Weaving at the Thresholds of Living and Dying
We don’t need to be spiritual or religious to feel the sense that our life is a sacred and precious gift. Being alive is something of a miracle whether we are thinking about the science of what made it possible for us to have come through our mother or the spiritual unfolding of our unique existence at this time and place.
My hope is that we can also learn to feel that death too is a sacred and precious gift. Our culture has turned as far away from death through denial and technologies to keep us living as long as possible regardless of the financial and bodily cost. This has made us fear death rather than embrace and claim it as our own, and take the time to discover and complete our final wishes.
When we don’t overlook our death and instead turn towards it early on, our dying process can serve as a tremendous opportunity for healing and empowerment. It is possible for us to find a sense of comfort and peace as we exit our bodies. With knowledge, awareness and support, each of us has the power to make space for grace, beauty, and dignity to be our end of life story.
My name is Ore Ganin-Pinto, and I am a Palliative and Hospice Chaplain. I have served thousands of patients as in the hospital, facilities and homes over the last seven years. I have sat at the bedside of patients as they took their last breath. I have journeyed with people as they moved through their fears and doubts, and discovered peace and surrender as they crossed the river of death. I would love to be a part of your end of life journey and that starts with whatever stage you are entering into this conversation, however old you are and whatever you practice in faith or no faith.
My Offerings
End-of-Life Doula
An end-of-life doula serves as a companion and ally to assist and care for all the parts of the death and dying journey so that you can live to the end with dignity and aligned with your core values. The doula can facilitate the hard conversations with your family and loved ones, help you feel prepared and support you to have all the resources you need to be comfortable.
You may benefit form an End-of-Life Doula if:
You are contemplating death whether or not you have a known diagnosis or illness
You know that your end is near and you need to process the stages of grief and loss
You may wish to explore, clarify and write out your end of life wishes, examine your fears, explore your legacy and honor your life with review and conscious reflection
You may be full of existential questions, loss of faith, reclamation of faith or a desire to find a spiritual path to hold you at this threshold
You do not have many loved ones nearby, and you need accompaniment on the journey with someone that can hold you and be with you exactly where you are
You are a caregiver and you need support as you tend to your loved ones, or if you are anywhere along the phases of grief and loss for someone in your life
Spiritual Counseling
These 1-1 sessions provide a sacred space and open up an invitation into conversation with the Divine. You may come with a blank slate or you may have an issue or topic that needs spiritual guidance. Ore’s training as a somatic movement educator, as a vocalist and song weaver can provide a container that includes dance and movement, sound/vocals and creative exploration. As a queer non-binary person they would love to serve their community and are open to all who are called here. As an Inter-spiritual Chaplain and Jewish animist, they bring a practice that ignites the force of Nature into all things, serving all faiths and no faith. They are also reaching to their Jewish community who might be wrestling with zionism or identify as non-zionist/anti-zionist and need a space to process these last years. ** Group sessions also available upon request.
Rituals and Ceremonies
As a Rites of Passage guide and ceremonialist, Ore would love to support you to bring intention and meaning into the magic and beauty of your threshold moments. Every ritual is crafted especially for your individual situation and can be as collaborative or hands off as desired. Ore will guide you with questions and suggestions to create the right container to fit what you are seeking. As a vocalist and song holder, they can also add their voice and music to enhance the experience.