Methods
My methods are focused on narrative (creating the narrative history of the life you have shared with your animal) and on doing (taking a hands on approach at end of life). I believe that through a combination of story (context) and the tactile act of doing, we are better equipped to make sense of grief. These are the core methods I employ across all facets of my work.
The most important aspect of end-of-life and afterlife care is understanding who your animal is. What they meant to you, and what space they are going to leave when they pass. Though thinking about this may be painful, particularly in the immediate aftermath of death, it is necessary to the grief process.
Similarly, if you are pre-planning for the death of your animal, being conscious of your shared story can assist you to keep a more comprehensive record of shared experiences so, when the end does invariably come, you have something cohesive to draw back on.
When we know and understand the role an animal has played in our lives, when we have a strong idea of who they are and what they have given us through their companionship, we can begin to understand how to honour their memory.
And then comes the doing…
Memorials are not always intangible, passing experiences, such as we would have at a funeral. Part of mourning means immersing ourselves in grief and finding an artistic output to express our those emotions.
With that in mind, I am heavily focused on companioning you as you look for ways to honour and memorialise your pet, in both the short and long term.
Do you want an at home burial? Then let’s dig the grave ourselves. While we are at it, lets assemble our own coffin and sew a unique and individual shroud. As we make and create, let us think about time spent with the animal. Let us think of the love we have shared, and how we honour them now by caring from them.
Do you want a long-term memento? Have you considered taxidermy? A tattoo? A journal? I will work with you to identify what kind of memorial is going to work for you - and then we will set about making it.
And what about the longer term? Do you want to check on your animal in the spirit world? Do you want to see if you and your animal have connected in a past life? Do you want to see if you’ll be together again, in a future one? All of the avenues can be easily explored - all we need to do is ask the questions.
