I Help People Do Hard Things

Losing weight is HARD! If you’ve been through my program, you experienced Auricular Electro Acupuncture. There is a saying in Traditional Chinese Medicine “The Heart Houses the Mind.” We were able to connect your Heart’s desire to be healthy and lose weight with your Mind’s inability to avoid emotional and addictive eating. It worked! You were able to accomplish something that in the beginning seemed like an impossible task.

Back in October 2024, I was certified through the University of Vermont as an End-Of-Life Doula. I am continuing my studies and will complete a second, more extensive certification in October 2025. This second course is specifically about the benefits of Acupuncture applied to End-Of-Life care. After my 3 bouts with cancer and dealing with my husband’s life-threatening infection—resulting in the amputation of his right leg, I came to the realization that I’m gonna die, you’re gonna die, we’re all gonna die! Probably not today, but most certainly someday.

Yes, Death is real, but no one wants to talk about it! I get two responses when bringing up the subject. 1) Oh my gosh, tell me more!   2) Silence

If you want to hear more, please read on. Buckle up, here we go!

An End-of-Life Doula is kind of like a travel concierge. We are all going someplace no one has been before and returned from. It doesn’t matter what your religion or beliefs are, we will have this journey in common. As Doulas, we gather documentation from experiences in hospitals, hospice centers, and near death experiences. From this information we help create a roadmap for the upcoming journey.

Each dying person’s needs are unique to their specific situation, but the services offered by an end-of-life doula could include a mix of the following:

• Providing the opportunity to talk openly and honestly about the dying process.
• Alleviating the anxiety and fear often associated with death and dying.
• Developing a plan for how the person’s environment looks, feels, sounds, and smells.
• Providing education and guidance related to do-not resuscitate orders, healthcare power-of-attorney and MAID (Medical Aid in Dying).
• Creating guided meditations and rituals specific to a person’s religious faith or spirituality.
• Finding creative ways to honor one’s life as a part of that process and exploring that person’s life and legacy.

As an acupuncturist, I have the ability to go even deeper! Acupuncture has written documentation going back to 2,500 BC. Each of the 365 acupuncture points on the body have a physical, emotional, and spiritual indication.

There is a law of physics which states energy never disappears, it simply changes form —like burning wood becoming smoke and ash, or boiling water becoming steam. Acupuncture is categorized as energy medicine, and it taps directly into this principle. When we die, we simply change form! I think most world religions are based on an attempt to explain this process, but it happens no matter what your beliefs. Death is NOT a final state of disease, but rather a natural, curative process. With proper preparation the process should be peaceful and positive. You do not need to be facing certain death to begin the process. I’m working on my own process right now.

You’ve probably heard of THE FIVE ELEMENTS. They are Water, Wood, Earth, Fire and Metal. We are all born with an element that is dominant, kind of like DNA. This determines our basic nature and physical strengths and weaknesses. As an acupuncturist, I can apply these principles up until the moment of death to relieve physical, emotional, and spiritual discomfort.

One of my colleagues wrote this explanation of end of life scenarios based on THE FIVE ELEMENTS.

EARTH – Desires a feeling of safety & security. At home, with loved ones. Surrounded by flowers, nature setting. Perhaps most likely to desire hands-on touch and care. Slow, peaceful—with reassurance of their importance.

WATER – Desires solitude, time & space to dream and reflect, peaceful music & surroundings, quiet, slowly drifting through memories, strong connection to the ancestral realm. Perhaps most likely to connect strongly to the unseen realm, so any visitors should give care to allow space/mindfulness for these beings.

FIRE – Desires to be more social, surrounded by loved ones, warmth, near a fireplace or lit candles, amidst a bit of a buzz of liveliness, not drawn out too long, uplifting energy, witnessed, seen, admired.

METAL – Would perhaps the most likely to desire a clinical setting—certainly cleanliness, clean air, clear communication. Reduction of chaos & distraction—orderly, still & meditative. Receiving honor and respect. Perhaps solitude. Perhaps readings that help stay focused on the journey.

WOOD – Tends to be quick, purposeful. A warrior death or something that feels somehow in their control. A stronger desire to die “on their own terms”. Might find relief from help bringing any unfinished projects to a sense of closure. Reflections on their purpose and achievements. A Wood individual may be more inclined to seek MAID (Medical aid in Dying)

I would imagine that when you read through these descriptions, you can define your own nature. I think I am a combination of Earth and Water, which may explain my fascination with this subject.

If you share my fascination and would like to explore this exciting frontier, please respond to this Email or give Annie a call at (941) 365-0812. We will add you to a list and I will keep you abreast of possibilities, perhaps get-togethers, or a meeting specific to your needs and curiosities