Guest Speakers 2022
Sophie Strand
Sophie Strand
Sophie Strand
Confessions of a Compost Heap
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We live in an age that refuses to acknowledge the waste and death it relies upon to function. Purity, symbolically and practically, has destroyed our ecosystems and our gut biomes while necessitating an uneven distribution of pollution and suffering. But the mess of death may be what we need to survive an age
Confessions of a Compost Heap
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We live in an age that refuses to acknowledge the waste and death it relies upon to function. Purity, symbolically and practically, has destroyed our ecosystems and our gut biomes while necessitating an uneven distribution of pollution and suffering. But the mess of death may be what we need to survive an age of chaos and complexity. Death is, paradoxically, a mess of aliveness. It is the moment when a homophonic song shifts into a microbial polyphony of multi-species collaboration. How can we use both myth, mycology, ecology, and our own contaminated bodies to understand death is the womb of life, gestating worlds as it digests the old? Let us look to decay and impurities in our own lives not with disgust but as a teacher on how to alchemize the toxins of systems that cannot persist. It is to the dying animals and ecosystems and disabled kin that we will learn how to best to rot collaboratively into a compost heap that sprouts new worlds.
Sophie Strand is a writer based in the Hudson Valley who focuses on the intersection of spirituality, storytelling, and ecology. Her first book of essays The Flowering Wand: Rewilding the Sacred Masculine will be published by Inner Traditions in Fall 2022 and is available for pre-order. Her eco-feminist historical fiction reimagining of the gospels The Madonna Secret will also be published by Inner Traditions in Spring 2023. Subscribe for her newsletter at sophiestrand.substack.com. And follow her work on Instagram: @cosmogyny and at www.sophiestrand.com.
Sophie will join us live virtually and talk on the ecology of life and death
Oceana Sawyer
Sophie Strand
Sophie Strand
Pleasure Activism at the End of Life
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How can you incorporate pleasure for the client, loved ones, and most importantly, yourself at the end of life? Together we'll explore the realm of sensuality and its application to the journey of dying before, during and after.Oceana Sawyer, End of Life guide, is focused on the liminal space of dying
Pleasure Activism at the End of Life
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How can you incorporate pleasure for the client, loved ones, and most importantly, yourself at the end of life? Together we'll explore the realm of sensuality and its application to the journey of dying before, during and after.Oceana Sawyer, End of Life guide, is focused on the liminal space of dying, grieving, pleasure & liberation in an eco-somatic context. Her book, “Life, Death, Grief and the Possibility of Pleasure” arrives in August 2022. For more information go to www.oceanaendoflifedoula.com.
Oceana will join us live virtually and talk with us about her new book "Life Death, Grief and the Possibility of Pleasure"
Pablo Coddou
Sophie Strand
Pablo Coddou
Meeting the Five Buddha Families~ Through Living and Dying
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This is a system of ancient Tibetan tantric practices for seeing and experiencing one’s self and one’s world, that works with the 5 elements through meditation. It uses the symbolic technology of the mandala principle to engage and interact with one’s body, speech, mind, and rel
Meeting the Five Buddha Families~ Through Living and Dying
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This is a system of ancient Tibetan tantric practices for seeing and experiencing one’s self and one’s world, that works with the 5 elements through meditation. It uses the symbolic technology of the mandala principle to engage and interact with one’s body, speech, mind, and relationships as sacred. These teachings originate from a pre-Buddhist Himalayan worldview, and have been expressed in a format accessible to westerners by various contemporary Tibetan masters, as both a spiritual science, and a mystical psychology. Pablo will join us in person and discuss the five Buddha Families and how their impact crescendos during the dying process.Anne-Marie will join in the end-of-life portion of the discussion.
Pablo Coddou is a psychotherapist and uses principles from Gestalt, Humanistic-Existentialism, Buddhist practice in the therapeutic process and is training in psychedelics as a therapeutic modality.
