Exploring how we prepare for death in our lives ~ practically, emotionally and spiritually ~ and in turn, how we can live our lives more fully than ever before.

This 5-week course will support you to consider and prepare for death: practically, emotionally, and spiritually. And in doing so, help you to live your life more fully. The live sessions will run fortnightly, to give you time for further discussion and reflection in between meetings. You will be given short assignments each week to support you in this process, and you will be encouraged to keep a journal. You are also welcome to attend the free Death Cafes Bryony will be running in addition to this course.

Live Zoom Sessions; 10-11.30am March 2nd, 16th, 30th, & April 13th, 27th

What to expect

  • Community

    LIVE Zoom Sessions & COMMUNITY chat app to connect, share and meet people

  • Who dies

    Session 1

    We will begin by exploring who we are – getting to know ourselves, and one another, a little deeper, and considering the question, who dies?

  • Our relationship with death

    Session 2

    We will look more closely at our experiences of, and relationship to, death. What are our fears, hopes or beliefs about death? Where do we find meaning in life?

  • What makes a good death

    Session 3

    We will explore what makes a good death. We will begin by reflecting on how we might wish our own death to be, and beginning to draw up a plan for our last wishes.

  • What matters to you

    Session 4

    We will reflect on what matters to us now – how might we move forward with our lives, with our last wishes in mind?

  • Being remembered

    Session 5

    We will consider our last rites of passage – the funeral. What would we hope our funeral to be – and how does this reflect our life? How do we wish to be remembered?

How do we prepare for our own death, and for the deaths of those we love?

How do we understand and prepare for the process of dying itself?

Do we know what we want – for ourselves, or others?

How can we support those that are dying, and those who are bereaved in our communities?

You will gain clarity and understanding about your relationship with death and dying. You will have opportunity to explore your hopes, fears and beliefs on this subject – and look clearly at where you find meaning in life. You will begin to lay the foundations for a “good death,” and have a clear sense of a holistic plan for your dying or last wishes. You will also begin a document for your funeral wishes.

It is important to note that both dying wishes and funeral wishes are very much “living documents” and subject to change as life moves on.

The subject of death will be handled with sensitivity and tenderness, but it will also be held positively – allowing you to have a greater sense of confidence in your life and how you choose to live it.

It is intended that you will find the sessions inspiring and stimulating, and that you will be able to move forward in your life with a clearer idea of your values and wishes, and greater sense of fulfilment, meaning and purpose.

This course is aimed at anyone who would like to deepen their understanding of, and relationship to, death and dying. At its core, this course is rooted in the belief that when we have honest and open conversations about death, we can start to live our own lives more fully.

This course is also suitable for people who are supporting loved ones on their journey with dying, or who anticipate they might be called upon to support people in the future. If you feel this might be a difficult or sensitive subject for you, you may wish to have extra emotional support in place – please discuss with Bryony if this is a concern.

Participants will gain clarity and understanding about their relationship with death and dying. They will have opportunity to explore their hopes, fears and beliefs on this subject – and look clearly at where they find meaning in life. Participants will begin to lay the foundations for a “good death,” and have a clear sense of a holistic plan for their dying or last wishes. They will also begin a document for their funeral wishes. It is important to note that both dying wishes and funeral wishes are very much “living documents” and subject to change as life moves on.

The subject of death will be handled with sensitivity and tenderness, but it will also be held positively – allowing participants to have a greater sense of confidence in their life and how they choose to live it. It is intended that participants will find the sessions inspiring and stimulating, and that they will be able to move forward in their lives with a clearer idea of their values and wishes, and greater sense of fulfilment, meaning and purpose.

This course is now full

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Your course facilitator

Bryony Wildblood

Bryony Wildblood is a OneSpirit Interfaith Minister, counsellor, and artist based in Portsmouth, and working across Hampshire, West Sussex and Surrey. Through her work with ceremonies, counselling and group facilitation, she supports individuals and communities to find a deeper sense of connection: to themselves, to one another, to life, and to the world around us.

Bryony moved to Portsmouth in 2018, and since then has been growing her work to serve her local community, as well as volunteering for her local hospice, and the mental health charity, Dare2Express. Earlier this year, she launched Southsea Death Café online, which has been well-attended by people locally, and from further afield.

Prior to this, Bryony worked as a Hospice Chaplain in Surrey, journeying alongside people through life and loss in its many forms. It was through her work in hospice and care homes, and her experiences as a funeral celebrant, that Bryony recognised the need to challenge our cultural taboos around death, dying and grief.

Bryony has a diverse range of experience, combining the skills of a minister, celebrant, counsellor, group facilitator and doula, with a specialist knowledge of spirituality, mental health, and end-of-life care. Her workshops draw these elements together – weaving ritual, meditation, embodied practice, and heart enquiry into a rich tapestry that nourishes our innate wisdom and give expression to our deepest self.

Bryony’s passions in life nourish her soul and inspire her work – these include wild swimming; adventuring on foot or by bike with her family; ecstatic dance; and intuitive painting. Bryony lives from a deep certainty that life is wild and precious, and through her ‘Soul Work’ seeks to help people connect to that which is most authentic, meaningful and sacred to them.

Mental Wealth Academy

The Good Mental Health Cooperative

The Good Mental Health Cooperative supports people to access community based activities and workshops which help with inclusion, recovery and good mental health. The support is intended for people who have experienced serious life challenges, are socially isolated, anxious or lacking in confidence. This may include experience of mental ill-health, addictions, disability, bereavement, caring responsibilities for example. At the Good Mental Health Cooperative, we believe that connecting with others, and informal learning opportunities, are really important steps to good mental health, bringing a sense of inclusion and challenge, rather than feeling isolated and lacking in purpose. www.goodmentalhealth.org.uk

Funded by

Awards for All National Lottery