Testimonies for By My Own Heart and Hand (home funeral training) workshop

I thoroughly enjoyed this course!  I have come out of it with the knowledge and confidence to guide families through their home funerals.  I appreciate the safe space to discuss topics of death and dying and to be apart of an online community with like minded individuals.  I 100% recommend! Everything you need is all there.  Hayley N. — New 'By My Own Heart and Hand' online training program

This was a wonderfully informative and practical course for home funeral guides in Canada!  I highly recommend this course for your own interest or to help you on your way to guiding families in hosting their own intimate home funerals.  Andrea T. — New 'By My Own Heart and Hand' online training program

I have so enjoyed taking this course and spending the time reflecting on what it means to have a good death, for both the death journeyer and their family.  It wasn't clear to me beforehand that there were options other than conventional burial and cremation, and this knowledge has brought great comfort because neither was very appealing.  I have also learned a lot about the legalities of dying and am better prepared to deal with the eventuality of my own parents' passing.  The course material was well presented and many options for further reading/viewing are provided in each unit.  The time requirement of 3 months to complete the course is very generous and really does only require about 4-5 hours a week, depending on how much of the extra material you choose to look at.  Carmen W. — New 'By My Own Heart and Hand' online training program

I am very grateful to Pashta and her team for creating this course.  After completing this course, I felt prepared to begin offering support to those in my community who are interested in having a home funeral and/or making more informed choices around death and dying.  This work is deeply meaningful to me and I appreciate Pashta's experience, teaching and mentorship on this journey.  S.S.T. — New 'By My Own Heart and Hand' online training program

The workshop was wonderful and inspiring!  Pashta is an amazing teacher and really knows how to make everyone feel comfortable doing something that most people would shrink away from.  Her work is helping many families find the healing they need, and I am so proud to have hosted and participated in such a beautifully crafted workshop." Madeline Christie — June 2019 In-person workshop

A very thorough, educational weekend that changed my belief from thinking I couldn't do something like that, to one where I could see myself taking part in end of life support and home funeral activities."  D. Shantz — June 2019 In-person workshop

I feel so fortunate to have had the opportunity to take CINDEA's one of a kind home funeral workshop, By My Own Heart and Hand.  It was extremely well organized with a pace and flow fit for learning.  The resources found and offered, relevant to each participant's province, were so generous.  I have immensely grown to admire those providing home funeral support and respect the relevance and importance to have home funeral knowledge brought back into our families and communities.  Jenn Chalifoux, Tree Rings Death Doula Home Support — On Zoom Workshop

I recently attended Pashta MaryMoon’s By My Own Heart and Hand home funeral training.  Pashta and co-pilot Tricia Keith were so generous with their knowledge, and I learned so much more than I had anticipated.  One of the highlights was the wonderful group of peers attending the course.  By the end of the weekend, we felt a whole lot like community, and I am very moved by the experience.  I highly recommend the course for anyone looking to care for their loved ones at home or for End of Life Doulas, like myself, who would like to learn more about empowering and supporting families in home death care.  Brandi Bailey Honour End of Life Care— On Zoom Workshop

I appreciated both Pashta and Madeline's openness to engage in story and answering questions in a very caring way.  They both exude a deep knowing and passion for this important work.  Not only did I remember in my bones what a sacred gift this is, this knowing to care for our dead, I also felt a deep sense of community.  I am grateful for your wisdom and sharing. Evamarie Padmanabhan Little Origin Doula Services — On Zoom Workshop

I have so enjoyed taking this course and spending the time reflecting on what it means to have a good death, for both the death journeyer and their family. It wasn't clear to me beforehand that there were options other than conventional burial and cremation, and this knowledge has brought great comfort because neither was very appealing.   I have also learned a lot about the legalities of dying and am better prepared to deal with the eventuality of my own parents' passing.   The course material was well presented and many options for further reading/viewing are provided in each unit.   The time requirement of 3 months to complete the course is very generous and really does only require about 4-5 hours a week, depending on how much of the extra material you choose to look at.)   Carmen W.

A Profound opportunity for self-reflection: I so appreciate this course, By My Own Heart And Hands.   It was a review of many practical aspects of post death care which I learned from Pashta in the past, as well as many other subtle considerations and elements that I had not explored or had forgotten about.   I am very enriched by the modules on grief rituals, cultures, children,logistics & forms, greening depositions, and the last additional module of Deathing Ecology.   I was so honored to be included early this year as a participant in the filming of the many modules.   It gave me the opportunity to interact and learn from other partixipants, to share my own experiences, and gained so many useful insights and perspectives from everyone!   I give special thanks to the co-instructors Trisha and Maddy.   Both of your presence was so helpful and heartfelt. Finally, a big gold star to Pashta for realizing this project to make this precious knowledge and wisdom available online.   All Blessings. Alisa K.

By My Own Heart and Hand is a wonderful training for those interested in their own death care and for those wanting to care for their loved ones.  As a licensed funeral director/embalmer it is also a fantastic learning for other "professionals".   There is so much value in family involvement in after death care. ~ Krista Manuel

Testimonials from Deathing Circles groups
(let us know if you are interested -- we are likely to have more in the future)

Thank you to Pashta and Tricia for creating and holding a safe place for us to think about, question, and discuss death and dying.  I particularly liked the grounding meditation at the start of every session.  Getting a group of strangers to talk about this subject on ZOOM was only successful because of your flawless Co-facilitation, your gentleness at making sure everyone had a chance to share and respecting start and end times at each session.  I would highly recommend this experience to anyone ready to lean in to discussing and preparing for their own mortality or someone they love.   Sandi E (then a past co-facilitator of Deathing Circles) — On Zoom Workshop

I had heard of Death Doulas and in recent years thought to explore this for preparation of my own death.  Pashta and Tricia were wonderfully knowledgeable about this in the Deathing Circle sessions I recently attended.  I learned about a game of questions (I have no previous knowledge of this) from them in a safe, caring, compassionate, Zoom, environment.  The questions were at times very surprising for me to consider to my feeling of relief in pondering an important and respectful question.  For example I've never thought of who would I be comfortable with helping me to the toilet or who Not.  I experienced much grace, compassion, and respect full caring during the Deathing Circles. M Jan Lehde Sointula, BC — On Zoom Workshop