Written by: Erin Merelli |Death Doula | Educator | Ceremonialist | Public Speaker 

How happy is America, half on fire and half on ice? The sun sets at the same time we get off of work. We’re on the precipice of another polarizing political play. In our bodies it feels more like a time to hibernate than a time to create.

Written by: Erin Merelli |Death Doula | Educator | Ceremonialist | Public Speaker |

Medical Aide in Dying (MAiD) is one of the most complex, controversial, and in my opinion, sacred aspects of death work.  As a death doula, supporting individuals and families through this process demands sensitivity, clarity, and deep compassion. While MAiD offers a path of autonomy and dignity for those facing unbearable suffering, it also brings emotional, ethical, and spiritual questions that require careful navigation.

Written by: Erin Merelli |Death Doula | Educator | Ceremonialist | Public Speaker |

Grief, though deeply personal, is also profoundly communal. Across cultures and generations, humans have turned to collective mourning rituals to process loss and find solace. Yet, in modern Western societies, grief is often treated as an individual burden to be shouldered privately. What if we returned to the ancient wisdom that grief is something to be shared, witnessed, and held by a community?

Written by: Erin Merelli |Death Doula | Educator | Ceremonialist | Public Speaker |

As a death doula, one of the most profound questions I encounter isn't about the practical aspects of dying – it's about what happens next. "What do you think happens after we die?" comes the whispered question, often late in the night, when the medical discussions are done and the paperwork is set aside. It's a question that lives in the heart of every culture, every religion, and every human being who has ever contemplated mortality.

Written by: Erin Merelli |Death Doula | Educator | Ceremonialist | Public Speaker 

"I want my death to give back to the earth." This is something I hear more and more often in my death doula practice. As our awareness of environmental issues grows, many of us are seeking ways to ensure our final act is one of giving back to the planet that sustained us. But what exactly does it mean to have a green burial, and how can we make it happen?

Written by: Erin Merelli |Death Doula | Educator | Ceremonialist | Public Speaker 

In our fast-paced world, there's often pressure to "move on" quickly after a death, to get "back to normal" as soon as possible. But what if this rush past grief is exactly what prevents us from healing? What if the ancient wisdom of funeral rituals holds something vital for our modern hearts?

Written by: Erin Merelli | Death Doula | Educator | Ceremonialist | Public Speaker 

impossible to forget. It's when you sit with someone who's dying or grieving, and you simply... be. No fixing, no solving, no rushing to fill the silence. Just being present, holding space for whatever needs to emerge. This art of holding space is at the heart of death work, and it's a practice that transforms not only those we serve but also ourselves as practitioners.