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Resources 

 

Other Training Programs

 

The Living & Dying Consciously Project promotes other educational programs that reference the teachings of the ancient wisdom keepers.  We recommend programs that teach about sacred space, ceremony or rites of passage in various traditions. The educational programs noted below were chosen for their integrity and their use of ritual in approaching living, dying and grief.  If you wish to recommend other programs, please contact us.

 

  • Foundation for Shamanic Studies offers numerous courses in core shamanism for individuals and those training to be shamanic practitioners. As originated, researched, and developed by Michael Harner, author of The Way of the Shaman, this program is not bound to any specific cultural group or perspective. In the course Shamanism: Dying and Beyond, participants learn how to deal with the issue of dying and the destiny of souls from a shamanic perspective.

 

  • Four Winds Society, founded by Alberto Villoldo, draws its inspiration from the shamans of the mountains and jungles of Peru. They offer classes in the Light Body School to train shamanic practitioners in energy medicine. Dying Consciously: The Greatest Journey is a course developed in this program. which is taught in nine countries by those who have graduated from and been certified by The Four Winds Society.

 

  • Orphan Wisdom is the teaching house of Stephen Jenkinson for the learning of the skills of deep living. Jenkinson, theologian and social worker, has guided individuals, couples, families and communities through the human sufferings, sorrows and confusion in life.  The documentary Griefwalker focuses on Jenkinson’s philosophy of living and dying. Courses focusing on Care of the Dying and Ways of Grief  are available through their website.

 

  • Sacred Art of Living Center is a nonprofit educational institue for spiritual formation with programs that encourage people to discover the sacred in every aspect of life.  This center was founded in 1997 by Richard and Mary Groves.  It serves as a resource for the education and training of professional and lay caregivers.  It is dedicated to bridging the gap between science and spirituality.  Their program of Sacred Art of Living & Dying: Healing Spiritual Pain is a compelling teacher of life's most important priorities.

 

  • Sacred Dying Foundation has the mission of bringing spirituality, through presence and ritual, into the physical act of dying.  Sacred dying facilitates the creation of a setting where death is experienced with honor, respect, and sacredness. Founded by Megory Anderson, author of Sacred Dying, Creating Rituals for Embracing the End of Life, the Sacred Dying Foundation has just released an online Vigil Training program in collaboration with No One Dies Alone (NODA).

 

  • Sacred Pathways honors and supports each individual's pathway of transformation.  They recognize that the energy work of individuals and shamans all over the planet is having a powerful impact on the awakening of our consciousness, and is weaving a new global tapestry.  They host global vigil fires, shamanic workshops, Great Rites, and sacred journeys to Peru.

 

  • Sandra Ingerman is the author of eight books including Soul Retrieval and Medicine for the Earth. She teaches workshops internationally on shamanic journeying, healing, and reversing environmental pollution using spiritual methods. She has trained and founded an international alliance of Medicine for the Earth teachers and shamanic practitioners. 

 

  • School of Lost Borders offers vision fasts and rites of passage training which cultivate self-trust, responsibility, and understanding about ones' unique place within society and the natural world. Meredith and Steven Foster, author numerous books including The Book of the Vision Quest, developed practicesof living and dying in which participants remember how to die by taking their place as a mortal animal in nature.

 

  • Upaya Zen Center is a Zen Buddhist practice, service, and training center and the home of Being with Dying: Professional Training Program in Contemplative End-of-Life Care developed by Roshi Joan Halifax. Designed for physicians, nurses, social workers, hospice workers, and clergy, this training covers core issues related to dying, death, and grieving.  This course was first taught in 1972 and has developed into one of the leading programs on end-of-life care.

 

Books

 

 

  • Anderson, Megory. Sacred Dying: Creating Rituals for Embracing the End of Life.  2003.

 

  • Davidson, Sara. The December Project: An Extraordinary Rabbi and a Skeptical Seeker Confront Life’s Greatest Mystery. 2014.

 

  • Eberle, Scott. The Final Crossing: Learning to Die in Order to Live. 2006.

 

  • Farmer, Steven D. Sacred Ceremony: How to Create Ceremonies for Healing, Transitions, and Celebrations. 2002.

 

  • Foster, Steven.The Book of Vision Quest: Personal Transformation in the Wilderness (revised edition). 1992.

 

  • Groves, Richard F. and Henriette Anne Klauser. The American Book of Living and Dying: Lessons in Healing Spiritual Pain. 2009.

 

  • Halifax, Joan. Being with Dying: Cultivating Compassion and Fearlessness in the Presence of Death. 2008.

 

  • Hanh, Thich Nhat. No Death, No Fear: Comforting Wisdom for Life. 2002.

 

  • Harner, Michael. The Way of the Shaman.1980.

 

  • Ingerman, Sandra. Soul Retrieval: Mending the Fragmented Self. 1991.

 

  • Jenkinson, Stephen. Die Wise: A Manifesto for Sanity and Soul. 2015.

 

  • Levine, Stephen.  A Year to Live: How to Live This Year as If It Were Your Last. 1997.

 

  • Madden, Kristin. The Shamanic Guide to Death & Dying: Meditations, Exercises, Rituals & Ceremonies. (revised edition). 2005.

 

  • O’Donohue, John. Anam Cara: A Book of Celtic Wisdom.  1997.

 

  • Osho. The Art of Living and Dying. 2013.

 

  • Singh, Kathleen Dowling. The Grace in Dying: A Message of Hope, Comfort, and Spiritual Transformation. 1998.

 

  • Starhawk, M. Macha Night Mare, and the Reclaiming Collective, The Pagan Book of Living and Dying: Practical Rituals, Prayers, Blessings, and Meditations on Crossing Over. 1997.

 

  • Villoldo, Alberto. Shaman, Healer, Sage: How to Heal Yourself and Others with the Energy Medicine of the Americas. 2000.

 

Recordings

 

  • Estés, Clarissa Pinkola. The Radiant Coat: Myths & Stories about the Crossing Between Life & Death. 1991.

  • Hoadley, Sue. Conscious Transtions, Harp Music for Times of Transitions. The Living & Dying Consciously Project. 2014.  (DOWNLOAD)

  • Ingerman, Sandra.  Shamanic Journeying: A Beginner's Guide (book & CD). 2008.

  • Stillwater, Michael and Gary Malkin.  Graceful Passages: A Companion for Living and Dying (book & CD). 2003. 

 

 

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