A Mortal Wayfarer is a person who has learned to live comfortably in this life knowing that Death exists.
Mortal Wayfaring is about learning to comfortably travel our mortal paths. To wayfare is to set forth on a road or course of travel with the intent to come to or become contented with our mortal selves. It’s about coming to exist in a particular condition – the human condition of mortality.
Talking to anyone and everyone about Death is a passion of mine, but I also recognize that for many others current discussions about Death do not fit with contemporary beliefs and values, particularly for those of us who are of neurodivergent or non-neurotypical minds. I want to encourage and support those in our communities who fear judgement, shame, or embarrassment because we don’t think about Death or Afterlives in normative ways. I create space for each of us to move through our lives with knowledge and comfort about our next destinations.
Everybody has got to die, but I always believed an exception would be made in my case.
William Saroyan
FOCUS
My focus is about supporting youth and young adults, particularly those with neurodivergent behaviours and cognitive abilities, to develop and learn how to become comfortable with our mortal selves. Wayfaring is about travelling well-worn roads in new and creative ways that allow each of us to make our own path in this world and the next.
Admittedly, I’m a little too enthusiastic about talking about death in positive, healthy ways. But I know I am not alone in wanting to have these conversations. As a Certified Death Doula and an academic who works with youth and young adults in educational and artistic settings, I have learnt that there are a lot of questions, concerns, anxieties, and fears that keep Death in the darker shadows; and it doesn’t have to be this way.
Speaking about Death will not call it forth. It is not at all like Beetlejuice* but talking about Death with humour, art, and honesty can shine light into our darker moments. My individually designed plans, educational courses, public presentations, and small group programs open spaces that allow uncomfortable topics to become moments of personal exploration and community building.
*Beetlejuice, 1988, Film, Director Tim Burton, USA.
The only thing that kept me going was stories. Stories are hope. They take you out of yourself for a bit, and when you get dropped back in, you’re different – you’re stronger, you’ve seen more, you’ve felt more. Stories are like spiritual currency.
Neil Gaiman, ‘The Sandman: Book of Dreams’
MORTAL WAYFARING PATHS do not come with maps. We are dropped onto this plane of existence and left to wander. Along the way we meet other wanders and we walk with them. Some for a brief jaunt, others as marathon partners. And with a few, we will walk a lifetime of adventures. What we mortal wayfarers all share are stories. We live our lives creating stories and along the way we share them with new wayfarers. As we walk our final days we are led along alternate paths of realities. While the living world continues on their journeys, we travel corridors marked by darkness and uncertainty but beacons guide our footsteps towards hope, love, calm, and joy. These beacons are our stories of our lives lived.
Some stories fill volumes weaving the textures of lives lived together and apart. Some are fleeting moments of pure ecstasy – like our first rollercoaster ride, or moments of pure joy – like when we first saw their eyes look into ours. Some are comical interludes – like that time with the goat 😉 while others played out like a Greek tragedy. These stories are what connect us in this life and the next.
By sharing our stories we can begin to plan for our next journey – meeting our beloved ancestors, reuniting in Heaven, feasting in Valhalla, or transcending to Nirvana, our next path is not ours to design but we can plan our final voyage. I like to start with a story – your story, and from there we create a map that will help guide you and your loved ones. I make use of both creative and bureaucratic devices to support a comfortable and dignified end-of-life journey.
WAYFARING PATHS
Education
- Starting THAT uncomfortable conversation – support and facilitation for youth (15–18 year-olds) and young adults (18–30 year-olds) who want to ask THOSE questions but are too anxious
- Examining Death through visual representations of living and dying – private, professional, and public presentations that explore how humans have through time expressed their fears, desires, loss, and beliefs about Death, Afterlives, and how to die a good death
- Exploring your mortal path – private or group facilitations on making one’s way through our mortal realms, discussions and creative activities exploring potential end-of-life plans (Advance Care Plans)
- Download the Planning List below
Planning
- Creating Your Mortal Path – individual or group workshops for End-of-Life Plans and Advance Care Planning
- Creative Happenings – exploring, designing, and creating personal artistic rituals and memorials for ourselves, and our loved ones
Public Speaking
- Professional and private presentations, conference speeches, and facilitations are available. Please email me to discuss your areas of interests.
