What is Soul Midwifery?

Soul midwives are the companion to the dying, in a holistic and spiritual care. Soul midwifery has been founded by Felicity Warner who rediscovered and developed the ancient traditional skills from this and other countries which are forgotten in this modern and technic orientated world. Often we do not know anymore how to be around a dying person, how to talk, how to comfort and how to ease the dying persons journey.

  Death is the most important, sacred journey our soul will make in this lifetime, doesn’t it make sense to be involved in your own death?
  - Felicity Warner 

Also death is a natural process there can be good deaths and not so good ones. 

Soul Midwifes may help to prepare for this sacred transition in an individual way by listening compassionately and working holistically with gentle therapeutic techniques supporting each unique person; 

Create and hold a healing sacred space for the dying person; using gentle techniques with sound, colour and smell if requested; 

 Support family and loved ones and overall giving the person the dying experience they wish for.

‘ A good death is an extraordinary, moving and sacred experience. It can also have a healing quality, not only for the person who is involved but their families, friends and the wider community. 
  - (Felicity Warner, Gentle Dying)

The 12 Principles of Soul Midwifery

  1. To work as non-medical holistic companions who guide and support a dying person in order to facilitate a gentle and tranquil death.
  2. To support and recognise the individual needs of the dying person and ensure they feel loved and supported.
  3. To create and hold a sacred and healing space for the dying person (whether in a hospital, a hospice or at home).
  4. To respect and honour a dying person’s religious/spiritual or atheist/agnostic beliefs and practices.
  5. To work as non-denominational, multi-faith practitioners who honour the dying person’s beliefs about life, death or the afterlife.
  6. To listen, provide gentle therapeutic techniques, and ensure compassionate care at all times.
  7. To ‘serve’ our friend; not aim to ‘fix’ or ‘rescue’.
  8. To give healing, using sound, touch, colour, scented oils or other gentle techniques to alleviate pain and anxiety.
  9. To keep a loving vigil.
  10. To work holistically with the spirit and soul of our friends at all levels and stages of transition.
  11. To support families and their loved ones, giving loving care with a human touch
  12. To provide comfort, continuous support and reassurance in helping a dying person to experience the death he or she wants.

Soul Midwifery testimonials

Thank you Sylvia, so much, for supporting me when my father was ill and during his last few weeks of life. Knowing you were there and offering unconditional listening and support made all the difference. You helped me to share my feelings and my fears about dad dying. I really wanted to ensure my dad had a dignified, honourable and respectul death, and I knew I couldn't facilliate that on my own. So I thought, 'who can I call?' and your name came into my mind immediately as someone who would support me. When I phoned you were so kind and non judgmental. I felt like you really understood what I was going through and you offered to help me. Thank you from my heart for helping me and my dad. You were amazing in helping talk through what was happening in the last few days and also ways that I could support dad in his dying. Your experience as an end of life nurse was so helpful. It was an incredible journey and I felt like you were holding my hand through it.

Love Rachel

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