Opening Ceremony Podcast with Jess May

MARRIAGE LAW REFORM is a subject close to my heart.Consultation to update an archaic legal system is currently starting to happen in  the UK.I am joined by 2 experts in this field.In it we discuss what is at stake, what it means for you and how you can shape the future.It's a good one. xYou can find Jess here: https://www.jess-may.com/

HERE'S ONE FOR HALLOWEENIf you'd like to support the show:https://www.buzzsprout.com/2368233/supporters/newDr Jennifer Uzzell is a freelance researcher and academic in the field of Pagan Studies and Death and Bereavement Studies. Her doctorate, from the Centre for Death and Life Studies at Durham University looks at the ritualisation of Death among modern British Druids. Jenny is a member of a number of Druid Orders and is the Education and Youth Manager for the Pagan Federation. She is also an Educational Consultant in the field of Religious Education. She is co-owner of a progressive funeral home in the North East of England.I had the enormous privilege of chatting with Dr Jenny all things Sahmain and addressing my ignorance around Paganism!Join us!Find Dr Jenny here:https://centre-for-pagan-studies.com/speakers/jenniferuzzell/https://www.religiousstudiesproject.com/persons/jennifer-uzzell/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WQrvnU68zTQhttps://www.saintandforster.co.uk/about/THANKS FOR KIRSOP MEDIA for editing expertisehttps://kirsopmedia.com/ALEX MAC CREATION for designshttps://alexmaccreation.co.uk/You can find Jess here: https://www.jess-may.com/

SELF WORTH & CEREMONIES WITH MIRANDA ASHhttps://www.mirandathecelebrant.co.uk/Miranda Ash is a Celebrant with a rich and varied career behind her and ahead of her now firmly rooted in created warm, authentic ceremonies across the UK and beyond. She has 13 years experience in this particular role as a Celebrant and she is known for her down to earth approach, thoughtful touches and a strong belief in community over competition.In 2023 she was named the Wedding Industry Awards National Celebrant of the Year.She mentors students in the Academy of Modern Celebrancy and the Celebrant Success Accelerator.In this episode Miranda shares with us her thoughts about Mindset and the importance of SELF WORTH.I LOVE HER and she is a personal friend and I know that you will love her too.PLEASE DO SUPPORT MY SHOW IF YOU CAN by clicking here:https://www.buzzsprout.com/2368233/supporters/newYou can find Jess here: https://www.jess-may.com/

Hi there! My podcast is a free resource and I'd love it if you could support it. Click here to donate if you'd like to: THANK YOUhttps://www.buzzsprout.com/2368233/supporters/newDr Jennifer Riley is a research fellow in Divinity at the University of Aberdeen. Her current research explores grave goods in the UK today – the objects and items placed with people when they die, which almost certainly cannot be retrieved afterwards. She’s passionate about using her research to spark conversations about how the UK approaches death, the personalization of funerals and memorials, environmental considerations, and the concept of the afterlife in the modern world.You can find Dr Jennifer here:Facebook - just plain old Jennie Riley thereInstagram - @baggageforthebeyondLinkedin (if you're so inclined) - Dr Jennifer RileyX - JennieARiley1Bluesky - @jen-studies-death.bsky.social Dr Jennifer Riley FHEALeverhulme Early Career Fellow || Research FellowDivinity and Religious Studies || University of AberdeenPronouns: she/[email protected] paper – ‘Why does funeral attendance matter? Revisiting ‘Configurational Eulogies’ in light of the COVID-19 pandemic in the UK’ (Mortality, 2024): https://doi.org/10.1080/13576275.2023.2225029University profile: https://www.abdn.ac.uk/people/jennifer.rileyBaggage for the Beyond: https://abdn.site/baggage-for-the-beyondThe Care in Funerals Casebook: https://www.abdn.ac.uk/sdhp/philosophy/care-in-funerals-casebook-2456.phpThe Educating for Inclusive, Caring Communities Webpage: https://www.abdn.ac.uk/eiccYou can find Jess here: https://www.jess-may.com/

