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Resources for the Modern Psychopomp

Certain people are born with the ability to help people cross over at the time of death, or assist those souls who need additional guidance after the transition. However, it is important to remember that psychopomps are not generally mediums. Their primary function is not to reconnect the living with the dead, but to instead help spirits cross over. And while some are born with an inclination towards this work, it is a skill that can be learned and one that is sorely needed at this time

There are a number of ways to enter a state of consciousness in which we can tap into the unseen realms and communicate with earthbound spirits. These include meditative states, dream states, shamanic states, hypnogogic states (such as waking dreams where the individual is awake, but their brain waves indicate they are still sleeping), and other altered states of consciousness.

It is also important to offer assistance to those who are dying, whether they are conscious or not. Images from dreams, myths and stories can be shared, which help them envision a safe passage to the other side. Prayers or blessings can be offered, and there are methods that can help energetically release the spirit from the body. One can also enlist the help of friendly beings, who will come and guide them through the transition.

Luckily we are living in an era when an increasing number of people offer training and other resources for psychopomps, some of which is available here. However, if you feel you have been strongly called to do this work, or were born with the innate ability to connect with those who need such help, don't forget to listen to your own intuitive source of knowledge. You may find that you already possess many of the skills that are needed to do this work.

Shamanic Training for Psychopomps

Around the world shamans are well-known for their role as a psychopomp, therefore many people who are interested in caring for the souls of the dying may want to consider some form of shamanic training. There is a growing number of opportunities available for those who are interested in either indigenous or non-indigenous shamanism. You may want to start by finding what resources and teachers are available in your immediate area, or for those who are interested in "core" or cross-cultural shamanism, classes are available through Michael Harner’s Foundation for Shamanic Studies. The foundation offers advanced weekend workshops, including a course on Shamanism, Dying, and Beyond, and more intensive 2-week or 3-year programs, which also delve into psychopomp work.

Spiritual Death Midwifery

Create Sacred Space (for Conscious Transitions) is an educational organization in Virginia whose mission is to train people as guides for the dying and their families. They offer courses in spiritual death midwifery, where one can learn the basic process and techniques of death midwifery, explore the mythology of death “guides,” learn dream exercises to guide the dying to a place of safety and peace, and experience exercises that facilitate the withdrawal of consciousness during death.

Gentle Dying Method

Felicity Warner, founder of The Hospice of the Heart Trust in England, teaches the Gentle Dying method, which is used by Soul Midwives to help the spirit and soul make the final transition at the time of death. This is a nationally recognized method of holistic care in the UK. Additional information is available at midwivesforthedying.org. You can also hear the author speak about her upcoming book on Gentle Dying.

Dream Manual for the Psychopomp

Robert Moss, the acclaimed workshop leader, and author of such books as Conscious Dreaming, the Dreamways of the Iroquois, and the Dreamer’s Book of the Dead, offers numerous workshops and classes that may be of interest. He has also written “A Manual for the Psychopomp,” which can be found in one of his earlier works entitled Dreamgates: Exploring the Worlds of Soul, Imagination, and Life Beyond Death.

Soul Rescuers Training

In England, Terry and Natalia O'Sullivan offer a three-year Soul Rescuers course, which enables students to develop skills as walkers between the world of the living and the spirit realms. This course promises to encourage confidence in dealing with the spirit realms, to help one learn to cope with psychic and spiritual energy, to develop one's ability to intuitively communicate, and to work with other people in a professional capacity for healing, counseling and space clearing.

