Lewisham Death Cafe

Death Cafes are held all over the world. A moment in space and time to reflect on death in a safe and open-minded space. See their website for more info

How we feel about it, our personal experiences, our hopes and fears.

I am a trained Death Doula (death companion) and Shamanic energy worker. I run these events to create a safe space for us to speak freely, without taboos or awkwardness, about a sacred – and maybe terrifying for you – moment that all of us will face one day. Or to share openly our experiences of others dying and how we really felt, not how we thought we were supposed to feel.

Next event:

MyOfficeClub Lewisham, 3-5pm, Friday 17 Sep in the auditorium

Just come with your heart and soul. No charge. For more info contact windsofdiscovery@gmail.com

As preparation you might be interested in listening to this meditation to develop our relationship with both life and death. 

sa.ta.na.ma death related support

sa . ta . na . ma

birth . life . death . rebirth.
The circle of life

I offer counselling and energy healing around the subject of death and grieving. I draw on my training as a qualified death doula and shamanic healer and my experience of death and grief in doula work and time spent with people in famine areas and refugee camps.

Modern society has largely forgotten how to “do death”. We push it away, hoping somehow it won’t touch us. Our loved ones are rushed off to the funeral director’s hands and, after a few weeks, friends start asking if you’re “alright now”. As though you were getting over a cold, not readjusting your whole world.

It can help to talk through the deaths you have experienced or how you feel about your own death, in a safe accepting space. There is no right or wrong way to deal with death. But facing it is a start.

Catherine Shovlin

Counselling – one on one session to deal with issues around death and grief.

Shamanic soul release – to help those who have died to move on, even a long time ago. This may be someone close to you, or an unwelcome presence you sense in your home.

Both can generally be in person or over zoom. $50 per hour.

Contact windsofdiscovery@gmail.com to arrange.

Sacred Death Training

Join me for the third time of running the Sacred Death course – for anyone who has a personal or professional interest in understanding death and how we live with it.

  • 10am-1pm 25,26,27 April and 3,4,5 May 2023 at Infiniti, Penestanan, Ubud

With certified Death Doula and shamanic healer, Catherine Shovlin.

Do you find yourself at odds with family and old friends in your attitudes to death? Or maybe the thought terrifies you and you are ready to understand why and shift that feeling. Maybe you are currently grieving and confused by the process.

We will discuss aspects of death and how we can support ourselves and others experiencing this important event.

This course will take place in person with a small group in Bali (at Infiniti, Jl Penestanan, Ubud). It is strongly recommended that you commit to attend all six sessions as this is a learning journey that we will take together.

Here are some comments from previous participants:

“Catherine creates a space where we can explore and discover on an individual and group level. It’s wonderful to opportunity to have conversations and share perspectives around topics that are often not spoken about. Catherine is a magnificent guide, sharing from her experiences and leading the group with her calm and charismatic presence. I recommend this experience to anybody who is resonating with it at a given time in their lives. ” Karin

“I recommend everyone to learn how to deal with death. Interestingly enough, in every session the course taught me a lot about life.” Sanne

“This course make me at peace with death” Cuaca

“I loved every minute” Katherine

SIX SESSION COURSE

CONTENT

  1. Introduction – our own views and experiences, of death and grief. The art of Compassionate Presence.
  2. Our own death – coming to terms with it, designing a meaningful death that meets our needs, creating an Advanced Plan
  3. Death and Society – different cultural approaches and taboos around death and grief. Comparison of Western approach with Balinese views. Controversial deaths.
  4. Death and family dynamics – death stories, a person-centred approach, holding space. Secrets, lies, scandals and heartache
  5. Working with death – physical, emotional and spiritual aspects of death and caring for the dying
  6. Integration and Application – including sharing the Shamanic practices I use before and after death

COURSE FORMAT

Sessions of three hours in a small group (max 8) using a combination of talking circles, pair work, practical exercises and sharing information. There will be a reading list provided during the course with some research or reflection work to complete between classes.

