog. She is a certified bereavement counselor who helps mourners harness the transformational power of loss. Her book, WILD MERCY: Living the Fierce & Tender Wisdom of the Women Mystics, was named one of the “Best Books of 2019”. She lives with her extended family in the mountains of northern New Mexico.

Wild Heart Space Website - references the writing workshops and Holy Lament community.
Mirabai’s Books
Levine Talks Website - Steven and his wife Ondrea
Love Serve Remember Foundation - Ram Dass
Murshid Samuel Lewis Archive - writings and stories of Samuel Lewis, the founder of the Ruhaniat Sufi Order and Dances of Universal Peace
The Lama Foundation
Poet Rosemary Watola Trommer

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You can find us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and BlueSky. You are also invited to subscribe to support us financially. Anyone who supports us at any level will have access to Premium content, special online meet-ups, and one on one time with Annalouiza or Wakil.

And we would love your feedback and want to hear your stories. You can email us at endoflifeconvo@gmail.com.

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In this conversation, Mike Reagan, CEO of The Natural Funeral, shares his profound journey in end-of-life care, from his teenage years working in a cemetery to his current role in revolutionizing the funeral industry. He discusses the importance of presence and compassion during the dying process, the innovative approach of terramation, and the challenges of raising awareness about eco-friendly death care options. Mike reflects on his personal experiences with death and dying, emphasizing a sense of peace and acceptance regarding the end of life. This conversation explores the profound experiences of end-of-life care, emphasizing the importance of unconditional love, joy in service, and the spiritual connections that arise during this sacred time. The speakers share personal stories highlighting the beauty and peace found in supporting individuals as they transition while also addressing the need for self-care among caregivers. The discussion culminates in reflecting on the Prayer of St. Francis, reinforcing the themes of love, compassion, and connection.

The Natural Funeral

Support the show

You can find us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and BlueSky. You are also invited to subscribe to support us financially. Anyone who supports us at any level will have access to Premium content, special online meet-ups, and one on one time with Annalouiza or Wakil.

And we would love your feedback and want to hear your stories. You can email us at endoflifeconvo@gmail.com.