Reading Related to Psychopomps and the Transition Between Life and Death

Between Death and Life: Conversations with a Spirit
by Delores Cannon. Gateway, 2003.
Accounts from a past-life regression therapist who has acquired a great deal of first-hand information about what the experience of death is like and what lies beyond, as well as the important role that guides have to play in the transition.
Dreamgates: Exploring the Worlds of Soul, Imagination, and Life Beyond Death
by Robert Moss. New World Library, 2010.
Excellent book on dream tending, which Includes exercises on how to to use the dream state to map out the afterlife, assist the departed, and make death your ally.
A Gentle Dying: The Simple Guide to Achieving a Peaceful Death
by Felicity Warner. Hay House UK, 2008.
Helpful information for anyone who is interested in being of service to another at the time of death.
Is There Life after Death? (Audio CD)
by Elisabeth Kübler-Ross. Sounds True, 2005.
A rare published audio recording of Elisabeth Kübler-Ross speaking in her own words on the subject of life after death.
Journey of Souls: Case Studies of Life Between Lives by Michael Newton. St. Paul: Llewellyn, 1994 and Destiny of Souls: New Case Studies of Life Between Lives by Michael Newton. St. Paul: Llewellyn, 2000. Numerous fascinating accounts from Dr. Newton's hypnotherapy clients about their experience of death and what occurs in the afterlife.
The Last Adventure of Life: Sacred Resources for Living and Dying from a Hospice Counsellor. Findhorn, 2008.
Spiritual counselor Maria Dancing Heart offers stories, poems, prayers, guided meditations, and a number of other tools to help the dying and their families reframe the experience of death into a transformation - a new adventure in life.
Life After Life: The Investigation of a Phenomenon-Survival of Bodily Death
by Raymond A. Moody. San Francisco: HarperSanFrancisco, 2001
Moody's classic work, which investigates the numerous similarities between over one hundred people who have been to the "other side" and returned to tell their story .
Life on the Other Side: A Psychic's Tour of the Afterlife
by Sylvia Browne and Lindsay Harrison. NAL Trade, 2002.
A colorful view of what life after death might be like, and what can be expected during the transition.
On Life after Death, revised
by Elisabeth Kübler-Ross. Berkeley: Celestial Arts, 2008.
A collection of speeches and essays that convey Kübler-Ross' heartfelt opinions about death and the afterlife, including the idea that no one will have to make the transition alone.
Shamanic Guide to Death and Dying
by Kristen Madden. 2005.
A book devoted to Kristen's experiences as a pagan "deathwalker, " which should be of interest to people of any spiritual persuasion. In it, you will find information about the gateways we pass through when we die, why people often need help during the transition, suggestions for how to properly ritualize this final rite of passage, and how to offer assistance as a deathwalker or psychopomp.
Shamanic Journeying: A Beginner's Guide
by Sandra Ingerman. Sounds True, 2008.
A basic guide to shamanic journeying from a well-respected teacher for those who may be new to the process.
Shamanism: Archaic Techniques of Ecstasy (Bollingen Series)
by Mircea Eliade. Trans. Willard R. Trask. Revised. Princeton UP, 2004.
A classic, in-depth work on shamanism and the beliefs of shamans from Siberia, Central Asia, and other parts of the world. Also includes some information on the role of the shaman as a psychopomp.
Shamanism As a Spiritual Practice for Daily Life
by Tom Cowan. Freedom: Crossing Press, 1996.
An introduction to core shamanism.
Singing the Soul Back Home: Shamanic Wisdom for Every Day
by Caitlin Matthews. Connections, 2003.
Approaching shamanism from the Celtic perspective, Caitlin Matthews offers instructions on how to journey to the upper, middle and lower worlds, connect with the ancestors, and become more comfortable with death.
Soul Rescuers: A 21st Century Guide to the Spirit World by Terry and Natalia O'Sullivan. London: Thorsons, 1999. (Available Used)
A book full of personal stories from English Shaman Terry O'Sullivan and Psychic/Spiritual Healer Natalia O'Sullivan. As well as information from a variety of cultures about the soul, earthbound spirits, ancestral connections, ghosts, soul rescuers, and the spirit realm.
The Tibetan Book of the Dead: The Great Liberation through Hearing in the Bardo (Shambhala Library). Trans. Francesca Fremantle and Chögyam Trungpa. Boston: Shambhala, 1987. My favorite easy to understand version of this classic work. And The Illustrated Tibetan Book of the Dead: A New Reference Manual for the Soul
by Stephen Hodge and Martin Boord. New York: Sterling, 1999. (Available Used).


Additional Websites

  • Contemplative End of Life Care — End-of-life training from the Naropa University that brings together the ancient wisdom of the Buddhist tradition with the practices of hospice and palliative care.
  • Crossing Over - A Modern Book of the Dead — Chuck Pettis offers information from a Buddhist perspective about what happens when we die, why it is important to prepare for death, and what can happen to those who “don’t pass through the tunnel and are stranded without a physical body.” As an experienced dowser, he also offers GeoPathic surveys for a nominal cost, during which he examines the earth energies present and whether there are any human or non-human entities that need help moving on.
  • Death as an Ally - The Shaman's Perception of Death — An articles from Howard G. Charing's weblog on shamanism. Howard also offers practitioner training in Europe through the Eagle's Wing Centre for Contemporary Shamanism in London.
  • Final Passages — This is Jerrygrace Lyons' organization in the San Francisco Bay Area, which offers courses in modern death midwifery and information about how to create your own home funeral.
  • Metta Institute — Founded by Frank Ostaseski of San Francisco's Zen Hospice, the Metta Institute offers more traditional end-of-life practitioner training, and plans to add programs where spiritual teachers, artists, storytellers, and psychologists can come together to re-vision dying in America.
  • Helping Stuck Souls Cross Over: A Reiki Healing Experiment — A description of how to assist the soul at the time of death, from a Reiki Master's perspective.