“A good death is an extraordinary, moving and sacred experience. It can also have a healing quality, not only for the person who is involved but their families, friends and the wider community.”
Soul Midwives are non-medical, holistic companions who provide emotional & spiritual support for those who are dying, as well as the people around them. We are non-denominational in our pastoral support, encouraging deep conversations, with love and dignity. We have a deep knowledge of the stages of dying, and of the emotional, physical and spiritual aspects of each of these. We give practical planning advice and support. We serve by not fixing or rescuing our ‘friends’. We offer a range of gentle therapies to soothe & ease anxieties and we create a calm, comforting & sacred space, ensuring an individual feels seen, heard, safe and loved. We keep a loving vigil. We are literally ‘midwifing the soul’, helping the dying ‘friend’ make their transition.
Soul Midwife - Companion to the Dying
“Grief can be the garden of compassion. If you keep your heart open through everything, your pain can become your greatest ally in your life’s search for love and wisdom.”
It’s a real honour and privilege to do this work, and the Soul Midwifery knits perfectly with my Interfaith Ministry, my work as an NHS Chaplain, a Reiki Practioner & Master Teacher, and as a Funeral Celebrant, officiating bespoke heartfelt, personal farewell services.
My mother had vascular dementia, and her last two weeks in hospital were distressing. There was a disconnect between the clinical and emotional & psycho-spiritual support. I wanted to bridge that divide. So, I trained in Soul Midwifery to learn about the stages of dying & how to offer much needed Tender Loving Care. I do legacy work, funeral planning, take ‘friends’ to medical appointments, offer ritual and spiritual support. I use active listening, gentle soothing touch, holistic therapies like reiki & sound therapy (music, chanting, toning, drumming, singing bowls), using colour, crystals and sacred oils are very supportive too during the dying process. Please watch my video with Felicity Warner who created the Soul Midwife School, as she explains more about Sacred Oils and the Psycho-Pomp work.
Above all, I have a deep compassion and ‘listen with my heart’, walking alongside to support anyone, without judgement. To me, this is the most important skill of all.
“No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.”
Whether you want to talk privately about your own death or that of a close family member, I would be happy to talk with you. Or perhaps you are interested in learning more about what help and support is available to those working in this most important field of Tender Loving Care.
I also create legacy videos, Treasured Memories. As a OneSpirit Interfaith Minister, I offer spiritual accompaniment, rituals and ceremony to help navigate the difficult transitions in life too, particularly those experiencing grief and loss. I volunteer for Sue Ryder Hospice’s Grief Kind Space and as an NHS Chaplain in Herefordshire and Worcestershire.
If you feel that Tender Loving Care and Soul Midwifery is something you would like to explore, please do get in touch.
Cost: £35 per hour
“The first peace, which is most important, is that which comes within the souls of people when they realize their relationship, their oneness with the universe and all its powers, and when they realize that at the centre of the universe dwells the Great Spirit and that this centre is really everywhere, it is within each of us.” - Black Elk