This course can be offered on demand. The min cost is 10 million plus travel cost if outside Ubud. Additional participants @ 3.5 mill IDR per person (£180, US$230, A$350, Euro215).

WHO IS ELIGIBLE?

There is no specialist experience needed. Much more important is your attitude to the topic, your own relationship with death and your ability to work well within the group and follow the shared agreement we will draw up together around safe space, confidentiality etc. I reserve the right to suggest further personal development is needed before joining the course.

THE COST

The course cost is 3.5 mill IDR per person (£180, US$230, A$350, Euro215)

Two scholarship places are available on each course to local individuals showing special aptitude and interest but without the means to pay. Please email me at windsofdiscovery@gmail.com if you wish to be considered.

Bali Death Cafe

Death Cafes are held all over the world. A moment in space and time to reflect on death in a safe and open-minded space.

How we feel about it, our personal experiences, our hopes and fears.

I am a trained Death Doula (death companion) and Shamanic energy worker. I run these events to create a safe space for us to speak freely, without taboos or awkwardness, about a sacred – and maybe terrifying for you – moment that all of us will face one day. Or to share openly our experiences of others dying and how we really felt, not how we thought we were supposed to feel.

Next events:

Ubud, 3-5pm, Sunday Oct 18

Canggu, 1-3pm, Friday Oct 30

Just come with your heart and soul. Suggested contribution of 100k Rp will go to community projects. For more info contact windsofdiscovery@gmail.com

As prep you might be interested in this meditation to develop our relationship with both life and death. 

Inspire Expire Retreat

In Western society, we have developed a strange attitude to death. You may be one of the people questioning it. In a world where natural ageing is seen as a kind of weakness, to die can be treated like the ultimate failure. As this research shows, most of us don’t like to talk about death and only a handful have thought about how they would choose their own death to be. In London for example, more than half of people die in hospital even though most of us say we would prefer a home death (only achieved by about 15% of those dying at age 85 or more).

Those who dare to explore the idea of death – yes even their own – discover rich rewards. From my own experience, I know that the thought journeys I have taken as part of my death doula training (with pioneering organisation Living Well Dying Well) have been a significant factor in life choices I am now making. By understanding and accepting our mortality we tap into an appetite for life that can lead us to review our priorities and make some fundamental changes.

I am lucky enough not to be suffering from an illness. I am fit and healthy from a family of long living women. I fully expect my own death to be some way off,  though of course none of us knows for sure. Maybe you are the same, or maybe you have reasons for more cautious predictions. Maybe you are caring for an elderly relative or dying friend. Or grieving for somebody you have lost.

Whether your motivation is living your own life the way you want to, or coming to terms with death, I hope you will enjoy me on our 4 day journey into the wonderful world of death and life. It will be a joyous one, a touching one and may just change your life as much as it changed mine. 

2018-09-16 16.49.09

What to expect

This 4 day retreat will take place at our Winds of Discovery retreat centre in Essaouira, Morocco. Where even in winter there is an average of 6-7 hours of sunshine a day. In the protected space of the centre we will have privacy and calm to explore our deepest hopes and fears. I will guide you through a series of activities, with plenty of time for reflection, resting and sharing. We will begin and end each day with 30 minutes of reflective breathing, meditation and gentle yoga poses (no prior experience required).

What is included
  • activities 9am – 5pm each day including an outing to the wild beaches and ancient argan tree forests south of Essaouira and a visit to the local hammam (optional)
  • vegetarian breakfast and lunch
  • welcome dinner on first evening
  • water, tea, coffee

 

 

What is not included
  • overnight accommodation (there is plenty of great accommodation available on airbnb, plus hotels. I recommend choosing somewhere in the medina so it is easy for you to walk back and forth)
  • travel to Essaouira
  • evening meals
2020 Dates for Inspire Expire Retreat
  • Nov 17-21
Cost

The cost for the first evening plus 4 days is £750 per person

Book below! Only 8 spaces per retreat.

 

Inspire Expire Retreat

A 4 night retreat in Essaouira, Morocco using an honest look at our death to enhance our life

£750.00

Your info