I am now working on a series of rituals surrounding deathing. It began, really, when I was leading a CUUPs chapter... and was called upon to visit a young pagan woman who was dying of melanoma. A year later, we had the request to officiate at the funeral of a young pagan man who died from an overdose.

My approach has been to use reiki and song... to help bring calmness and to help the soul depart then find it's way. I will also read to the dying, or newly dead. From texts about the shining isle. Or... whichever particular form the family uses for the place between lives.

It is very much like birthing, to be honest. In the sense that it does not happen on command. A person must death as they need to. And, we can only try to make it as comfortable and peaceful as possible.

Amma