Q&A with Angie Azur

Q&A with Angie Azur

Firekeeper & Death Doula

What does a death doula do?

A death doula, also known as an end-of-life doula or death midwife, is a non-medical professional who provides emotional, practical, and spiritual support to individuals who are dying and their families. Their role is to assist people in their final stages of life with comfort, dignity, and peace.

Some of the tasks a death doula may undertake include:

• Providing emotional support to the dying person and their family members.
• Offering guidance on end-of-life planning, including advance directives and funeral arrangements.
• Educating the family on the dying process and what to expect.
• Helping the family create a calm and peaceful environment for the dying person.
• Providing physical care, such as bathing, feeding, and administering medication (with proper training and certification).
• Facilitating conversations between the dying person and their loved ones.
• Supporting the family through the grief process after the person has died.

Death doulas work in a variety of settings, including hospitals, hospices, and private homes. They can be a valuable resource for families during this difficult time, helping them navigate the complexities of the dying process and find meaning in their experience.

What is the difference between a death doula and a hospice worker?

Hospice workers are trained medical professionals who provide palliative care to people who are dying. Death doulas, on the other hand, provide non-medical support to both the dying person and their family members. While there may be some overlap in their roles, death doulas focus more on emotional, practical, and spiritual support rather than medical care.

Do death doulas replace the role of family members during the dying process?

No, death doulas do not replace the role of family members during the dying process. Instead, they work alongside family members to provide support and guidance. Death doulas can help facilitate conversations between the dying person and their loved ones and provide emotional support to the family.

How do I find a death doula?

You can search for a death doula through various online directories or ask for referrals from hospices, hospitals, or other end-of-life care providers. Researching and interviewing potential death doulas is important to ensure they are a good fit for your needs and values. 

Here is a link to help you with your search: Death Doulas by State

What kind of training do death doulas receive?

The training for death doulas can vary but typically includes coursework on end-of-life care, grief and loss, communication skills, and advance directives. Some death doulas may also have training in hospice care, nursing, social work, or counseling.

Angie is a Ph.D. researcher in Ancient Wisdom, and with a degree in Psychology, she cares deeply for people in their time of need. With additional training in areas such as End-of-Life Care, PTSD, Sound Healing, Meditation for Relaxation, and Art for Healing, she brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to her work. 

Do death doulas only work with people who are terminally ill?

No, death doulas can work with anyone facing the end of their life, regardless of their diagnosis. They can also work with family members who are grieving the loss of a loved one.

Death doulas may be called early in the dying process, maybe at the start of a terminal diagnosis. When this happens, the family and the person transitioning from life to death can create a more sound and beautiful end-of-life experience. 

What makes Angie a compassionate Death Doula?

Angie Azur is a highly knowledgeable and empathetic Ph.D. researcher in Ancient Wisdom with a degree in Psychology. With deep care for people in their time of need, Angie is dedicated to guiding individuals and couples through transformative experiences. She is highly trained in areas such as End-of-Life Care, PTSD, Sound Healing, Meditation for Relaxation, and Art for Healing, bringing a wealth of knowledge and expertise to her work. Angie's focus is on space-holding, heart-opening, and expanding inner and outer human connections throughout life, including during the transformative periods of birth and active dying.

Her signature style of "heart-opening" focuses on creating a sacred space where clients can journey into transformative experiences—navigating life's milestones, discovering one's life purpose, or finding solace and understanding in active dying. Angie believes in the sacredness of all life transitions, celebrating not just birth but also embracing the profound journey of dying as a natural part of the human experience.

In addition to her individual coaching and healing sessions, Angie is an active community builder. She is a proud member of the Center for Conscious Living and Dying and a graduate of The Hoffman Process and The Priestess Mystery School. Known in some circles as "The Bringer of Tears," Angie’s unique blend of academic expertise, intuitive wisdom, and empathetic guidance makes her a sought-after facilitator for those seeking meaningful connections and transformative growth.

What role do firekeepers play in rituals for the actively dying, and how do their responsibilities differ from other participants?

Firekeepers play a crucial role in rituals for the actively dying by maintaining a sacred and comforting atmosphere around the person nearing the end of life. Their responsibilities often differ from other participants in that they focus on tending to the ceremonial fire, offering prayers, and providing emotional support to the dying individual as well as those family members and death doulas in attendance. 

