A Young Death Doula With a Lot to Teach

Chelsea Waves is an early adapter—not to technology and modern trends but in the ancient gifts of compassion and wisdom. The 35-year old is a death doula, grief companion, and lucid dreaming coach. She shares her stories and answers questions about death, dying, grief, equanimity, and a lot more in this interview. I’m privileged to have met her (thanks to spiritual teacher Andrew Holecek) and to have had this opportunity to interview her.

She uses the websites chelseawaves.com for her death doula and grief companion work, and thisisadream.space for lucid dream guidance.

I think you’ll find watching and listening to our 50-minute conversation a rich and, well, upbeat experience. (I apologize for the occasional distortions in Chelsea’s voice. They were entirely my fault. I didn’t press the right buttons at the right times.)

My trusty Zoom AI companion found these “key takeways”:

* Chelsea is a death doula, grief companion, and lucid dreaming coach who began her journey after her mother's suicide in 2017

* Death doulas provide non-medical emotional and spiritual support for dying individuals, including legacy work, document preparation, sitting vigil, and advocacy

* Both Mel and Chelsea discussed the importance of humor in dealing with grief and death, noting that laughter can provide relief and help process difficult emotions

* Chelsea emphasized that grief occurs not only with physical death but also with "little deaths" like changes in identity, relationships, or life circumstances

Chelsea mentioned Alua Arthur's Going With Grace death doula training program and Threshold Choir, which brings songs of comfort to the dying and worldwide volunteer opportunities for those who’d like to sing to them.

Mel’s book, The New Middle Way: A Buddhist Path Between Secular and Ossified - Enlightenment for Regular Folks, is available from Amazon and Audible. The paperback is now available worldwide from non-Amazon outlets like Barnes & Noble, and the eBook will be on September 4. You can choose your favorite retailer here.

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