Episode 234: The End of the Life Cycle

This week’s episode, I’m speaking to holistic funeral director, Holly Lyon-Hawk. It’s not easy for most of us to talk about end of life, death and funeral arrangements and yet it’s such an important thing to prepare for, it’s unavoidable, it needn’t be frightening or taboo, and it is something we can make easier for ourselves and our loved ones if we start a conversation around it whilst we still can. In the interview, Holly talks about her approach and about what options are open to those of us who love nature and gardens and I expect you’ll find what we talk about sometimes surprising and also reassuring to know that there are alternative options. Dr Ian Bedford’s Bug of the Week: Choices for pest control What We Talk About  Holly’s background and how she became a holistic funeral director How Holly approaches funerals differently Some common misconceptions around funerals Can I be composted? Can I be buried in my garden? Eco-friendly ways to be buried How a garden or love of gardening can be incorporated into a funeral Talking about your funeral wishes and how we can prepare for dying How to make sure your last wishes are followed About Holly Lyon-Hawk I originally trained as a veterinary nurse before working as a sculptor for many years.  I set up my own business  working as a holistic funeral director many years ago understanding that people needed not only more choice, but also more support than they had been, on the whole, from mainstream traditional funeral directors. I now work across the S/E England supporting many families as both as End of Life Practitioner and a Holistic Funeral Director. I am an author as well as a multi-award winning Holistic Funeral Director, Specialist in Ceremonial Care of the Body and End of Life Practitioner for People and Pets.  Links www.hollylyonhawk.com Holly’s Podcast - No One Gets Out of Here Alivehttps://noonegetsoutofherealive.buzzsprout.com Holly’s Book - A Gentle Goodbye Other episodes if you liked this one: Caring for God’s Acre with Harriet Carty Sacred Woodlands with Simon Leadbeater Patreon