Can you describe some of the traditional rituals or practices that firekeepers typically perform during the active dying process?

Traditional rituals can vary widely depending on cultural and religious traditions. Some common practices include keeping a sacred fire burning as a symbol of life and transformation, chanting or reciting prayers to guide the soul, and creating a soothing environment through the use of incense, music, or meditation. Also, taking care of the death doulas who are with the actively dying - this might mean listening deeply to what is coming up for them, dabbing sacred oils on chakras, light loving touch, and hugs go a long way to creating a healthy space for all - the living, healing, and dying. 

How do firekeepers help create a peaceful and sacred environment for the person who is actively dying, and what tools or techniques do they use to achieve this?

Firekeepers help create a peaceful and sacred environment by maintaining the ceremonial fire, which is seen as a source of spiritual energy and a connection to the divine. They may use tools such as smudging with sage or other herbs to purify the space, offer comforting words and reassurance to the dying person, and engage in calming rituals to ensure a serene transition.

Are there specific cultural or religious beliefs associated with firekeepers and their involvement in rituals for the actively dying? How do these beliefs influence their actions and role?

The beliefs associated with firekeepers and their role in rituals for the actively dying can vary widely based on cultural and religious traditions. In some Native American cultures, firekeepers are seen as mediators between the physical and spiritual realms, responsible for guiding the soul safely to the afterlife. In other traditions, firekeepers may represent the element of fire as a symbol of purification and transformation. Fire was considered a sacred element and a powerful symbol in Celtic and Druidic belief systems. It represented transformation, purification, and the gateway between the physical and spiritual worlds. 

How does the training and selection process for firekeepers differ from that of other participants in end-of-life rituals, and what qualities are considered important for someone to become a firekeeper in these contexts?

The training and selection process for firekeepers depends on the specific cultural or religious tradition. Typically, individuals chosen for this role are deeply knowledgeable about their tradition's customs, and rituals. They may undergo extensive training, which includes learning sacred chants, fire-tending techniques, and the spiritual significance of their actions. Qualities such as compassion, empathy, and a strong connection to their faith are often considered important for someone to become a firekeeper in these contexts.

Aspiring Druids would have been trained in the performance of rituals, including those involving fire. This would have included the proper way to light and tend a sacred fire, the recitation of prayers or incantations associated with fire, and the symbolism of fire in Celtic spirituality. I speak about the Druids, as I am studying firekeeping rituals they still abide today. 

Family Grounding Ritual

GROUNDING⁠

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Our attention jumps from one moment to the next, from one experience in the past, to something we hope for in the future, to what we're engaged in right now and to a million other thoughts. This does not serve us in the NOW. And the NOW is the only place we can make change for the better.⁠
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So what to do about this wandering mind of ours?⁠
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The answer is GROUND.⁠
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What? Maybe you've heard about grounding before but no one's really explained what it means or what if feels like. Grounding is using your imagination to release to and receive energy from the Earth. ⁠
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How? Sit in a meditative pose of your choice. Now close your eyes and breathe. Next start to imagine that you have roots from your bottom and your feet. Imagine these roots growing into the Earth - past any flooring, carpet, grass, mud, rocks, insects, and allow your roots to grow to the center of the Earth. There imagine you see something to grab onto - I often imagine huge crystals, or rocks, or other roots. Imagine your roots wrapping around them. Then imagine energy coming up from the center to you and then your energy going down from you to the center. Repeat this with breathing - in breath, energy coming up - out breath, energy going down. ⁠
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This is Grounding and the first stage (of 5) of being able to hold balance and stability in the NOW. ⁠

Grounding is needed more today than ever in your lifetime. And it's not just you that needs to ground. Your whole family needs to do the work. Your kids are in need of grounding.

Family grounding ritual:

• Remove your shoes
• Go outside and stand on the grass, dirt or concrete
• Concrete does allow for grounding - FYI
• Rubber soles of shoes prevents grounding - FYI
• Stand for 5 - 10 minutes together and on the Earth
• Allow your energy to flow through you, your family members and Earth
• Breathe

Grounding together will help your family become closer, calmer and less stressed. Stress hurts immune systems - love and the feeling of safety helps it. Do this for you and your family. You deserve peace and health. 