Salicrow
Stephanie Cohen
Stephanie Cohen
A published author, Salicrow is a natural psychic medium who has been aware of her gifts since childhood. For over thirty years she has worked as a seer, using the tarot and runes as her tools. With her ability to divine the future and revisit the past, she advises her clients with compassion and a straightforward approach. www.Salicrow.c
A published author, Salicrow is a natural psychic medium who has been aware of her gifts since childhood. For over thirty years she has worked as a seer, using the tarot and runes as her tools. With her ability to divine the future and revisit the past, she advises her clients with compassion and a straightforward approach. www.Salicrow.com
Salicrow will hold a Spirit Gallery in person Saturday evening on the property of Casa Luna on Craftsbury Common. Tickets to the Spirit Gallery are sold separately from the symposium ticket.
Stephanie Cohen
Stephanie Cohen
Stephanie Cohen
Stephanie Cohen is a paper pusher by day and an herbalist, a death doula, a new mother, and a lover of palmistry, astrology, tarot, and Oprah by heart. She studied Horticulture at the University of Georgia, Herbalism at the Vermont Center for Integrative Herbalism and the Botanologos School of Herbal Studies, and is a Village Deathcare gr
Stephanie Cohen is a paper pusher by day and an herbalist, a death doula, a new mother, and a lover of palmistry, astrology, tarot, and Oprah by heart. She studied Horticulture at the University of Georgia, Herbalism at the Vermont Center for Integrative Herbalism and the Botanologos School of Herbal Studies, and is a Village Deathcare graduate.
Stephanie will talk with us about a story from the angle of complicated grief, our collective consciousness and lives as Americans.
Mary Beth Bruce
Stephanie Cohen
Mary Beth Bruce
Connecting spirit to earth and applying practical observation for navigating life's challenges, is an extraordinary gift that Mary Beth has had since childhood. Her sensitivity was only enhanced when studying with some of the world's most gifted Mediums at England's Surrey University. For more than 25 years she has been using tarot as a v
Connecting spirit to earth and applying practical observation for navigating life's challenges, is an extraordinary gift that Mary Beth has had since childhood. Her sensitivity was only enhanced when studying with some of the world's most gifted Mediums at England's Surrey University. For more than 25 years she has been using tarot as a vehicle to connect with her client's guides as well as her own and to offer brilliant insight and clarity into the questions that loom and need to be brought forth. She reads at the Pyramid Book Store in Salem MA, does private parties and individual sessions.
Mary Beth will offer private, virtual tarot readings for a limited number of guests of the symposium. This is included in the cost of the weekend ticket.
About your host, Anne-Marie Keppel
Anne-Marie is the founder of Village Deathcare 501c3 whose inspiration and purpose is incorporating deathcare into community. Of Irish Celtic and Finnish Sámi (indigenous Finno-Ugric) roots, she draws from her work as a death doula, nurse assistant, life-long meditator, Reiki Master Teacher and mother of three. She is a certified Feeding
Anne-Marie is the founder of Village Deathcare 501c3 whose inspiration and purpose is incorporating deathcare into community. Of Irish Celtic and Finnish Sámi (indigenous Finno-Ugric) roots, she draws from her work as a death doula, nurse assistant, life-long meditator, Reiki Master Teacher and mother of three. She is a certified Feeding Your Demons facilitator, Life Cycle Celebrant (certificate in funerals) and trained Home Funeral Guide. She lives in the Northeast Kindgom of Vermont where she practices magic, community deathcare, trains her Siberian Husky (this is an endless process) and delights in her family’s love.
Anne-Marie is a death doula teacher, author of the award winning book "Death Nesting: Ancient & Modern Death Doula Techniques, Mindfulness Practices and Herbal Care." and the coordinator for the annual Vermont Death & Dying Symposium.
Anne-Marie joins us in-person and hosts on her land. (Casa Luna). She'll open her 11 circuit medieval lab
Anne-Marie is a death doula teacher, author of the award winning book "Death Nesting: Ancient & Modern Death Doula Techniques, Mindfulness Practices and Herbal Care." and the coordinator for the annual Vermont Death & Dying Symposium.
Anne-Marie joins us in-person and hosts on her land. (Casa Luna). She'll open her 11 circuit medieval labyrinth and tightwire for walking meditation as well as facilitate conversation with the speakers and guests.
Rachel Wylie
Location in Vermont & Covid Protocol
Location in Vermont & Covid Protocol
Rachel is an apprentice to the dance between love and grief, life and death. She is trained in somatic practices, herbalism, as both a birth and death doula, & seeks to empower her community to support each other through the full arc of life.