REAL LIFE WEDDINGS FOLLOW UP SERIESMEET MY COUPLES AND FIND OUT HOW THEY FEEL ABOUT THEIR WEDDING CEREMONIES. HOW HAS LIFE CHANGED? WHAT IS GOING ON FOR THEM?I loved this opportunity to meet up with one of my grooms Gareth Tanner who has since become a painter and moved on significantly in his life with his lovely wife Lisa.I haven't seen Gareth since the day he married Lisa in a woodland ceremony with Pagan elements. I love him and know you will too. Enjoy!More wedding couples to follow...#REALLIFEWEDDING #weddingceremonieswithjessmay #weddingceremonies #weddingcelebrant #brightonweddingcelebrant You can find Jess here: https://www.jess-may.com/

Megan Trump who recently featured in the film Rave on for the Avon married the River Avon...for real.On Opening Ceremony this week we meet 2 incredible Environmental Activists passionate Wild Swimmers taking peaceful Direct Action to affect policy change for our polluted rivers.Hear from accomplished poet Megan and her Celebrant Ruth Sidgwick all about why a wedding ceremony, a river and an independent film about the River Avon is making waves....Megan on instagram @mrs_meg_avonhttps://www.instagram.com/mrs_meg_avon/Buy Megan Trump's latest publication: 'My Avon'eastbristolbooks.co.uk/pages/book-eventshttps://www.bookhausbristol.com/RAVE ON FOR THE AVON FILM: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KvU8Vt10JAMBBC FILM ABOUT THE FILM: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cgq22y97n58oTHE OUTDOOR SWIMMING SOCIETYhttps://www.outdoorswimmingsociety.com/rave-on-for-the-avon/Another interesting article: https://thebristolcable.org/2023/06/campaigners-marry-river-avon-as-battle-against-water-pollution-continues/Ruth Sidgwick can be found on instagram@ruthcelebrancyand Linkedin:https://www.linkedin.com/in/ruth-sidgwick-a0293531/#raveonfortheavon #jessmaycelebrant #mrsmegavon #megantrump #weddingceremony #marriedtheriveravon #jessmay #weddingcelebrantjessmay You can find Jess here: https://www.jess-may.com/

INTRODUCING THE DEAD PET GIRLS!This platform and community delves into the world of pet death, offering a welcoming space for honest conversations whilst exploring the quirky cultural aspects of pet loss that are often left unspoken.57% of UK households and 66% of US households have pets, with a whopping 97% considering them family. Pet loss, then, becomes a powerful unifier for us all. It touches everyone from Queen Elizabeth to Kim Kardashian and everyone in between. Often, our first encounter with death is through a childhood pet, shaping how we navigate grief throughout our lives.Cat Dorman is a curator and emerging writer currently based in Washington, DC. She has developed the lead exhibits for a new museum across from the White House on Pennsylvania Avenue exploring the fraught concept of the American Dream opening in 2025. Much of her work centers on the intersection of social history, art and literature, and death culture.With Dead Pet Girls she particularly enjoys bringing to life the many wild and fascinating personalities buried in the history of pet loss and animal culture and exploring what we can learn from them. Cat received her BA from American University in Literature and Art History and her MA from University College London in English: Issues in Modern Culture. She is currently working on her first collection of short stories.She survives her deceased cats Max, Minnie, Marie, hamster Duchess and fish Annie and Pudd (x4).  Steff Boulton is a documentary producer and writer based in London who works in both development and production. She holds a dynamic track record, having nurtured acclaimed documentaries from initial concept to broadcast on prestigious platforms such as the BBC, Channel 4, ITV, and Disney+.Dead Pet Girls provides a platform for her to explore and share her fascination with the interplay of pop culture, history and pets whilst also providing solace and community for those journeying through pet loss. She has a BA in History from University College London.  She survives her dog Henry, rabbits Tippy and Lola, fish Flipper and Dipper and cat Cassius Earl Grey I. you can find out more here!https://www.deadpetgirls.com/about#jessmaycelebrantYou can find Jess here: https://www.jess-may.com/