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Food is for Celebration and Health

Celebrate Food - Savor Every Bite! ⁠

Meals should be a time for celebration, during a shift to Ancestral Health foods and forever after. Sure, it may be a little difficult to forgo old dietary norms like cereal, bread, pasta, and baked goods, but keep your focus on the pleasure available instead of what you are missing out on. ⁠

Negativity associated with eating has no place in a happy life: deprivation / restriction / portion control / guilt / has to go. Instead, treat eating as one of life's greatest pleasures. ⁠

Eat whatever real foods you like until you are totally satisfied at each meal, and then feel free to eat again any time you feel hungry. (The operative word being "satisfied" not "stuffed") ⁠

Eating aligned with Ancestral Health principles frees you from the sugar induced, insulin roller coaster so you can reconnect with, and trust, hunger and satisfaction cycles that have nourished humans for 2.5 million years.

With the celebration mentality comes a deepened respect for food as nourishment, instead of simply fuel. Take the time to create relaxing mealtime environments, eat at a comfortable pace so you can savor every bite and eliminate all distractions that diminish your enjoyment of the meal and your dining companions. ⁠

So pick up that fork and let the celebration begin!

Let us know your favorite foods and how you celebrate food in your life!

SOFT and Therapeutic.

Angie in her Grandmother Snuggle Chair

I love my Grandmother snuggle chair. I found her at a second-hand store. When I sat in her, I felt like my Grandmother was hugging me. When she was alive and I was younger, she would hold and rock me. This chair reminded me of that type of safe snuggle. When I feel sad, angry or scared, I head to my Grandmother chair and she allows me to relax into her soft, plumpness. 

If you are feeling:

1. Worried
2. Sad
3. Angry
4. Upset
5. Afraid
6. Lonely
7. Depressed
8. Sick
9. Tired
10. Frustrated

    

Find something soft to snuggle. This soft thing can be anything that brings you a sense of home, peace, sweetness and gentleness. Some ideas are:

• Teddy Bear
• Soft Sweater
• Soft Towel
• Fuzzy Slippers
• Plump Pillow
• Warm Blanket
• A Puffy Chair

During this Pandemic, many people are admitting to feeling separate, alone, and very sad and angry. This is normal. Being told what to do, not do, and/or how to live along with the fear of becoming sick can create a split inside the personality or character of a person. Remember that we are all doing our best at where we are in our understanding of the ALL to the INDIVIDUAL. 

No matter where you fall in the emotional scale of anger to compassion, you need a break. You need some loving the self-time. 

What to do:

Grab your teddy bear, sweater, pillow or blanket and find a quiet place to snuggle into it. A quiet place might be difficult to find during shelter-in-place where everyone is home. Some ideas to try out are:

• a closet
• basement
• under a tree
• the backseat of your car
• a corner in a bedroom
• the bath tub or shower
• under a table
• under a bed
• behind the garage
• the attic
• in the garden

Find your spot and go there with your snuggle buddy. Get comfortable and hold your snuggle item close to your heart. Breathe. Take long and intention-filled breaths to relax your body and mind. Come back to, "I'm okay. I am loved. I am here." Keep repeating this and breathing deeply and smoothly.

Small time for self is all you need to feel grounded and loved. Do this multiple times a week or once a day as much as you need to balance out any scary feelings. You're not alone. We're here if you need more support. Reach out.

THINGS YOU MIGHT BE ASKED TO SIGN AS A COACHING CLIENT

If you've never had a coach before, which most people have not, you might be surprised at the documents you'll be asked to sign. These pages and contracts have been modified over the years as coaching has become more of a well-known practice.



The first document you may encounter is the; What coaching is compared to other forms of help form. You may receive a definition of the coach and coaching and what it is or isn't, like the one below.

• Welcome to Whole Human Healthy a place for Spiritual and Primal Body Coaching and Deep Intuitive Healings. We are happy you have chosen us as co-creators for your highest good. It is important that we begin our time together with a clear understanding of our roles, so that we can dive right into guiding, healing, and helping you achiever your goals.

