Honest Conversations about Death and Dying

THIS PROGRAM HAS STARTED... IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO JOIN starting next month PLEASE EMAIL ME DIRECTLY wendy@wendyhaynes.com No more applications will be accepted after the 5th May.

This six month program, consisting of seven sessions, offers the opportunity for authentic and engaging conversations and deep listening to ourselves and others on death and dying.

This is an opportunity to explore the topic of 'death and dying' in a supportive and ongoing group environment. There will be meditations, creative writing practices, engaging practices and conversations. There will also be extra resources and contemplations for in-between sessions if you would like to delve deeper. This is not a death doula or funeral celebrant training. This is about our dying, our living, our celebrating this one precious life.

Who is this workshop for?

Young and old people; individuals, couples, people with elderly parents, people with children, people who live on their own, people who are healthy or unwell. This is program is designed to create a safe place where we can talk about death and dying in a friendly and relaxed manner. Talking about death doesn’t have to be morbid. It may be awkward or challenging and we get to explore how we can meet those difficulties. You will leave the session with tools, information and ideas about being a great ally to yourself, your friends and family when having these often hard conversations. You will have access to a wealth of resources to inspire and support you.

We will enter into topics that will bring clarity on what you want and what you can let go of. We will traverse through practical concerns such as end of life care, the funeral ceremony, disposing of the corpse, legal documents and also topics that will bring healing and renewal - life review, unfinished business, practices that support mindfulness and connection, releasing and belonging. You will find a greater understanding and knowing of your inner song by listening to yourself and to others.

Wendy Haynes will be your main guide with guest speakers which will be confirmed during the program. Wendy has been a family celebrant for over 27 years conducting weddings, namings, funerals, pre death ceremonies, memorials and more. Since 2003, she has offered professional development, mentoring and resources to celebrants Australiawide and internationally. She is the author of many celebrant related books and resources.

Wendy's commitment has been to encourage mindful presence, compassionate communication, play, connection and care in ceremonies and also preparation for death and dying. In 2006 she graduated as a Yoga teacher and in 2014 as a Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) facilitator. In 2013 she completed her first training in NVC and has since studied NVC Mediation, Convergent Facilitation and other NVC programs. For the last five years she has participated in and guided the Ongo: Everyday Nonviolence program, created by Catherine Cadden and Jesse Chu Wiens. Ongo is a blend of mindfulness, nonviolent communication and somatic practices. Wendy also loves to play the ukulele, camp under the stars, garden, play and be with her family.

This program, Celebrating this Precious Life brings together many areas of her interest and expertise.

Come and be inspired!

DETAILS:

There will be seven group gatherings, 2.5 hours each, on the first Monday of the month starting on 3rd April 2023 and finishing 2nd October. They will be held ONLINE using Zoom. 6.30-9pm AEST (Sydney, NSW). (Please NOTE that for the final session in October the clocks change to Australian Daylight Savings Time AEDT. So if you are from another non-AEDT state or country, the session time will change by one hour. In October the session will start at 6:30pm AEDT.)

This program is suitable for those checking in from Australia, Asia and Europe. For a different start time for Australia, New Zealand and USA please click here.

COSTS: Our program is offered on a sliding scale to ensure equity of access. People ask me for guidelines. A suggested sliding scale for the 7 sessions is from $70- $350 however we don't want cost to be a barrier to attending so please offer whatever you can to enable this work to flourish.

This program is open to all who are interested. Over six months (seven sessions) you will make some great friends from all walks of life and from all over the world.

I would like to pay respect to the original inspiration for this project, Stephen and Ondrea Levine's book, A Year to Live. This is an excellent read and preparation for this program. Also respect to my Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction teachers, my Ongo teachers, Catherine Cadden and Jesse Wiens as well as the many individuals and families who I have had the honour to work with.

Once you register for this call you will receive an email with further information about what to bring and also the Zoom link that will be the same for each meeting.

I am looking forward to meeting you!

With Love, Wendy

My contact: wendy@wendyhaynes.com + 61 422507517 www.wendyhaynes.com

Testimonials...

"There are not enough words to express how special this programme truly is. It is both gentle and powerful. Wendy is a remarkable person, with a soul that seeks to connect - and who succeeds in creating a safe space for others to delve inside themselves, to explore and enrich what living and dying means to them - and to learn what more they can do to connect with the earth - in life and death. I have benefitted greatly, and appreciate it all." Moira Hill End of Life Conversations End of Life Coach & Educator, England.

"I have loved the variety in the programme. The highlight has, however, been focusing my Life Review around the concepts of forgiveness and gratitude ... so powerful on so many levels, both personally and professionally!" Helen Rutledge, Celebrant, New Zealand

"Wendy Haynes is incredible. The challenge of considering ones imminent death is confronting however Wendy encourages openness, compassion, empathy and understanding of an individuals thoughts and beliefs. This program has allowed me to consider death openly, for myself, for my family and for others. Wendy's guidance has allowed me to embrace my passion of assisting others preparing for death. I confidently have the foundations to proceed with End of Life Doula training, thank you Wendy." Heather Hinton, Celebrant, NSW, Australia.

"The program and Wendys presence & guidance have benefited my life, relationships & decisions profoundly! I am 22 years old and I have learned so much about myself and my desires, perceptions and deepened the connection with myself and others. I have already shared and recommended the program to everyone around me. Because I started talking about death, suffering and disconnection with my family, friends & colleagues they got really curious and also inspired. I love the gatherings and practices that brought me back to myself and supported me to speak and listen from my heart: being authentic & present. Talking about death during the sessions, I started feeling during the month more & more alive and intensify my relationships. I could write so much more but i would recommend you to just trust and go on the journey, I promise that the programme will be a huge gift for you. Everyone will have their own unique experience and understanding." (Elisa, Student, Germany)

"Wendy's course is so full and rich. There's so much to learn about the practicals of the life journey, and to uncover the deep learnings that come from within. All in all - a very special uncovering of how it just might feel if you are given an 'end date'. I'm so grateful to be part of this group." Julie Weston - Celebrant, Australia