Today we’d like to introduce you to Brandi Wiles.
Hi Brandi, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Death has always had its place in my life. From my ” odd cultural ” beliefs. To my grandmother and mother openly talking about it.
I went to a lot of funerals and ceremonies growing up.
I grew up between a cemetery and a funeral home.. I thought the funeral home was fancy house woth a fancy car that transported its guests. I was sorta right!
I went to college for art and psychology.
Falling for deaths inspirational hold upon art. And the way it affects one’s mind while creating. I had to keep studying.
After working in art galleries.
Buying obscure pieces for private shoppers. To starting my own collection. All doing so while being a Domme. ( its my belief that you can be dearh positive without being sex positive. But that’s another conversation for another time)
One day a friend asked me to attend and speak at his Death Cafe. Give some insight on what my cultural beliefs we’re on the matter. How we grieve and celebrate. I had NO idea what a death cafe was. I just knew I was intrigued.
It went well to say the least. It’s where I met my first death doula! Who inspired me to seek out how to become one myself!
I started searching for the right teacher, school and ways to offer my help. Where to volunteer my time. Learning e everything and anything I could about loss. Talking to those that are terminally ill. Sitting woth dogs and cats that were being euthanized. All during covid. And the 2 years afterwards. I dedicated my life to death.
I never looked back.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Its a constant learning experience.
Its going to get emotionally draining. You forget that peopleYOU love WILL DIE! Making it impossible to help others even yourself. And that’s ok. Because we all grieve differently. If it wasn’t for my strong loving support system. I’d have fallen apart. Given up and loss my own confidence.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I’m a grief and bereavement counselor.
As well as a death doula. I run the Cleveland Death Society. Which is a death positivity movement based group. We support one another’s grief. Interests in death as a culture. Pre death planning to assisting in at home funerals. Hosting events at local bars, pubs, cemeteries and coffee shops. Trying educate the community on what their funeral rights are. Laws and regulations. Helping those dying face death without fear and regret.
I’ll sit at your funeral when no one else will. I think what sets me apart from other death doulas is are the people I help the most. The metalheads, punks, goths, drag queens, lgbtq2s community. The misfits, Artists ,actors and wallflowers. Sufferers of stigmas and terminally ill. . Giving them their space to thrive and speak. To be heard and remembered however they wish. Just as in life then shall be in death.
What matters most to you? Why?
Life is fucking precious!
I said what I said.
The United States of America is the worst place to live in when it comes to Death Positivity!
Fair Dearh rights and, laws and regulations.
Funeral Homes are pretty easy to locate.
Yet its perfectly legal to pass at home.
We live in this Midwestern cultural society. That we shouldn’t bother someone by asking them to talk about our grief. That we can’t get our sad all over them. That it’ll trigger their grief and that’s insensitive “
We have the right to die at home!
Amongst our loved ones.
Why is it that 98% of society doe8know this? Let alone about green burials?
We have the right as a society to talk about death. Loss. Grief and bereavement! We deserve better affordable death care. Counseling and support! It’d save lives. Suicide rates would go down. Those fighting to stay sober struggling with grief and temptations. Would stay sober and live to fight another day. Pet loss wouldn’t seem silly. Happier memories would be shared and had. Bonding and building a stronger community and connection to one another.
If we dont talk about all these things.
If we aren’t educated about our death rights. With love and understanding How will we ever face dearh with dignity? Without fear or regrets?. Or will we just help destroy more lives. And further ourselves from those that truly need us. Death is as precious as life. To me that’s important!
Pricing:
- Grief and bereavement counseling is based on income to donations
- Death Doula work is based on your financial situation.
- $20/$50 an hour for counseling
- $50/$200 Death Doula hourly to over night
- Negotiable
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deathdoulalanore?igsh=MTNvcnoycm5pNnh5bA==
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/713509910719073/?ref=share&mibextid=NSMWBT