Rachel will be helping to coordinate the weekend Symposium both in advance and on site.
Location in Vermont & Covid Protocol
Location in Vermont & Covid Protocol
Location in Vermont & Covid Protocol
Craftsbury Common is in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont. The weekend will be held both inside and out so layers are a good idea. We have a large indoor location for the virtual speakers. The other speakers and events will be held in a variety of locations. We will be outside as much as possible.
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The land of Casa Luna on Craftsbury Comm
Craftsbury Common is in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont. The weekend will be held both inside and out so layers are a good idea. We have a large indoor location for the virtual speakers. The other speakers and events will be held in a variety of locations. We will be outside as much as possible.
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The land of Casa Luna on Craftsbury Common is charming with small magical corners and gardens and a cottage dedicated to rest, rejuvenation and one-on-one, or small group discussions. Across the street a cemetery awaits your contemplations on mortality and a spacious conference room at Sterling College will shelter us for the bulk of the day on Saturday. All locations are within very easy walking distance of each other
Covid protocol: Two rapid tests should be taken on site when you arrive (BYOT) and after that masks are optional. Please test yourself once more in the morning before arriving for each additional day that you join. Common sense hygiene and spacing is always a good idea!
Weekend Schedule
Location in Vermont & Covid Protocol
Weekend Schedule
August 12-14 Weekend Schedule
Friday (VDC GRADS ONLY)
4:00 Arrival/Check in
4:30 Gather- Toe Tag Yourself
4:45 Stephanie Cohen (VDC grad)
5:45 (optional) Traditional Finnish Sauna and garden ice bath
6:00 Catered dinner and fire
Saturday (open to all)
8:00 Optional cemetery meditation
8:30 Arrival/Check in
9:00 Opening and meditation
9:15-10:45 B
August 12-14 Weekend Schedule
Friday (VDC GRADS ONLY)
4:00 Arrival/Check in
4:30 Gather- Toe Tag Yourself
4:45 Stephanie Cohen (VDC grad)
5:45 (optional) Traditional Finnish Sauna and garden ice bath
6:00 Catered dinner and fire
Saturday (open to all)
8:00 Optional cemetery meditation
8:30 Arrival/Check in
9:00 Opening and meditation
9:15-10:45 Buddha Families in EOL Care Pablo Coddou & Anne-Marie
10:45-11:00 Tea
11:00 am Confessions of a Compost Heap with Sophie Strand (virtual)
12:15 pm Lunch- Farmer's Market within walking distance
1:00-2:30 Tarot/psychic readings/activities or extended lunch
2:30-3:30 Death Ceremonies with Sandy Crow
3:30-4:00 Tea and Bones
4:00-5:30 Spirit Gallery psychic medium Salicrow (this ticket is sold separately)
6:00 Dinner
6:30 Fireside Lore, Weavings and Toning (can bring dinner)
Sunday (open to all)
9:00 Thirteen circuit medieval labyrinth (painted) ceremony and meditation
10:00 Pleasure Activism in EOL Care with Oceana Sawyer (virtual)
11:00- 12:00 Tea, Empowerment & Closing
Parking: There is plenty of parking available but it is about a 250 step walk on mostly flat, paved road. Of course, carpooling is always encouraged
Weekend Schedule
In Person and Virtual Hybrid Tickets to Symposium
Weekend Schedule
August 12th: Friday afternoon and evening is for Village Deathcare Citizen graduates only.
Guest speaker: Stephanie Cohen
August 13th: Saturday hours are approximately 9:30 am to 6 pm with evening fire.
Guest speakers: Sophie Strand, Pablo Coddou & Anne-Marie Keppel and Spirit Gallery with Salicrow
August 14th: Sunday is from 9:30 am to 1
August 12th: Friday afternoon and evening is for Village Deathcare Citizen graduates only.
Guest speaker: Stephanie Cohen
August 13th: Saturday hours are approximately 9:30 am to 6 pm with evening fire.
Guest speakers: Sophie Strand, Pablo Coddou & Anne-Marie Keppel and Spirit Gallery with Salicrow
August 14th: Sunday is from 9:30 am to 12:00 noon.