Meet the founders of Soul Films! Wendy Pye & Sybil Ah-Mane Soul Films are sensitively produced short films that remember and celebrate someone who has died or is reaching end of life. A QR code linking to the film online can be printed on to a memorial plaque that will be placed in a significant public space, creating a lasting legacy and an alternative memorial site.Listen in and hear all about their creative films memorialising wonderful people in their favourite places. Their work resonates with a sense of place and memory and they were wonderful to chat to, as close friends with shared grief and a shared journey.ENJOYYou can find them here: https://www.flexiblefilms.co.uk/soul-filmsWendy is also the co-founder with Dagmara Rudkin of Luna Arts exploring the power of creativity in how we grieve and looking at new ways to do funerals.https://lunaarts.org.uk/Sybil Ah-Mane can be found here: https://magicvideobox.co.uk/about/I LOVED OUR CHAT and hope that you do too x#lunaarts #funerals #livingfuneralsYou can find Jess here: https://www.jess-may.com/

THE WIDOW COACH Karen SuttonJoin us as we chat about Widowhood and the amazing way in which Karen re-invented herself and found new purpose after the sudden death of her husband whilst her children were still young.Determined not to be defined by his death she set about rebuilding her life and in the process decided to start supporting fellow widows in their grief. Inspiring in her positivity, compassion and concern for people who have suffered the death of a significant other she seeks to coach people through their grief to a new place of acceptance.Karen runs Workshops and Retreats and online support programmes and has an fantastic International reputation in her global community. When she launched her business there was so much demand that it went viral.I love Karen and you will too.You can find Karen here: https://www.karensutton.co.uk/You can find Jess here: https://www.jess-may.com/

Janelle Ketcher from POSTAL SERVICE FOR THE DEADPostal Service for the Dead is an ongoing, collective project where people send letters to anyone in their life who has died. Birthdays, death days, anniversaries, holidays, or seemingly random days can all spark grief. Writing letters to those who have died has always been a powerful tool, but we felt something was missing – the physicality of stamping and mailing it out. So, we invite you to write a letter that helps your healing journey. Not all grief looks the same and neither will the letters. You can submit a letter of gratitude for how they impacted your life or a list of grievances that you still hold towards them – use this space to say whatever. Inspired by PostSecret, we started this project to help folks heal through writing, the power of snail mail, and shared grief experiences.Mary Parnwell from BRIGHTON DEATH COLLECTIVEBrighton Death Collective is a peer led initiative creating welcoming & inclusive spaces to talk all things death, loss & end-of-life. Here to demystify death admin and dying well. Mary creates workshops to enable people to engage with end of life issues and includes Postal Services for the Dead as part of those gatherings.Find the Brighton Death Collective on Instagram @brightondeathcollectiveor on their websitehttps://www.brightondeathcollective.co.uk/ Postal Service for the Dead @postalserviceforthedeador on their websitehttps://www.postalserviceforthedead.com/You can find Jess here: https://www.jess-may.com/

Toby Angel is a co-founder and Manager and Director of Sacred Stones a community memorial provision for cremation ashes...Toby is part of a development in reclaiming ancient burial traditions including BarrowsThe long barrows are beautiful visit www.sacrestones.co.ukto find out more.#memorials #livingfunerals #communitymemorials #celebrationsoflife #jessmaycelebrant #You can find Jess here: https://www.jess-may.com/

