-a six week course, a friendly, comprehensive, and accessible primer on planning and setting intentions for the end of our lives. Topics include meeting our wise elder, legacy, ethical wills and life review, defining our end of life wishes, environmentally friendly disposition of the body and memorials, caregiving, solo aging, beginning again after profound loss.

Here are testimonials from the class:

"This series offers you a beautiful journey into living and dying."

"Rhyena is a gifted teacher. I loved learning from her! I'm so inspired by the work she does."

"This series of classes was so informative, thought provoking and well formulated. I'd actually take it all over again."

"As a pastor, I found this class helpful for my ministry. As someone who has watched loved ones die, and also did not get to say good bye to some loved ones-this class was healing."

"Perfection! Rhyena is a natural for this sacred wisdom sharing! A truly Divinely Aligned Angel of Love, Compassion and inclusive welcome!"

'I loved your calm and inviting voice and holding space at tender times. I liked the mixing of video, lecture, breakouts and reflection time to write."

"Rhyena has a relaxing voice, lots of knowledge, able to connect with people, great listener. She cares about what she is sharing and the people receiving."

"Such a soulful exploration of death and dying. Lots of practical information AND lots of sharing with other people who want to live consciously through their last days."

"A very enlightening class that delves into the somewhat taboo topic of death, and makes it personal from a healthy perspective. It's consideration of grief is especially helpful."

I highly recommend this class. I learned so much about the end-of-life process and how to make decisions for myself on what I would like for the end of my own life. And to have conversation with others about wishes and concerns about dying was truly a blessing!

Facilitated Group: Death Cafes

I have been leading these cafes for two amazing nonprofits since April 2020. I warmly welcome you to attend these Tuesday morning, safe and supportive conversations about anything death & dying. They have ben a wonderful space for me and so many lovely people.

Please sign up on Eventbrite. They are free and open to all.

Elisabeth Kubler Ross Foundation Death Cafes

2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month, 10am-11:30am PST.

For more information and to register: EKRF Cafes

Please note:

*There is one zoom link for all of the 2nd Tuesday Death Cafes and another for the 4thTuesday Cafes. If you have the link, registration is not necessary:

Elisabeth Kubler Ross Foundation Death Cafe

Zoom links for 2nd Tuesday of the month, 10am-11:30am PT:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84010309969?pwd=S2FzYlI5R0tDTDNoRUV3dzNWQW9QQT09

Elisabeth Kubler Ross Foundation Death Cafe

Zoom for 4th Tuesdays, 10am-11:30am PT:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89418260444?pwd=QituWUo1R0FJc2VmVm95WjVBNUJJUT09

Mission Hospice (MH) Death Cafes

3rd Tuesday of the month, 10am-11:30am PST. Free.

For more information and to register: MH Cafes

Please note: Here is the Zoom link to join the MH Death Cafes if you prefer not to register:

Mission Hospice Death Cafe, 3rd Tuesday of the month, 10am-11:30am PT

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85727593877?pwd=a084S1VkMWo4czZ1WnhzZlZyWTU0Zz09

Course: Spiritual Dimensions of Nearing Death

This five-class series provides an opportunity to explore near-death experiences, death as a presence/teacher, and the special communication that can happen as one nears death. tion and to register: Eventbrite Registration

A couple of participant comments from the last session:

Dear Respected Rhyena Halpern,

I was much pleased to attend your class on the spiritual dimensions of nearing death. I would like to express my gratitude at this juncture for the selfless effort that you put into it. I would like to continue this journey. Hence I will be very happy, if you could keep me informed regarding your similar sessions and seminars. Since I am a Catholic priest working at present in Germany, I will try to join the sessions as my timings and appointments here permit. I consider it to be a great blessing to have attended your class. Once again thank you so much!

Gratefully yours – Fr. Rockson

- - - - - --

Many thanks to the Elizabeth Kubler-Ross Foundation, Rhyena & other staff for providing this wonderful course with great resources: books, videos, meditations. Would also like to thank all the participants for sharing their time, stories, experiences & for holding space w/ supportive listening.

Aloha, Debbie Dang

Facilitated Group:

Family Caregiving Support Group

Sharing facilitation hats with Zoe Francesca, we meet every Tuesday from 12-1pm Pacific Time, on Zoom. People from all time zones and geographic are welcome, whether the family member you are caring for lives with you or remotely, at a facility or their own home.

Please continue to spread the word to other family caregivers you may meet in the course of doing this sacred and difficult job of family caregiving.

Support Group Zoom Link

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87538622806?pwd=eUtEN1ZtOC9Lek1Wb21iWmd2MU5rQT09

Please let me know if you are interested in more information on any of these offerings.

Here are a few examples of articles, press, presentations:

Compassion & Choices article about doulas where Rhyena is featured along with esteemed colleagues; available by link or word doc:

https://www.compassionandchoices.org/docs/default-source/magazine/2022-summer-mag-online-final-6-7-22.pdf?_ga=2.221003992.1142695791.1657125281-84547311.1649268284&_gac=1.114893557.1654627368.CjwKCAjw7vuUBhBUEiwAEdu2pLWau70Exv5PGLnZ1AAgBSIbyi21WBC65lorOdRdp1FP3aMWFt-5QRoCuzcQAvD_BwE

What is an End of Life Doula anyway? Compassion and Choices Workshop at the annual American Society on Aging Conference, San Francisco, CA, March 2024, plus workshop organizer Meagan Williams' story about it:

CC Summer22 Doulas feature copy.docx

Meagan re ASA .docx

Presentation at local Bay Area library, Spring 2023: