In the Western world in particular there is huge fear of death, and in a surprisingly high percentage of people, even denial of its inevitability! Some of the stories collected by Stephen Jenkinson in Die Wise illustrate this. This is gradually changing however, since the work of Elisabeth Kubler Ross and her seminal book On Death and Dying, first published in 1973. There are now Death Cafes where groups of people can gather to discuss death in many cities around the world and there are Death Doulas or Soul Midwives whose function is to help people approaching death (physically, mentally and emotionally) and also to help with their spiritual transition after death – traditionally the role of the psychopomp.

Alberto Villoldo teaches a process to help people die consciously – including a life review to determine where there is unfinished business. People to whom you would like to say, “I love you”, or “I am sorry”, or people you would like to ask, “Why did you do that to me?” The shamanic practitioner stands in the Field representing these people as you, the client, call them in to have that conversation (when it cannot actually happen in person for whatever reason.) In particular, these people could have died themselves already, without proper closure.

When that process is complete, then the belief is that the dying person can pass over with much less baggage, and if you believe in reincarnation, much less work to carry into the next lifetime. There is healing (not curing) and they can be at peace with themselves and the life they are leaving.

After the actual death of the physical body there is also a process to assist the spirit to transition fully and quickly, to a place of love, joy, healing and peace, whether that is with their ancestors, or in a version of what The Light/Spirit/Consciousness means to them, be that in the Upper World or even the Deep Dark Light of Mother Earth/the Lower World.

With the assisted dying bill having jumped at least the first hurdle in the UK House of Commons recently, then there may well be increased demand for such services as people gather the courage to face and take control of their death.

There is also a similar process, but before death is anticipated, called Death and Rebirth. This is suitable for people at a time of major change in their lives. The first part of the process is the same, the life review and talking to those with whom there is unfinished business. Then there is a cleansing of the luminous energy field, but it is returned and reattached to the physical body, as the person is still alive, rather than being left in a non-earthly Consciousness.

In a Death and Rebirth session the practitioner then asks the client how they would like to live the rest of their lives, from this day forward, from the perspective of serpent (at the root), jaguar (at the sacral chakra), hummingbird (at the solar plexus) and eagle (at the heart). The meanings of these archetypes are explained in previous blogs.

This process can help people move on within life after very challenging times, and gives in effect a fresh start, cutting unhelpful ties with the living or the dead and bringing in new intentions for the future. It can also be of great benefit in ‘The Field’ to those whole spirits are called in to the deathbed, whether they are still living or dead. So once again this work is not just for the direct client, but potentially for the lineage and others they have encountered in their journey through life.