Today we have Dagmara Rudkin sharing with us about her astonishing shrouds. I first met Dagmara a couple of years ago and was blown away by her gorgeous shrouds which are unlike any I've ever seen. I can't wait for you to hear more about them.We are obviously talking about death in this episode and so if that is a trigger for you this might not be for you xI will let her speak for herself:Hi I'm Dagmara, I am a Polish-born and Brighton-based visual artist and art educator. I work freelance at my studio at the Phoenix Art Space and as an associate lecturer in Art and Design at Brighton MET, Phoenix Art Space and Hastings Contemporary.Burial shrouds.I graduated from Glass and Fine Art Painting and later on completed MA in Sequential Design and Illustration. Now I work not with glass which is precious and hard and brittle but with fibre and soft and mainly reclaimed materials. Making shrouds and commemorative textiles has given a new purpose and a new meaning to my practice. Here, I bring my passion for unfolding stories, and celebrating and honouring someone’s life, acknowledging life and nature cycles, doing as little harm to the environment as possible. Each shroud is unique, each handmade with love and care. I particularly cherish working with textiles of the deceased family’s heirlooms. Their table and bed linens, their garments and trimmings hold stories of travels, friendships and family events. Now they can serve their last purpose: to help with the final journey, to help with processing grief of those left behind.Shroud Making Workshops.I am in a process of developing workshops where you can design and make a shroud for yourself or your loved one. Making your own shroud is a stimulating and life-enhancing experience, regardless of how far you may be from the end of your life. Getting together and making a shroud for a person you love helps with processing grief and anticipation of your own death.Art Workshops easing conversation about death and dying.Together with my friend and colleague, photographer and filmmaker Wendy Pye, I have co-founded Luna Arts– an art organisation that specialises in art workshops and events for well-being. Wendy is also a co-founder of Soul Films , an organisation that makes films about the life of someone who has died or is near dying. Together, we facilitate workshops where creativity is used to ease conversation about death and dying.TeachingI have been teaching Art and Design for over 20 years and offer workshops to individuals and groups. I have experience in pastoral care as a Course Leader on Adult Foundation Course and I also facilitate art workshops for schools and adults at Hastings Contemporary and Phoenix Art Space. I hold a PGCSE in Art and Design.YOU CAN FIND OUT MORE ABOUT DAGMARA AND HER SHROUDS HERE https://dagmararudkin.com/https://www.instagram.com/dagmara.rudkin/You can find Jess here: https://www.jess-may.com/

MEET SALLY, Menopause Mindset Mentor and hypnotherapist based here in Brighton.We had a lot of fun laughing out our former selves in this episode,  but also acknowledging the importance of the ceremonial at different stages of our lives including menopause.Sally Garozzo is a multi award winning Clinical Hypnotherapist using Rapid Transformational Therapy and a Trauma Informed Coach.  She has a special interest in every aspect of behaviour change but particularly around the menopause transition.   She helps people with symptoms like fears, phobias, anxiety, depression insomnia etc and she thrives by having a diverse range of clients, extracting and cross pollinating ideas and resources. In it’s absolute essence, she helps people feel deeply at home with themselves and empowered by their minds.  Alongside this, she is the host of the podcast The Menopause Mindset and offers two self paced online courses for wellness practitioners, one for cold water therapy and one for menopause wellbeing.  Sally Garozzo BA (Hons), RTT, Cl.HypAccredited Practitioner with GHSC and CNHCAward Winning HypnotherapistICF Certified Holding Space PractitionerITOL Accredited Trauma Informed CoachSinging Teacher/Vocal Coachwww.sallygarozzo.comwww.singingnaturallybrighton.co.uk*The Menopause Mindset Podcast - Listen Here*What The Bleep is Behaviour Change Anyway Podcast - Listen Here*Grab your free 20 minute Relaxation Hypnosis Recording - hereYou can find Jess here: https://www.jess-may.com/

This episode is long for a reason.It's fun, it's hopeful it's insightful and it has Dave the Plantman....internet sensation... who will tell you all about his 45 year relationship with plants, memorial roses and the use of trees and plants in memorialising. His relationship to death and how that has been influenced by his experience of the natural world. Full of great tips on how to look after plants and the environment his Youtube Channel & TikTok is full of inspiring short reels and videos to help you cultivate your contribution to the environment.His friend David from Ashes To Blooms knows him through the funeral world, you have met him already in the episode called Lucy Rabbit's Legacy. David shares Dave's passion for the environment and is busy re-wilding meadows with the ashes of people who have died!They have great chemistry and they'll cheer you up!Dave the Plantman: https://www.davetheplantman.co.uk/David Holmes, Ashes to Blooms: https://ashestoblooms.com/You can find Jess here: https://www.jess-may.com/

