Episode 10: A ‘Good Death’ with Karen Bellone, Death Doula: Embracing Life & Mortality Part Two
IN THIS EPISODE:
THIS IS PART TWO - Listen to part one here
CONTENT HEADS UP: This episode contains discussions of death, dying, end-of-life care, and sensitive topics related to mortality, including chosen suicide and medicalization of death and illness. Listener discretion is advised, especially for individuals who may find these topics distressing or triggering. Please prioritize your emotional well-being while engaging with this content.
Also, Ali wants to note that when she asks Karen about her thoughts on suicide, she meant to make a disctinction between “chosen” suicide (when someone wants to live but they are in too much physical pain/their body is too deteriorated without hope of recovery) and “suicide under duress” (meaning due to emotional/psychological/spiritual pain, that may or may not be accompanied by an unavoidably dying body, the person does not want to live). Of course facing a death someone does not want can also be considered duress!
SYNOPSIS: What does good acting and dying have in common? In this episode, Ali discusses all things death, dying, and living as bodies with Karen Bellone, Certified End-of-Life Doula and Death Educator. They focus on the interconnectedness of life and death, the significance of conscious living, and the complexities of end-of-life care. Karen shares her experiences working with dying individuals, highlighting the challenges of the dying process, including issues related to dementia and Alzheimer's. They discuss the importance of compassionate and holistic approaches to end-of-life care, emphasizing the need for conscious decision-making aligned with personal values to achieve a good death without regrets. Throughout the conversation, they reflect on the essence of embodiment and the importance of being present in the moment, trusting the intelligence of the body to embrace a richer life and ultimately a better death.
ALI & KAREN EXPLORATION POINTS:
- The concept of a 'good death,' this discussion emphasizes the significance of conscious decision-making and holistic approaches to end-of-life care, challenging societal norms and perceptions surrounding death.
- The complexities, ethical considerations and medicalization surrounding end-of-life decisions, highlighting the need for open dialogue and support for individuals facing such choices.
- The role of a Death Doula, illuminating the profound support and guidance provided by these compassionate professionals in assisting individuals and families through the dying process, fostering a sense of empowerment and comfort.
- How our physical and emotional bodies communicate and play integral roles in the dying process, highlighting the importance of listening to and honoring the body's wisdom.
- Insights into embracing conscious living, pursuing meaningful experiences, and aligning actions with personal values to cultivate a sense of fulfillment and purpose.
- Sensory experiences shape our perception of life and death, emphasizing the significance of sensory elements in the dying process and fostering connections with loved ones.
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MORE ALI MEZEY:
Website: www.alimezey.com
Personal Geometry® and the Magic of Mat Work Course information:
www.alimezey.com/personal-geometry-foundations
Transgenerational Healing Films: www.constellationarts.com
MORE KAREN BELLONE:
BIO:
Founder, Doula, Educator: Karen Bellone, MFA, is a Certified End-of-Life Doula and Death Educator. She is the founder of The Seventh Sense in NY’s Hudson Valley, where she is an integral part of a worldwide community that is reigniting the wisdom of death within our modern lives. She is also founder of Exit Strategy for Dying, a monthly Death, Arts and Culture Readers supporting a resource hub to educate and refocus the narrative around death and grief through the lens of arts, culture, storytelling and innovation. Prior to embracing her passion for end-of-life work, Karen has had a long career as an award-winning filmmaker and internationally collected photographer. She received a BFA in Film Production from New York University, and did graduate work with the world-renowned Actors Studio, through their inaugural program at the New School for Social Research.
After training and becoming certified with INELDA (International End of Life Doula Association), Karenworked with an innovative hospice in Los Angeles where her skills as a death doula were developed and broadened. In addition to working with patients in various stages of their life journeys, she was responsible for training the volunteer staff, nurses and other hospice and medical professionals to bring more understanding, humanity and compassion into their work with the dying. She spoke regularly with groups, such as the Alzheimer’s Project, about the role of the doula at end-of-life, and the space that can be held to bring about ‘a good death’. She believes strongly in the ability to demystify and assuage the fear that surrounds death in our culture and to foster safe passage for the dying, as well as to aid the families and loved ones through grief and bereavement.
As a visual artist and storyteller, Karen acquired a multitude of skills throughout her career that unlocked a deep passion for the healing power of visual and auditory perception on human consciousness. She integrated these strengths and resources into tools to bring aid and comfort for those imminently facing their mortality. Working with somatic and sensory awareness, Karen utilizes visual, sound and meditation therapy, personalized guided imagery, and commemoration of the sacred in the form of ritual, legacy and memory work, in order to bring comfort - physically, emotionally, spiritually to celebrate and commemorate the life of the individual. In addition to her ongoing private practice, Karen is currently directing a feature film about living American artist Michelle Stuart, whose work also engages with the elemental and ineffable nature of existence.
RESOURCES:
Exit strategy for dying (Karen’s monthly newsletter)
Rabbi Leder's book, The Beauty of What Remains
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Photograph by Karen Bel