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
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |

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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 . |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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.
|
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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. |
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Shamanism As a Spiritual Practice for Daily Life
by
Tom Cowan.
Freedom: Crossing Press, 1996.
An introduction to core shamanism. |
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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. |
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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. |

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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.