While collaboration and inspiration are great, plagiarism is not. Read on if you need clarity around how to reference, credit and/or use my work.

Kids deserve to be a part of a thoughtful end-of-life process. As adults we can can help shape safe, honest and age-appropriate ways for children to participate, learn and mourn. In Storytime with Neshia, I will be sharing the books I use with A Thoughtful Death clients. Come read along 📚

Ted Wolkenhauer is a licensed funeral director and embalmer - and one of my favorite colleagues. In this interview with A Thoughtful Death, Ted graciously explains the role of a funeral director, shares tips for finding a funeral home and opens up about why he does this important work.

I feel fortunate to say that funeral directors are some of my favorite colleagues. As a group, I often find funeral directors to be hilarious, engaging conversationalists who are deeply reverent of the humanity of the people they serve. Understanding their work and how we as death workers can collaborate with them is important.

Meet Emerson Lee, one of my favorite End-of-Life colleagues and most cherished deathy friends.

Mourning the Matriarchs is almost here. I am delighted to introduce our guest facilitators for this special grief group: Kate Muehlemann Cataldo and Tisha Satow. Check out the blog to learn more about these brilliant stars.

For people like me in birth and death care spaces, especially Black, Indigenous, and People of Color in these fields, the word doula is not one we want to reclaim or redefine. And, hopefully, knowing more about the history and context of the word doula helps keep the conversation moving about how to make death care more accessible, more equitable and more welcoming to everyone at every stage of life.

What kind of ancestor do you want to be? The way your community experiences your dying and death will greatly impact how they experience you as an ancestor. Straightforward, early and documented end-of-life planning is a simple, practical, loving way for you to define your destiny.

For many adults, talking about death and grief with children feels overwhelming. We often struggle figuring out these things for ourselves - how in the world do we explain it to children?

However, just like with grown-ups, having the opportunity to discuss these topics directly can actually help kids have healthier, less chaotic experiences of death and grief. Books can be a great way to start the conversation.

As a self-described Freedom Doula, Phoenix is a spiritual steward for others, helping us all move toward personal freedom and collective liberation.

Photo Credit: Phoenix Destiny

End of Life Conversations is a podcast hosted by the Reverend Mother Annalouiza Armendariz and Reverend Wakil David Matthews. It was my first time being on a podcast and I had a blast! Enjoy <3

Often after any loss, but especially after a death, society ignores and underestimates the importance of comfort . . . from fatigue to difficulty thinking clearly to our nervous systems getting stuck in a sympathetic or parasympathetic loop - grieving, and not having the space to grieve, hurts.

These conversations are hard and sometimes so contentious that people give up and don’t have them. Please don’t give up!

Over 400 small businesses were nominated for the awards this year so my little deathcare practice becoming a finalist is an affirmation that I really needed. Thank you!

Immigrants know identity loss and ambiguous grief intimately well.

Photo Credit: Reimagine

In Western culture, we are expected to grieve quietly, quickly and, most painfully of all, alone. But when we come together, not to achieve anything, not to fix anything but just to be together as we mourn, healing has a chance to create something new.

Photo Credit: Neshia Alaovae

Did you know that ashes can be stored in pretty much anything? The choice of what holds cremains is entirely up to you.

Photo credit: BuzzFeed

If you enjoy long, warm baths and care about minimizing your carbon footprint, water cremation may be just right for you.

Return Home is a green funeral home in Auburn, WA, that serves people wanting to choose natural organic reduction, also known as human composting. Photo credit: Return Home