The Art of Death Midwifery: An Introduction and Beginner's Guide

I've already been through INELDA's EoL training, but am looking for more guidance, especially with rituals. This was highly reviewed, so I purchased. Initially loved, but as kept reading through just found the author to have only one view point and be a bit condescending. I finished it to finish, but ended up not getting much out of it.

I was required to read this for an end of life counselling course. I had stumbled across it prior to enrolling and chose not to buy it then because it seemed overly spiritual/metaphysical but the universe (and my instructor) had other plans. I was hoping for something more practical to death midwifery and EoL counselling. I was also turned off by the author's credentials of "ordained interfaith minister with a doctorate in divinity focused on Death as a Transition," I've been around the block enough to know that when claims like this are made without naming a seminary or a university then she probably bought her degree off a website. On a side note, I realize that the world of death midwives is unregulated and comprised of lay practitioners but I do think that we need to professionalize the craft some if we really want to create a movement that will change the healthcare and funeral industry.Taking all that into consideration, the book would be good for someone who wants to add to their own knowledge base regarding ministering to the dead using alternative or non-traditional faiths and techniques. However, the book jumps between different traditions a lot. One moment St. Pierre will be talking about angels and then healing with chakras followed by telepathic communication with the patient. I'm not a complete skeptic regarding those ideas but the mishmash of metaphysical techniques and ideas isn't really helpful for the average person beginning on the path of death midwifery or EoL counselling.

Rarely, if ever would I rate a book with five stars. The Art of Death Midwifery would be an essential tool for the beginning or even midpoint practicing death doula. For a person facing the death of a loved one, reading this book would enable them to assist in providing a much more centered and spiritually equipped sacred space for the loved one crossing over. How I wish I had read this before my Father faced his final journey. As a death doula in training, I truly appreciated the information on self preparation and meditation. These practical tools to add to your personal spiritual ritual will be invaluable in assuring that you remain a conduit in your practice. Though the website and google forum are no longer active, there are many other resources listed in the back of the book to further your education in this most tender field. Joellyn's ability to address the steps along the journey of the soul while staying non dogmatic will allow anyone to find a way to be of great service to the one that is facing death. I just cannot thank Joellyn enough for the gift of her knowledge, compassion and spiritual awareness.

This is such a breakthrough and a sort of coming home for me.I'm totally at ease with the continuation of life beyond what we can see. I've been listening for years to all the music she talked about, been blessed with so many messages of love and encouragement by my guides and angels during meditation, been honored to be bedside during the last days and minutes of people's lives, have helped them, often when they seem to be in coma, do what I've always called "putting their life to rest (reviewing important experiences in their life, truly feeling the emotions and beauty of those moments, then letting them go)," dreamwalking and other activities. I've done it intuitively and on many occasions wondered where it came from or if it was real.Not understanding what this gift was it's been difficult to find the perfect spot in which to be of service. But this book gives me new direction and a sense of identity that gives me more clear purpose.And for that I'm grateful. And humbled.Thanks for writing the book. When the author sent it out she didn't know where it was going, but it found its way to me.

To open this book is to open a jar of balm for the soul, a spiritual unguent to salve our wounds, the wounds of the living, while we sit with those who die. St. Pierre teaches how to communicate to the dying when the body is too frail for words. She presents a step-by-step program on how to hone one's subtle connection to the greater consciousness in order to respond specifically to individual people as they die. It's not a cookie-cutter death-care program. It is an indispensable book on the new science of Death Midwifery, a roadmap for those who are taking the trembling final walk with family, friend or client. In this eloquent mix of science, art and spirit St. Pierre's words heal the confusion and misunderstandings surrounding death and actively teach how to birth the death process. It will become a worn, lent and many times referenced guide. To gift this book to a friend giving end-of-life care is more than a hundred helping hands.

As a hospice Volunteer Coordinator, I am always looking for ways to improve care for my dying patients. I train people to sit vigil with patients and was looking for a book that focused on the spiritual aspect of caring for dying individuals - and I found it. This book was very helpful for me, and I appreciated that it was respectful of all different faiths. It gave good examples on how to incorporate prayer and other rituals to bring meaning to the end of life, and to provide comfort to patients and their families (and even to myself as I care for them).I was very pleased with this book and definitely recommend it if you are in this line of work.

When it comes to death and dying, the western societies have become deathphobic. People have become detatched from the realities of end of life; the advances in medical technologies have raised life expectencies while death has become a process that happens behind curtains in institutions. There was a time, not so long ago, that death was a natural part of living and the dying came home to live out their end days. Family and loved ones were capable to manage the needs of thier dying .. but most of all... willing.This book addresses a new direction for end of life care based upon the knowledge that was common only a few decades ago. This movement will be critical as western society is faced with the aging baby boomer generation and the limitations of the medical care and long term care.As with the birth midwifery movement, so comes the death midwifery movement.A fantastic read, full of great information and long overdue!

just what I wanted

Well written, very caring and compassionate. I learned much from Joelyn about death midwifery and I do recommend this book to anyone new and not so new to death midwifery.

Very Interesting would suggest this book to family ad friends who are on this journey.