This week on Hard Beautiful Journey, I am excited to introduce you to Tonya Woolford. Tonya is a death doula and reiki healer, and in this episode, she walks us down the process of what a death doula does and the reason behind why so many families seek her expertise.
Initially, Tonya would try to run away from her calling and it wasn’t until she experienced a series of deaths where she finally leaned in and began her spiritual journey.
“….and it was like the earth opened up and swallowed me because everything just instantly came into place.”
– Tonya Woolford
In simple terms, a death doula helps people become comfortable with mortality, but in reality, they offer much more than that. Tonya assists with planning with the family, which may include legacy gifts, advanced care plans, figuring out next steps, even just rubbing lotions on their patrons.
Beyond that, Tonya offers comfort and cites a poem that puts it all into perspective titled Let a Physicist Speak at Your Funeral.
Listen to the full episode above or on your favourite podcast player or below!
Timestamps:
[01:31] Introduction to Tonya
[02:41] Meeting Tonya
[04:04] Becoming a death doula
[05:45] Catalyst for everything
[08:42] Seeking comfort modalities
[10:09] Course to be a death doula
[11:42] What does a death doula do?
[14:14] Planning with the family
[18:34] The setting it takes place
[19:31] Difference between hospice and death walker
[21:48] Examples of end-of-life lessons
[23:32] Spiritual guides
[26:18] Let a physicist speak at your funeral
[27:23] How COVID effected the process
[29:27] Reiki healer
[32:59] Discovery of light workers
[34:18] Expressing gratitude
[37:31] Connect with Tonya
CONNECT WITH TONYA
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Thanks for listening,
Tiff
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