I talk about death and dying
as if it’s the most natural thing in the world…
because it is.
Welcome
A nurturer by nature, I care about death as much as I care about life. I care about the way we die and the way we grieve, and those two peas are in a pod!
I guide everyday people to reimagine their final chapter – whether you are closer to the end rather than the beginning of life or if you would simply like to honour your ending, your way. The options are plentiful!
I offer compassionate care, practical guidance and deep presence to humans navigating dying, death and grief. So that’s all of us, really.
I believe in a dignified death and grief as
a rite of passage.
I wish for all beings - those with two legs or four - to be well resourced and deeply supported into the beyond.
The beyond is what I fondly call where we might go
when we die.
Call it what you will, I’ll meet you there.
I offer thoughtful, experiential workshops that invite people to explore end of life planning in a new way, based on the old ways - community, care and compassion.
I blend my lived experience with my industry experience, bringing personal insights and professional skills together. I hope people leave feeling informed, inspired and empowered by the multitude of end of life possibilities. We have more choice and control than we are led to believe and I’m pretty sure that’s by design!
Grief can inform creativity and I have lovingly created what I craved when my Dad was diagnosed with a terminal illness. ‘Death and Dying for Beginners’ is a 4-part death and grief literacy, skill building series. Each workshop builds on the one before, covering planning, preparation and parties! You’ll learn skills that will support you and your people before, during and after death. My workshops draw upon my experience of caring for the terminally ill at home and in hospice, working in the funeral industry and my very brief stint in mortuary care. As a long-term lover of yoga and meditation, I encourage consulting your own body throughout these conversations. It would be rude not to, considering the decisions we are contemplating!
Workshops in the Community
What I Do
My role as an end-of-life guide is to help you choose your own adventure.
Together we can:
get your death ducks in a row - practical plans for death your way
clarify and advocate for your health care needs, aligned with your values
improve death and grief literacy to make tough conversations more tender
navigate life limiting illnesses by focussing on what matters most to you
create meaning, presence, and calm in the dying chapter
face life transitions (yours or a loved ones) resourced, skilled & supported
give grief a chance - the anticipatory, the complex, the ancient, the collective, the small griefs and the ‘life will never be the same again griefs’
explore body based practices like yoga and meditation for support
I don’t provide medical support, but I can build the bridge between clinical and community care.
Why It Matters
How we die shapes how we grieve, and when we remember this, it becomes undeniable, how we die matters. How can it not?
In Western culture, death is often medicalised, hidden, or treated as failure. More often than not death occurs in a facility far from homely and sometimes a very long way from home. Yet research tells us we would prefer to die at home, surrounded by familiarity, comfort and that which matters most.
Dying at home is possible, with advanced care planning and support. Like birth, death takes a village. Death care is being brought back to life. It’s heart led, community oriented and curious - we are asking what IS possible? This is our life and our death after all.
This isn’t about fear - although we can work with that too. It’s about respect, the reality of mortality and reclaiming death as part of life
Learn about my work & my way
TESTIMONIALS
Ezzie just gets it. She just simply understands the energy in which to meet someone who is grieving.
Her words feel like warm hugs that hold you and equally strong pillars that support you in the most tender of moments.
Grief isn't straight forward. It can look and feel many different ways. Ezzie understands the full wave and spectrum of the grief journey. And makes you feel valid in every single one of your feels.
Her love and care for you in your most fragile moments is inspiring and saint worthy.
The way in which she views and revers death was so healing for me.
Kim
I am going to die, this is certain!
When? I don't know. I hope to live a long and beautiful life, but we really don't know do we?
I'm so grateful to have sat with Erin to get clear about what it is I want to happen when the time comes.
Erin's Death Connection Sessions are really valuable. She holds such beautiful space and approaches her work with great reverence and integrity. I felt very held, seen and heard as we explored some of the sticky questions I hadn't quite contemplated about what will happen when I die.
