Persons who have spent years attending to persons at the end of life share amazing patterns and experiences about death and dying. While the medical and physical dimensions require attention, towards the end of life and ‘when the veil is parting,’ soul work, no matter what a person believes, often becomes the most profound dimension in the final transition. Dr. Dieter shares years of what he and other hospice workers have observed about the end of life. Rather than focusing on the medicalization of death, most dying persons report remarkable visions and experiences that transcend fear offer comfort to families and friends.

When we consider the question, What is the best possible death? We can draw from the wisdom of our ancestors who developed remarkable practices about supporting persons in their suffering. Dr. Dieter shares insights from the Celtic Tradition that believed ‘leaning into suffering’ is ironically the key to transforming existential suffering. The Celts invented the term, BAS SONA (a happy death) to describe how the art of living and dying are truly one and the same.

Our culture has begun to break down some barriers of fear about the end of life. The part that continues to be missing in mainstream medicine is the dimension of soul. Dr. Dieter shares how his medical practice was enhanced by the sacred art of dying. His experience offers a way to pay attention to how soul pain can be better recognized and addressed.