artful dying

Creative end of life planning

Artful Dying

End of Life Wishes & Care Planning

Discover what matters most to you at the end of life through this creative process of exploring life, dying, death, and the afterlife.

All are welcome in this community of supportive and courageous learning.

If you received a diagnosis today, and you had 3 months to live, would you and your loved ones know what you want for the end of your life?

Death is a natural part of life.  100% of us are going to die, yet only about 25% plan for it.  That leaves a lot of room for the unknown, unexpected and unwanted.

How do you want to be cared for near the end of your life?
If you can’t advocate for yourself, can your loved ones advocate on your behalf?
Do you know what your end-of-life choices and rights are?
Are there relationships that you’d like to tend to before it’s too late?
Do you want to be cremated, aquamated, or terramated?
What do you believe happens after you die?

As an end of life doula, coach and chaplain, I’ve witnessed firsthand what it looks like when end of life plans aren’t made, when death is met in crisis, and when wishes aren’t shared with loved ones.  Thinking and talking about the end of life can be challenging.  I know, but I know how transformational and healing it can be too.  I’ve also witnessed firsthand what it looks like to meet death with a plan, meaning, love, and support.  Even in the face of great sorrow.

No decision is a decision!  If you don’t decide for yourself someone will have to decide for you.  And trust me, they don’t want to.

What’s Included

7 Live Zoom Gatherings

Expansive Resource List

Guidance & Coaching for Goal Setting

Reflective Journaling & Writing Prompts

Reflection Questions

Community Learning

Grounding & Centering Practices

Inspirational Quotes, Poetry & Book Excerpts

Printable Worksheets 

Reference Templates 

Experiential & Ritual Practices

Healing Circle & Closing Ceremony

What to Expect

This is a 7-week online group class.  We will meet each week for 90 minutes with heart work and self-exploration in between. Prior to our weekly class, I will offer a series of reflective journaling and writing prompts related to the following areas:

Physical: Receiving care and creating comfort and beauty
Spiritual: Honoring beliefs and practices
Emotional: Honoring feelings and relationships
Legacy: Meaning-making and what we leave behind
After Death Care: Honoring the body and celebrating life
Life Systems: Remembering our eternal connection to Mother Earth

In addition to facilitating a rich conversation, I will share video clips, book excerpts, poetry, and other resources to deepen your experience.  At the end of this course, you will have created your personalized plan to carry forward throughout your life as you change and grow.  It can be edited as needed.

Although we do reflect on advanced directives, health care power of attorney, DNR, POLST, and wills, this class is so much more than legal documentation.  You will have an opportunity to make all the lists; financial accounts, insurance policies, titles, Apple ID, social media login credentials, and so on.  My wish for you is that you will be fundamentally changed by this class in a way that allows you to embrace the artfulness of a life fully lived, and when your time comes be celebrated in an artful death.  Remember, all the planning in the world means nothing if you don’t share it with those that love you.  Make your wishes known. 

ARTFUL DYING is for you if:

You are looking for a supportive environment to explore your own life and death
You or someone you love is experiencing a life-limiting illness
You want to be proactive in creating a holistic plan for you and your loved ones
You are a caregiver or support person at the end of life
You are a curious human and want to explore your options
You want to be creative with your end of life wishes

ARTFUL DYING WILL HELP YOU:

Identify and focus on what matters most
Explore your end of life desires, beliefs, and wishes
Have meaningful conversations about death with others
Become more comfortable talking about death
Practice loving-kindness for yourself and others
Create an end of life vision and care plan that you can easily share with others

Enrollment Currently Closed

No payment plans are available.
No refunds or exchanges after purchase.

This class size will remain small as a way to hold a container for a supportive environment.  By participating you agree to hold content, participant communications, and community conversations confidential.  Therefore, no recordings of the sessions will be available.

All are welcome.  It is my priority that my offerings are welcoming for anyone, regardless of race, gender, sexuality, class, religion, and identity.

This work is powerful and can bring forward emotions of all sorts.  It is expected that if you need support, you seek whatever resources you need.  Offerings from Rhea Mader do not claim to be therapeutic and should not be used as such. 

Thank you for honoring my art and expression of it.  Please do not share it with anyone who has not invested in it.  Do not claim it as your own or tweak it in any way to use it for your own benefit.  Always give credit.

See POLICIES for more information.

Kind Words

For a topic that can be so difficult and taboo that I have rarely (if ever) deeply opened up about, I felt so safe and supported to express my own views and learnings along the journey, without fear of judgment or being told what the ‘right’ beliefs are.  I loved how you took the lead in the most loving way Rhea, acknowledging everybody’s opinions and stories and also sharing your own was really insightful.  I’m so glad I followed my hunch to explore this with you Rhea.

~ Abbie

Kind Words

This was a wonderful class!  I feel like I gained a deeper perspective of death and dying.  The hands meditation and the meditation in the last class were both very powerful.  Also, the timed journaling we did once was very helpful for me.  I would describe the experience as beautiful, educational, and inspirational.

~ Britt

Kind Words

I was hoping to meet myself deeper, explore how I would feel with those questions regarding the Best Three Months and how I would prepare.  My expectations were definitely met and I felt very safe and supported.  I would sum of the experience by saying it was like being in life with gratitude and being with death in gratitude.

~ Marisa

Kind Words

The way this course has manifested in my life is that I have more focus on priorities and less focus on distractions, I feel more mindful.  I felt so safe and supported in your program.  You created a beautiful space of openness, courage, vulnerability, and reflection.  My hopes were beyond met!  This course is a game changer, life changer.

~ Lydia

What if death is not a singular rite of passage?

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