I love this episode so much!It is all about how we use language in our current age here in the UK, how euphemism can serve a purpose and all the different assumptions professionals make about how the general public want to use death language.I learned a lot!Amy Dugmore has most recently been the content director for Funeral Choice, the UK’s leading funeral comparison and advice platform. She has had a varied career, producing content for higher education, automotive and fashion retail among many other sectors, as well as co-producing workshops with Google. She also volunteers as a mentor, helping young people break into digital marketing and content creation.As a copywriter by trade, language has always been at the forefront of Amy’s work and she is fascinated and passionate about the ways in which language shapes our experiences and helps us to find connection.It’s safe to say that when she started out, she wasn’t expecting to find herself specialising in the death care sector – but has discovered a passion for compassionate content and helping people to plan the funeral they really want.You can contact Amy through Jess You can find Jess here: https://www.jess-may.com/

Warning...your life may never be the same again!Meet Kate & Kate, Comediennes of the Funeral scene, all round good eggs, founders of Coffin Club UK, a Funeral Training Programme for would be Funeral Revolutionaries, and full time Celebrants for fabulous people everywhere.Here we talk 'gatekeeping' Funeral Directors, the impact of sexism on the lives of Celebrants and put the Celebrant world to rights.I love them, and once they're in your life you'll never let them go! Here's Kate Dyer and Kate Tym in their own words:Hi, we’re the Coffin Club Kates!Kate Tym (Blonde Kate) and Kate Dyer (Red-head Kate). We first met when we worked as Registrars for our local council. We jumped ship to become wedding celebrants and, after a short time, decided to train to conduct funerals – and so Kate and Kate Celebrants was born.It didn’t take much time for us to become aware of how formulaic funerals tend to be and were so frustrated with the lack of choice and creativity being offered. Not only that, but we were amazed how little people knew about what was available to them for their final fling and how there seemed to be a reluctance from many in the funeral industry to make this information readily available.Not ones to see a problem and not set about fixing it, our mission became to communicate and educate and bring the tricky topic of funerals out in the open. We started with a Coffin Club in our own area of Hastings on England’s south coast, before teaching other people to set up Coffin Clubs in their communities.We started training other celebrants as we really see funeral celebrants as being key players in helping to change the face of funerals. We worked with other death professionals and, most importantly, brought our message to the general public by creating a uniquely informative plan-your-own funeral course.We’d found our calling! People loved our approach and we’re really thrilled and grateful to have had our passion recognised with a trophy cabinet full of awards. We’re absolutely convinced that bringing death back to life is vital for better outcomes around grief recovery and resilience and, we couldn’t agree more with our inimitable patron, Miriam Margolyes, when she says, ‘Everyone who is going to die should come to Coffin Club.Viva la Coffin Club revolution!!Find them here: https://coffinclub.co.uk/You can find Jess here: https://www.jess-may.com/

Meet Melanie Wilson, Funeral & Memorial Celebrant, Founder of Death of the Party NYC as she shares her journey about founding DEATH OF THE PARTY NYC.In this episode we discuss her grief journey and how she founded the organisation Death of the Party NYC!She is joining us from New York.In her own words:"Death of the Party NYC is about 'Proving loneliness wrong when it comes to grieving with community. Let’s focus on how we grieve the same rather than differently.'" 'I have experienced several significant deaths over the past five years. My friend and colleague died in 2018 and my dad died in 2019. Since losing them, I've sought out friendships with others who get grief.I am a certified Life Cycle and Funeral & Memorial Celebrant, crafting personal celebrations of life.I am also a host and host trainer forThe Dinner Party..Besides talking about death, I enjoy life by volunteering at a thriftstore, being creative, beekeeping, and traveling. My favorite place in NYC is Governor's Island!"Find Melanie's Website Here:https://deathofthepartynyc.org/and on instagram: @DeathofthePartyNYCYou can find Jess here: https://www.jess-may.com/

