A few days ago was the harvest full moon. A big, beautiful orb of light in the darkness of night. One that shone down on the bounty of nature, one to be thankful for. I sat and stared at the moon, reflecting on why I do what I do. And I realized that, in many ways, I want to be that harvest moon. I want to be the light that helps and guides someone through their darkest hour. But it isn’t always easy. So I was thinking about why I really, truly share what I share, because I have eleven babies, though all are not physically here with me (though they are always with me). I share now because I f ..read more

In the province of Alberta, the Green Sleeve is a plastic pocket folder given to patients by a doctor, which contains all of their necessary documentation. It holds their Advanced Care Plan (ACP), which includes their personal directive, goals of care designation, list of medications, and tracking records. When a medical professional hands the green sleeve to you, there is a blank personal directive form inside to be filled out. Any person over 18 should have a personal directive. This form that can be completed with or without a lawyer. You are choosing someone, who is called your age ..read more

People don't talk about the possibility of loss before birth. There is little to no preparation for the possibility of death. When it happens, the opportunity to connect with the child in spirit through ritual and ceremony can truly transform and deepen the parent’s life. There is a space to bring soul connection, beauty, and healing into the terribleness of everything. If I am serving a bereaved family after a hospital or home birth, I come with a ritual kit & copies of Early Pregnancy Birth Plans, and a presence of mind & heart to be fully open and ready for whatever needs to u ..read more

Dear Friends, I wanted to let you know that I recently finished reading a book called Resilient Grieving by Lucy Hone that I recommend that you read. I do recommend this book because it is an easy read. It also reminded about some of the feelings you expressed to me. The book goes into details about several people who have experienced a loss in their life, and it details first hand how they coped or felt. Many grievers feel like they are putting one foot in front of the other and it feels like they are just going through the motions. That often doen't feel like it is strong even though so ..read more

Introduction In a world that often feels chaotic and fast-paced, many seek solace in the natural rhythms of the universe. One celestial body that has captivated human imagination for centuries is the moon. Beyond its poetic beauty and romantic allure, some believe in the healing power of the moon and its potential impact on collective well-being. In this blog post, we'll delve into the mystical connection between the moon and collective healing. Lunar Phases and Energy Flow The moon, with its ever-changing phases, is believed to influence the ebb and flow of energy on Earth. Ancient civilizati ..read more

This is a newer, lesser known, but we’re going to blow this thing out of the water concept sweeping the nation. What is an end-of-life doula and what do they offer? An end-of-life doula, aka death doula, is a vital guide and support person in the journey of those afflicted with life limiting illness. A life limiting illness is a medical diagnosis or condition with a poor prognosis of less than six months to live, where there are no more medical options to offer for treatment or cure and for those who do not want to undergo further medical care for their condition. End-of-life doulas help peop ..read more

On June 11, 2021, I gave birth to my son Andrew. It was a very different experience from the prior births of my other three children because Andrew’s heart was still, his body cold and limp. He was stillborn. During labour, I experienced an allergic reaction to hydromorphone, my heart nearly stopped, and I envisioned another realm, the other side of our conditioned reality. In this other dimension, I saw Andrew and played with him as a toddler in a magnificent field of wildflowers, surrounded by rainbows, butterflies and a multitude of colours that I had never seen before. Those brief few seco ..read more

Dear Friends, I just wanted to drop you a note about a book that I just read that I really enjoyed called A Beginner's Guide: Practical Advice for Living Life and Facing Death to the End by BJ Miller, MD and Shoshana Berger. I think it will be useful for death doulas in their practice. One of the authors is well versed in end of life, palliative, and hospice care. BJ Miller is a hospice and palliative medicine physician who has worked in inpatient, outpatient, hospice facility, and home. He now sees patients and families at the UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center. When he was ..read more

I have been surrounded by loss over the last year. Every type of loss imaginable—loss of the elderly, loss of a family pet, loss by suicide, the perpetual loss of dementia, loss from cancer, and so on. One no worse than the other…all painful and all different. Each loss carries a story of great love and deep sadness. Whether or not folks could prepare for the impending loss or not, the moment the soul of our loved ones leave us, our hearts feel heavy.  My connection to the souls who left varied from former teacher to best friend. My role in the lives around these souls also differed. One ..read more

This post is the first in a new monthly series through which members of the HHA community share book recommendations with you, our blog readers and friends. Dear Friends, My mother gave me this book years ago. I never read it or even thumbed through it until now. I wish I had looked at it sooner. The book is How to Survive the Loss of a Love by Harold Bloomfield, Melba Colgrove and Peter McWilliams. The title may appear to deal with only lost love, but friend, it deals with all losses… relationships, friendship, business, personal and private losses. When one thinks of loss, it is often thoug ..read more