• Definition of Coaching: This is a professional partnership in which we work together to clarify areas that you would like to improve and work toward to achieve your desired outcomes. Coaching is distinct form consulting in that you come up with your own ideas and answers rather than being given advice. Coaching is separate from therapy in that we begin where you are in the NOW. We will dive into obstacles that are keeping you from moving forward in the now, but we will not engage in therapy or any psychological area. We do have great therapists and psychologists as referrals if that is needed. 

The next form you might see is a fee and appointments expectation form:

• Fees and Payments: We prefer cash or check. The fee for WHH coaching is $160/hour. We have packages at $420/3 Sessions ($140/s)  and $600/5 Sessions ($120/s). Packages must be paid upfront in full. 

• Keeping Appointments and Time Slots: We encourage you to keep your appointments and schedule them regularly. This may look like once a week or once a month, but whatever timeframe you choose, it's best to keep it the same throughout our coaching relationship. This ensures your best growth and creates a known schedule for you to complete the homework. 

• Missed Appointments: You have made a beautiful commitment to yourself and to us. Healing and growth occur with consistency, and so it is vital that you keep your regular appointments in order to achieve your energetic and physical goals. We understand emergencies happen. If this is the case, please alert us as soon as possible so that we can be of support to you and reschedule our appointment. For all other missed appointments, the full charge will be applied, unless contacted 24 hours in advance. This goes the same for us. If we miss an appointment without notifying you within 24 hours, you will receive one free session. If you are late for an appointment, sorry but we must end on the scheduled time.
  
  
  
  
  

You might get a Coach & Client Responsibilities & Confidentiality Form:

• As Spiritual and Primal Human Wholeness Coaches, we will create a professional partnership where you feel safe, comfortable, and in control of your spiritual body and primal body energies at all times. All that you share with us will be held as confidential.
  
  
  
  
  
  We will work together to clarify issues and/or blocks in both the energetic fields and 3D physical fields. During each session, we will ask you what your desired outcome is, and we will guide the session toward that goal. Coaching is distinct from consulting, ministering, or counseling. We empower you. We believe you have the life's answers you seek ~ within you. We believe you hold the knowledge on how to heal yourself. We are purely guides and the bridge between your forgotten knowing's and your awakening back to remembering. We will hold you accountable for taking steps toward your goals, new spiritual practices, and showing up to do the work.

• As Lightworkers and Healers, we will always ask permission before engaging with your energy or physical body fields. We will respect your boundaries at all times. We will also respect our boundaries at all times. We use various types of energy forms, our intuition, as well as spiritual guides to advise and mentor us as we engage in a healing practice with you. We have been highly trained in many disciplines and offer certain tools determined by your energetic fields. We stand for you and with you always.

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  Our sessions will be held in our Sacred Yurt or by Zoom. The location to be determined by your schedule. Please arrive no more than 10 minutes before your appointment.
  
  

• Client's Responsibilities: You are responsible for keeping the agreements and the appointments as stated in this document or by using our acuity scheduling application. You are responsible for maintaining your well-being and continuing on any doctor prescribed medications and/or health regimes. We ask that you take responsibility for your willingness to do this work, to show up ready, to be coachable, to look into yourself for answers, and to give feedback in order to help us help you better. 

You may also be asked to sign waivers: 

• These may range depending on what type of coaching you are signing up to receive. Some coaches work with plant medicines, teas, chocolate, massage, dance, drumming, art and body work. The waivers will fit their expertise. 

You may be asked to sign a communications statement:

• I agree to communicate openly and honestly. I agree to use my sessions in a professional and coachable manner. 


• I agree to use email as my primary form of contact with my coach.


• I agree to use my journal to keep all of my ideas and thoughts in between sessions.


• I understand that if I contact my coach outside of my session time, I will be billed in 15-minute blocks of time.


• I will not text or phone call my coach unless it is an emergency. 

And lastly, you may have to sign a copyright form:

• During our coaching sessions, I may assign you materials that are copyrighted by ________. The coach will list those books, papers, materials in this section. Remember that your coach paid for, and took time to take classes and or sessions from guides, teachers, healers, and gurus. They have been okayed to use certain materials with their clients. This does not mean that clients can take materials and pass them onto their friends or their clients. 

Coaching is rewarding, fun, playful, serious and real character work! Once we get the paper work out of the way, we all settle into our sessions with pure-heart focus. We hope this helps get you ready and lesson any fears of becoming a coaching client.