I feel a much greater degree of comfort knowing that if I was to suddenly pop off the perch, there is a blueprint for those left behind to follow, and that they can do so in the comfort that these are my wishes.
Erin is so loving and respectful as she tenderly guides you through the session. From beginning to end, the session contained a lot of magic and ritual. By the end, chatting about my own death felt just so completely normal. I'm so pleased to see her bringing this much needed work to the world.
I feel these sessions are something each one of us should gift ourselves before it is too late. I highly recommend Erin to help guide you through ... you are in very good, loving hands. Thank you so much Erin.
Jody
I had the privilege of undertaking a journey with Ezzie, and death.
An investigation, into whats important to me, around my departure from the world.
It was exciting, confronting and revealing, amongst many other things.
I felt very held and safe, as Ezzie guided me through the process.
Ezzie walked me through what we'd be doing in the session, before walking me into myself, through meditation. Then there were very thought provoking questions for me to answer, and some to contemplate later. We finished, with a soft and lovely integration time.
Ezzie combines her lived experience with death, alongside her array of skills, modalities and wisdom, with her natural ability for space holding and presence.
Her humanity and heart, and the way she gently supported me, allowed me to get really curious and brought answers to questions I wasn't even aware I had, before. Ezzie understands, how to nurture the body, mind, heart and spirit, and the importance of including all aspects in the process.
The space from which Ezzie runs these sessions, is perfect for nestling down, into self. The feeling of being deeply nourished, held and supported, by the land, the home, and Ezzie, is visceral.
If you're looking for a space to explore death, unpack your needs, find your questions and name your desires for yourself, so you can gain some clarity on this most important part of life, I can very highly recommend Ezzie and her work.
Bringing Death, to Life, has absolutely had a profound impact on me, and the way I live in each moment 🖤
Rach
I can highly recommend Erin and her Death Walking services. She is gentle, caring and non-judgemental.
The 2 hour session was relaxed and felt safe in a beautiful nature setting.
It feels so good to have my plans out of my head and onto paper to share with my loved ones. A wise investment for peace of mind, thank you Erin, you have an amazing gift! xx
Jodi
Kabir has thoroughly enjoyed your sessions and just recently every Saturday he was asking to see Momo (although he meant Smurf :). Little things like this gives us parents so much joy and just seeing him so excited gave us the feeling he can get to where we would like to see him in the sessions.
Erin, you have been an absolute delight and such a wonderful guide for him - full of patience, just so understanding and coming with wonderful ideas to keep him engaged in all the sessions.
You have special ability to connect with people and this is such a powerful attribute. So please keep doing what you do as you make a special impact in people's lives.
We will and especial Kabir will miss you and Smurf.
Wishing you all the best. Lots of love.
Kabir
Erin supported my 4 year old daughter during her Equine Therapy sessions, and I could not recommend her enough.
Erin has a calmness about her that my daughter instantly responded too. Erin’s knowledge of horse behaviour and care was insightful, and her passion was delightful to be around; my daughter learnt so much from her.
Erin clearly believed in the work she was doing; and the benefits of horse and human connection. She afforded my daughter the confidence to try everything and thrive in each session…. Forever grateful.
Parker
My daughter (who has Down Syndrome, Intellectual Disability, verbal Dyspraxia, anxiety) has had the amazing opportunity to spend time with Erin - whose beautiful nature, understanding and patience has given my daughter the confidence in herself with horses.
I have witnessed an amazing moment between Kira and Smurf - Kira was telling Smurf about her Pop, who passed away when she was 7 years old. I heard Kira telling Smurf that she was sad and still cries because she misses him, but he is now a twinkle star in the sky - in that moment Smurf, leaned into Kira and placed his head on her shoulder and shut his eyes, my daughter placed her hand on his forehead and told Smurf "It's ok Smurf, I'm not so sad anymore, I love my Pop".
It simply took my breath away.
Thank you Erin for giving Kira the opportunity to connect with Smurf in such a special and deeply emotional way. This is a moment in time I will never forget.
Kira