Embracing Death and Life: Psychedelics, Healing, and the End of Life Journey

Embracing Death and Life: Psychedelics, Healing, and the End of Life Journey

Embracing End of Life: Integrating Psychedelics, Community, and Conscious Dying In this insightful conversation, Corey and Susie discuss Corey's journey from Denver to Maui, where she now works in the end-of-life space as a death doula and hospice assistant. Corey shares her personal story of moving to Maui, transforming her life, and fully immersing herself in the local culture. They delve into the integration of psychedelics into end-of-life care, highlighting the potential to alleviate fear, anxiety, and unnecessary suffering in dying individuals. Corey also reflects on her experiences at the Psychedelic Science Conference, her work with various organizations, and the importance of presence-centered care. The discussion covers educational paths for those interested in the field, the importance of community support, and the potential transformative power of conscious dying practices. Through real-life stories and heartfelt insights, they explore how embracing death can lead to a more fulfilling and connected life. 00:00 Introduction and Greetings 00:13 Journey to Maui 01:31 Life and Work in Maui 04:07 Psychedelics and End of Life Care 05:37 Integrating Psychedelics into End of Life Care 15:22 Facing Death and Nourishing Life 18:10 The Role of Death Doulas 24:06 Personal Reflections and Experiences 35:43 Conclusion and Final Thoughts Corey Westbury, MS, CHPNA (she/her) serves the Maui community as a minister, end-of-life educator, death doula, mentor, group facilitator, and certified hospice and palliative nursing assistant at Hospice Maui. Her commitment to restoring deathcare as a sacred service galvanized after attending Doorway Into Light’s death doula training, an initiation that prompted her to realign her life and fully dedicate herself to the path. Corey is the newest team member at Doorway Into Light, a non-profit organization on Maui founded by Reverend Bodhi Be, his wife Leilah Be, and Ram Dass. Doorway Into Light’s mission is to empower and support families and communities in Hawaii with holistic care of the aging and dying, including those in hospice, care of those who’ve passed, and counseling and care for grieving families. She is humbled to deepen into the work Ram Dass helped birth in the field of conscious dying in America. Deeply devoted to the spiritual teachings of Neem Karoli Baba, Corey embodies a peaceful presence and a heart-centered approach to life and death. She holds space to honor the sacred mystery of life’s transitions, offering her light as a beacon for those navigating the thresholds of dying and grief. In her community, she is known as “a gem star weaving her magic into the hearts she touches”. Corey lives on Maui in the North Shore community of Haiku with an ever-growing collection of plants and her elderly cat, Pearl. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/corey-westbury-chpna-19aa6522/ Website: www.doorwayintolight.org Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Thedeathstore Instagram: @thedeathstoremaui * The Five Invitations: Discovering What Death Can Teach Us About Living Fully [https://fiveinvitations.com/the-book/]by Frank Ostaseksi * From Doorway Into Light - Facing Death, Nourishing Life (flyer attached)Date/time: September 29-November 13. This 7-week online training meets 2x each week for 2 hours (14 classes total). Mondays and Thursdays 10am-12pm Hawaii TimeCorey and the team at Doorway Into Light will guide us in deepening our relationships with death and dying, as well as to deeper meaning and purpose in our life. This training is for all those who wish to prepare for their dying time and their death, those who may care for a dying loved one, those who currently work in the fields of caring for the dying and their families, those wishing to or are being called to work in these fields, and those who care about the world. For The Dying by John O’Donohue, “To Bless the Space Between Us: A Book of Blessings” 2008 May death come gently towards you, Leaving you time to make your way Through the cold embrace of fear To the place of inner tranquility. May death arrive only after a long life To find you at home among your own With every comfort and care you require. May your leave-taking be gracious, Enabling you to hold dignity Through awkwardness and illness. May you see the reflection Of your life's kindness and beauty In all the tears that fall for you. As your eyes focus on each face, May your soul take its imprint Drawing each image within As companions for the journey. May you find for each one you love A different locket of jewelled words To be worn around the heart To warm your absence. May someone who knows and loves The complex village of your heart Be there to echo you back to yourself And create a sure word-raft To carry you to the further shore. May your spirit feel The surge of true delight When the veil of the visible Is raised, and you glimpse again The living faces Of departed family and friends. May there be some beautiful surprise Waiting for you inside death, Something you never knew or felt, Which with one simple touch Absolves you of all loneliness and loss, As you quicken within the embrace For which your soul was eternally made. May your heart be speechless At the sight of the truth Of all your belief had hoped, Your heart breathless In the light and lightness Where each and every thing Is at last its true self Within that serene belonging That dwells beside us On the other side Of what we see. Get full access to This Mortal Life with Susie Ruth at susieruth.substack.com/subscribe [https://susieruth.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

