Laura Strong, PhD

For decades I have used my intuitive and creative skills to help navigate souls to the afterlife, clear out unwanted energies from homes and properties, guide individuals and communities through transition points of all kinds, and provide tools and inspiration during times of change.

Intuitive by nature, I have always had a deep connection to the natural world and the energies of our planet. I've also had a lifelong interest in our relationship with the unseen realms, and such important rites of passage as death. Early on, I also found I had the ability to connect with individuals and groups who were transitioning to the other side, including those who came to say goodbye at the end of life, or needed assistance with their passage.

From a very young age, I also experienced the loss of a number of people around, a trend that continued into my teens and twenties. Curious by nature, I always wanted to know what happened to these people who had suddenly vanished from my life. But instead of finding comfort, I found a great deal of isolation in a culture that was definitely afraid to talk about death, as well as those who had passed on.

While it was common in my culture to turn to one's religion for answers, the church I was taken to in my youth was not too forthcoming. Instead of providing answers, they instead asked me to leave the congregation at the age of 12 for "asking too many questions!"

This set the stage for a life-long quest, where I have actively engaged with a wide variety of mystical traditions, shamanic practices, mystery schools, intuitive arts, healing modalities, dreamwork methods, and creative processes to bridge the "seen" and what is often perceived to be "unseen" worlds.

This journey also led to me to pursue my MA/PhD in Mythological Studies with an Emphasis in Depth Psychology at Pacifica Graduate Institute.

There, I continued my research into the diverse mystical, religious, and mythological beliefs surrounding death, dying, and other rites of passage in cultures around the world.

It was during these studies that I came across the role of the "psychopomp," who provides guidance at the time of death, and acts as a bridge between the land of the living and the realms of the dead. Grateful to have found a context for my own innate skills, I also began to see how this archetypal figure could provide a positive framework to discuss what can otherwise be a rather daunting subject.

Throughout this course of inquiry, I also saw how mythological stories can help people from different cultures, such as those who provide medical, hospice, or spiritual support, to engage in conversations about death, dying, even if they do not share the same religious, cultural or spiritual beliefs. Additionally, I witnessed how discussing the concept of a "guiding figure" at the time of death, seemed to ease the concerns of many.

In recent years, my work has expanded beyond traditional psychopomp work into a broader engagement with transformation across human and planetary systems. I am particularly interested in how change is lived, and in the role that energy, frequency, and environment play in shaping those transitions. My current focus includes direct exploration of these dynamics, working with emerging tools and approaches that support coherence, resilience, and the body’s ability to adjust during periods of rapid change.

Laura Strong, PhD
info@psychopomps.org

I am also the founder of Studio Strong, where I design interfaces and information architecture for complex, real-world environments.
www.studiostrong.com