Guest speaker: Oceana Sawyer
Parking: There is plenty of parking available but it is about a 250 step walk on mostly flat, paved road. Of course, carpooling is always encouraged
In Person and Virtual Hybrid Tickets to Symposium
In Person and Virtual Hybrid Tickets to Symposium
In Person and Virtual Hybrid Tickets to Symposium
The virtual portion of this weekend will be to connect only with the virtual speakers. The rest of the weekend (activities, in-person speakers, meals etc) will not be broadcasted.
There is a ticket for virtual only and a ticket for Saturday and Sunday. They are sold separately.
Friday is reserved for Village Deathcare Ctiizens only and has
The virtual portion of this weekend will be to connect only with the virtual speakers. The rest of the weekend (activities, in-person speakers, meals etc) will not be broadcasted.
There is a ticket for virtual only and a ticket for Saturday and Sunday. They are sold separately.
Friday is reserved for Village Deathcare Ctiizens only and has a separate ticket price which includes dinner.
Saturday's Spirit Gallery with Salicrow is in person only and tickets are sold separately from the event.
Exact schedule for in-person weekend will be posted at the end of July.
Sophie Strand will join us virtually Saturday August 13th at 11:00am eastern.
Oceana Sawyer will join us virtually Sunday August 14th at 10:00 am eastern.
Other guests are in-person.
Mindfulness Focus
In Person and Virtual Hybrid Tickets to Symposium
In Person and Virtual Hybrid Tickets to Symposium
This symposium is conducted more like a retreat than a conference. There are activities to encourage mindfulness and a daily meditation practice in the cemetery just ten steps from the symposium location.
You will not walk away with new pages of information for your binder. This is an opportunity to connect with those who are interested i
This symposium is conducted more like a retreat than a conference. There are activities to encourage mindfulness and a daily meditation practice in the cemetery just ten steps from the symposium location.
You will not walk away with new pages of information for your binder. This is an opportunity to connect with those who are interested in community deathcare and/or those who are curious to explore the realm of death and dying. You will however have much to write about in your journal- creating your own material is the key to deepening your exploration.
Participants are encouraged to bring their own blankets or meditation cushions. A plastic garbage bag works well for placing your cushion upon when meditating outside... Unless you sit directly on the earth :)
Food and Housing
Food and Housing
Food and Housing
Food: Meals are on your own- two great stores with ready-made food (some vegan options available) are one mile away and several restaurants are a 12- 15 minute drive. On Saturday a fantastic Farmer's Market is about 250 steps from the symposium location. Tea break snacks will be offered Saturday afternoon.
Housing: There are options for h
Food: Meals are on your own- two great stores with ready-made food (some vegan options available) are one mile away and several restaurants are a 12- 15 minute drive. On Saturday a fantastic Farmer's Market is about 250 steps from the symposium location. Tea break snacks will be offered Saturday afternoon.
Housing: There are options for housing in the area but we will not be assisting guests with housing arrangements. Please consult the magic of the internet!
Virtual Ticket
This ticket includes two online talks and is for the virtual gatherings only. Sophie Strand will join us Saturday August 13th at 11:00am eastern. Oceana Sawyer will join us Sunday August 14th at 10:00 am eastern. Sessions will be recorded and shared at a later date if you miss the live session. All ticket sales are final. Final day to purchase: August 8th, 2022.
Saturday & Sunday In Person Ticket
SOLD OUT
Spirit Gallery w/Salicrow Saturday Eve
This ticket is for the Spirit Gallery with Salicrow and does not include any other events or speakers for the weekend. The Spirit Gallery will be held on the Symposium property Saturday evening. Final day to purchase tickets: August 7th, 2022
Sat & Sun BIPOC/ESL Ticket
This ticket is for those that identify as BIPOC or English second language. Limited translation in Spanish for the Meeting the Five Buddhas event. This ticket does not include Salicrow' s Spirit Gallery
Village Deathcare Citizen Grads~ Weekend, Dinner & Sauna
SOLD OUT
Village Deathcare Citizen Grads~Friday Dinner, Fire & Sauna
SOLD OUT