GETTING THE MOST OUT OF YOUR COACHING EXPERIENCE

Say, you've never had a coach before; this might stop you from trying one on and curtailing your growth. Coaching doesn't have to be intimidating and can be a fulfilling and shift-changing experience from the very first meeting....but how?



Before you choose a coach take some time to do these steps:

• meditate on why you're wanting or feeling a need for a coach


• jot down 3 immediate issues or ideas you want to be coached on or change


• write out how, if these things were different, would your life look


• note how you would feel if these 3 things were exactly how you'd like


• ask yourself what has kept you from making these changes


• ask yourself what's in the way of you now


• what will it look like in a year if you do not make these changes


• note how you would feel if a year from now, you have not changed

Once you've written these out - with a pen, not digital. There are many reasons why it's more helpful to you using pen and pad....but just trust us and do it this way for this exercise. This is you being coachable - wink. wink.

Next ask yourself these questions:

• What do you want to work on first in the initial session with your coach


• Would it be comforting to have a coach you can talk with


• Do you believe you are coachable


• Do you want to change and grow


• Would being held accountable help you hit your goals


• Will releasing old trauma, limiting beliefs, and perceptions help you grow


• Would connecting to your spirituality, God, or Higher Self help you unravel doubts


• Would finding more spiritual ways to resolving conflicts give you peace


• Would you like to become less reactive and more centered


• Would you like to understand yourself better

Once you have these questions answered, reread them. Do any of your answers stand out? How do you feel about what you describe or need? Would a coach be able to help you with these things?

This is when you must dive deep into yourself. If you're stuck, feeling a loss of control, unhappy about a relationship or unhappy with your career -- it's time to ask for help. There are all sorts of help out there - anyone from a close friend, to journaling, working with a coach, talking with a psychologist, releasing with a religious figure, artwork, and reading, to doing nothing at all and hoping for a better outcome. You have choices. 

It's time to ask yourself which one fits. You can do this by placing your hand on your heart and allowing yourself to feel into what you need. No answer is wrong. You may need to change your diet, sleep habits, or organization. You might need to dive deep into past trauma with a psychologist. You could journal through these transitions and questions. Or you might want to try out a coach and see what that's like. 

What you do need to do above all else is listen to yourself. Listen to that deep truth inside of you. And if you're a YES for coaching, we're here. Reach out.

KEEP ANY HOLIDAY SIMPLE TO STAY PRESENT

HOLIDAY CHEER⁠
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KISS = Keep it simple, stupid.



Not at all calling you stupid, but the holiday collective seems to be. Not just November and December holidays, but the whole year seems to be wrapped up in lower vibrations when it comes to what should be celebration in the upper realms.



What can you do? Allow this Holiday Season to hold you, too. Many of us are doers -- must get it all done - types. This taxes our physical and emotional bodies. Feeling overwhelmed with too much to do, too much to see, too many places to go frazzles our insides and causes stress. Relax into this holiday season now and for the new year. Be fully present with yourself and your loved ones.⁠ And check in with yourself often to see if you're doing what is in alignment with you or not.
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You have permission to take a bath with candles, put your feet up and watch a show, not bake those cookies, not lick stamps, ignore texts and emails, hug your loved ones and lean into it fully, not buy that one last gift, hug yourself and know you are enough. Bring yourself inner cheer by allowing down-time. ⁠You don't have to write thank you notes or any cards at all. You can just say, "Thanks," and let that be enough.
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You have permission to notice the beauty all around you - the lights, snow, rain, trees, people, wild animals, pets, decorations, warm coffee shops, smiles from strangers, singing, church bells, and the sun and the moon.⁠
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You have permission to open your heart with love, joy, honesty, faith, playfulness, celebration as well as sadness, despair, anger, fear, and doubt. ⁠
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You have permission to feel all things, to receive and give, to rest and play, to be there and be isolated. ⁠
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Holiday Cheer comes from within - not without. Allow yourself to have permission to feel and do what is right for you. You are loved and wanted here for what you are feeling and doing now.⁠
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Happy Holiday from now and until next time.



Take care of yourself so that you can be fully embodied and fully here for yourself and others.