Overcoming Self-Loathing

In episode seven of 'This Mortal Life,' Susie shares a deeply personal and emotional journey from self-loathing to self-love. She recounts discovering a box of old photos that starkly contrasted her self-perception with her actual past appearance. Susie details her struggles with feelings of unworthiness, exacerbated by a series of unsuccessful rhinoplasties aimed at fixing both her deviated septum and her self-esteem. With the help of a life coach, Susie learned to love herself, realizing that true self-worth comes from within and not from external changes. She emphasizes the importance of letting go of self-hate to begin the path to self-love. Susie’s story is a powerful reminder that appearances can be deceiving and that personal acceptance is an ongoing process. 00:00 Introduction and Episode Setup 00:48 Rediscovering Memories and Self-Worth 02:26 The Journey of Self-Love 05:31 Struggles with Physical Appearance 08:39 The Path to Inner Happiness 10:47 Reflections on Aging and Self-Acceptance 12:04 Conclusion and Final Thoughts Get full access to This Mortal Life with Susie Ruth at susieruth.substack.com/subscribe [https://susieruth.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

Moving With Grief

In this episode, Susie and her colleague Meg from Wise Moves with Meg introduce a new course dedicated to exploring grief through a combination of ritual, teaching, and body processing. Hear Meg’s personal story of overcoming physical and emotional turmoil through somatic coaching and mindful movement. Learn how grief is a profound bodily experience and a powerful teacher, often neglected in modern society's pursuit of constant happiness. Moving With Grief: Discover how embracing grief can lead to wisdom and deeper self-awareness. This episode is for anyone curious about a holistic approach to handling grief, designed to witness, acknowledge, and process it in a thoughtful, mindful way. Get full access to This Mortal Life with Susie Ruth at susieruth.substack.com/subscribe [https://susieruth.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

Parts Work and New Beginnings

In episode five of 'This Mortal Life,' Susie Ruth discusses her recent move to Arizona to help her aging father and her spontaneous decision to buy a house there. She delves into the concept of Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy, explaining how understanding different 'parts' of oneself has helped her reconcile her nomadic lifestyle with a newfound desire for stability. Susie shares personal anecdotes about reconciling these conflicting parts and the joy and contentment she's found in her new home. She also emphasizes the importance of self-love and forgiveness through parts work, and briefly mentions an upcoming interview with a friend about a course they are developing together. Get full access to This Mortal Life with Susie Ruth at susieruth.substack.com/subscribe [https://susieruth.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

Embracing Change and the Power of Listening

In the fourth episode, Susie discusses her involvement in a listening program with coach Mark Butler and a group of coaches, emphasizing the importance and impact of simply listening to each other. She shares her excitement about starting a community listening room and reflects on the valuable stories she’s discovered through listening sessions. Susie also narrates her challenging experience as a cadet in the California Highway Patrol at age 21, detailing the physical and emotional struggles, the hostile work environment, and her eventual decision to quit. She concludes by sharing a poignant 'letter from Love' inspired by Elizabeth Gilbert’s project, expressing the wisdom and support she receives through these personal writings. Susie invites listeners to subscribe and share their own stories or letters from love . Get full access to This Mortal Life with Susie Ruth at susieruth.substack.com/subscribe [https://susieruth.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]