Howard Williams is an Archaeologist with a passion for The Archaeology and Heritage of Death and Memory - Past & Present He is Professor of Archaeology at the University of Chester (2008–present). He specialises in mortuary archaeology and medieval archaeology as well as the history of archaeology and public archaeology.He has a BSc in Archaeological Science, an MA Burial Archaeology and a PhD Archaeology.His legendary Archaeodeath blog explores archaeology, mortality and material culture and is so engaging it is addictive: This famous blog and associated social media channels with a huge online following on Tiktok, Instagram and Youtube (125.3k followers)He creates more accessible, relevant and fascinating academic content for people like you and me than we could ever hope to absorb in one lifetime.He challenges current narratives and discourse around tradition and identity and seeks to find facts where there are some, encourage us to admit when there are none and debunk myths were there are many. He is also enormous fun!Youtube: https://youtube.com/@archaeodeath?si=l9OJAHJauPIAX370Blog: https://howardwilliamsblog.wordpress.com/For journals, publications, academic articles and Howard's blogTikTok: tiktok.com/@archaeodeathHoward is a published author and you can find his books here:https://www.amazon.co.uk/stores/author/B06W2H14ZY/allbooks?ingress=0&visitId=21a388b9-40e2-4ebe-8372-3ed6c5506745You can find Jess here: https://www.jess-may.com/

David Holmes is the founder of Ashes to Blooms and Sussex Seed Balls and he creates memorial seed balls form the ashes of your loved ones!Listen to the story of his pet rabbit and how she started his business!Handy Linkshttps://www.nationalfuneralexhibition.co.uk/https://ashestoblooms.com/https://sussexseedballs.co.uk/https://blackoutshop.co.uk/You can find Jess here: https://www.jess-may.com/

Roxy is an award winning Humanist Wedding Celebrant, who marries couples all over the south of England and abroad. A lover of all things ritual, she creates bespoke, fun, joyful wedding ceremonies for couples who want to stand out from the crowd. Passionate about celebrating peoples uniqueness and triumphing authenticity, Roxy passionately believes that no two weddings should be the same. When not marrying people, Roxy mentors other celebrants. She’s also a supervising Hoffman Process facilitator, coach and facilitator trainer.  In her downtime, she loves travelling and beach walks with her dogs in Brighton, where she now lives after nearly two decades in London - much of which was spent working in the music industry.You can find Jess here: https://www.jess-may.com/

