Send us a Text Message.

In this episode you can view as a video podcast on YouTube or on Spotify

Annalouiza and Wakil discuss the first twenty episodes from Season One and all of the profound and inspirational insights that we learned from our guests.

We also talk about what is coming in Season Two, including a new website and new video offerings for paid subscribers that will include discussions of some of the episodes, short classes on preparing for end-of-life, role-playing ways that you can communicate about grief and loss, and examples of what you might experience as a care giver for someone who is dying.
Summary

In the first season of the podcast, we explored the impact of death on people's lives and the challenges of discussing death in our culture. We found that many people had experiences of death in their childhood that were not acknowledged, leading to a disconnect with death later in life. The fear and discomfort around death were attributed to societal pressures and the saturation of death-related images in the media. We also discovered that nature and community were important resources for people in navigating death and grief. We emphasized the importance of open communication, forgiveness, and expressing love to prepare for the end of life.

You can find us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and LinkedIn. Also, we would love your financial support and you can join us on Patreon. Anyone who supports us at any level will be invited to a special live, online conversation with Annalouiza and Wakil.

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

Send us a Text Message.

In this episode we meet Dr. Janice Lundy, who is a grief support specialist and a grief educator. She is the founder of the Metta Center, which offers specialized training in spiritual direction, also known as spiritual companionship, including one-of-a-kind grief companionship training. Having experienced a great deal of loss in her own life, she knows firsthand the transformative power of healing through grief.

Jan is a celebrated author and lifelong educator who currently serves as the Gerald May Professor of Spiritual Direction and Counseling at the Graduate Theological Foundation. For the past 20 years, she has hosted a vibrant private client practice as well, specializing in spiritual direction, pastoral counseling, and grief companionship. She holds a Doctor of Psychology degree in Pastoral Logotherapy, which she incorporates into all her work.

Logotherapy is the therapy of meaning established by Dr. Victor Frankel, author of Man's Search for Meaning. Jan believes that navigating grief, loss, and life's many challenges with the support of a non -non-judgmental, compassionate companion can help us connect with greater meaning and purpose in life.

In our conversation, Jan shares her journey of becoming a grief companion after experiencing personal loss. She emphasizes the transformative power of grief and the importance of companioning others through their grief journeys. Jan explains that a grief companion walks alongside a grieving individual, offering deep listening, presence, and unconditional love. She distinguishes between grief companioning and grief counseling, highlighting the role of each in supporting those who are grieving. Jan also discusses the sacred nature of grief and the impact of grief work on our understanding of death.

Links
Grief Companion Center Website
Spiritual Guidance, Education & Counseling - www.JanLundy.com
Dr. Raymond Moody's Life after Life website
Dr. Alan Wolfelt - from the Center for Loss and Life Transition
Viktor Frankl's Books
George Bonanno's Website

You can find us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and LinkedIn. Also, we would love your financial support and you can join us on Patreon. Anyone who supports us at any level will be invited to a special live, online conversation with Annalouiza and Wakil.

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

Send us a Text Message.

Paul Minor is a transpersonal and spiritual counselor and a Thanatologist. He shares his personal experiences with death and how they influenced his career path.

Paul's work involves transpersonal spiritual counseling and Thanatology, the study of death, dying, and bereavement. He emphasizes the importance of addressing death anxiety and grief in a holistic and sacred way.

Paul faces challenges in breaking through societal taboos and misconceptions around death and spirituality. He strives to be a companion and create space for the mystery of death in his work. In this conversation,

He discusses his work in end-of-life care and the importance of spiritual companionship. He emphasizes the need for community and supportive networks in this work and highlights the significance of closure and saying goodbye in the dying process.

Paul also shares his fears and concerns about the end of life, including the lack of closure and the possibility of pain. He explores various practices and resources that can support individuals in facing these fears, such as the Five Wishes document and the nightly hospice practice.

Additionally, Paul expresses his interest in working with end-of-life dreams and visions and their potential for healing and connection.

Links to things we mentioned:
Alan Wolfelt from the Center for Loss and Life Transition - https://www.centerforloss.com/about-the-center-for-loss/about-dr-alan-wolfelt/
The Wild Edge of Sorrow: Rituals of Renewal and the Sacred Work of Grief by Francis Weller
Dr. Christopher Kerr from Hospice Buffalo - https://www.drchristopherkerr.com/tools
The Ignation Examen - https://www.jesuits.org/spirituality/the-ignatian-examen/

You can find us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and LinkedIn. Also, we would love your financial support and you can join us on Patreon. Anyone who supports us at any level will be invited to a special live, online conversation with Annalouiza and Wakil.

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