Martin Fox AKA Maria Hurtz is a Celebrant friend and genuinely wonderful person. Martin's Celebrant business is known to us as Proudfox Ceremonies and anyone who is anyone needs to know about it.Martin is the first UK Celebrant to conduct ceremonies in his Drag persona as Maria Hurtz, he also conducts ceremonies as Martin.Find him here:  https://www.proudfoxceremonies.com/about/Front and centre in Martin's practice is his commitment to creating Safe Spaces for all for weddings and he has explicitly created this statement for his business: which is, in part, what this episode is about.Safe Space StatementEvery single one of us, is entitled to work or relax in a safe space*. A space free of discrimination or fear; a space, free of bullying and harassment of any kind.We will work together honouring our differences and celebrating our strengths, individual qualities and contributions; upholding the values of trust, respect and confidentiality.We will treat one another with equality, politeness and respect at all times and, if we are subjected to or witness discrimination*, bullying or harassment, we will speak out knowing that our voices will be heard and we will be taken seriously.Together we can create a Safe Space.(Martin Fox-Roberts – Adapted from EquityUk Safe Space Statement).Here is Martin in his own words!I’m proud to be a Drag Queen, ‘Maria Hurtz’, a Drag Idol Semi-Finalist and QX Magazine Awards Nominee for Best Drag Act and Best Comedy Act. So if you are looking for a Drag Themed or a Cabaret Themed ceremony, I can officiate your Wedding as Maria Hurtz!I’m proud to be a fully qualified and registered NRCPD British Sign Language Interpreter! So I can officiate ceremonies for Deaf couples or CODAS (Children of Deaf Adults), in their first language, without them having to rely on using an Interpreter.I can also provide British Sign Language Interpreting Services for your Ceremony. To find out more, please click here for www.martinfoxroberts.comI was born and brought up in the North East.Initially I trained as an Actor, but after some time I went on and set up my own business in Theatre Promotions and whilst working on a festival, I met my now husband Neil; who is a Deaf Actor.In 2000 I moved to London and straight away started night school to learn British Sign Language, which is Neil’s first language and the first language we used at home.In 2012 we had a Civil Ceremony, which was a magnificent day, and the highlight of my life. Throughout the many years we’ve been together, we’ve had some amazing times, learning from one another and sharing very special moments, but of course we have our arguments too, which, please note, I can never win: he has his say, but then when I try to make my point, he stands and simply closes his eyes!! Unable to see or hear me – he wins! That’s my secret to longevity, keep the peace and have your own quiet victories!I continued to work in Theatre, as a Theatre Manager at Battersea Arts Centre and carried on with my sign language studies. In 2008 I qualified as a British Sign Language Interpreter, which is what I continue to do now too – and since 2013, every year I take great pride in volunteering my services in managing and co-ordinating the amazing team of BSL performance Interpreters for Pride In London.You can find Jess here: https://www.jess-may.com/

Let me introduce you to Nigel Pedlingham he is an incredible person and we are very lucky to have an opportunity to hear all about his ceremonial experiences.He is a change maker and social justice advocate, a consciousness guide, ceremony leader and  psychedelic facilitator As well as being a loving husband and father. He is the founder of MAGUEY, a practice for healing and growth based in Amsterdam. He is also the chair of the Guide of Guides Netherlands. A lover of nature, stillness, and the unknown A modern mystic in the making --------------- Nigel brings a unique blend of experience to service, formed from 50 years of a well trodden path.  A journey with many twists and turns he has lived in the UK (London and Brighton), The  Netherlands, and Nicaragua, and worked and traveled extensively across Europe, The Middle East  and North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America. His work experience spans the corporate,  non-profit, volunteer and the healing and self-development sectors. He has worked from the board  room to the bush and everything in between, working with CEOs, government ministers,  community health workers, digital human rights campaigners, the homeless, the queer community,  spiritual seekers and those in search of healing. Along the way have been a few serious burnouts, some broken hearts, a coming out and the  finding of true love - all of which have contributed to his personal process emergence and growth.  Now as a coach, ceremony leader and psychedelic facilitator he enjoys supporting others to  develop a more conscious and authentic connection with themselves and what’s around them. He  truly believes that healing and broadening horizons at the individual level not only fosters individual  growth and creativity but actively contributes to the collective of our society. In 2020 he founded MAGUEY, a practice for healing and growth based in Amsterdam. MAGUEY  supports seekers to connect more deeply with Self, Surrounding and Spirit. At its heart are a  number of transformational coaching programmes that supports those who wish to consciously  integrate psychedelics into their pathways of growth.  A lover of nature, stillness, and the unknown, Nigel is a modern mystic in the making � Contact  [email protected] Psychedelic coaching programmes - https://www.psychedelicselfdiscovery.com/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/maguey_healing/ LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nigelpedlingham/You can find Jess here: https://www.jess-may.com/

Meet Katie Costello, force of nature and all round brilliant human! A multi Award-Winning Soul Midwife & Funeral Celebrant she has tended to hundreds of people at the end of their lives and created hundreds of funerals too. She is passionate about end of life choices and is leading the field with her training programme Dying for a Cuppa. She is also a new but already dear friend to Jess. Join us as we chat about how to prevent death from being a surprise!Find out more about Katie Costello Soul Midwife here: https://www.katiecsoulmidwife.com/You can find Jess here: https://www.jess-may.com/