The Calling to Be a Hospice Spiritual Master
A Spiritual Reflection
Modern end of life care has gone in two basic directions in our contemporary world: we have highly medicalized this care and we have placed those at the end of life in health care facilities. It should not be surprising that the persons largely responsible for our modern form of hospice care were both medical doctors: Kubler Ross in this country and Cicely Saunders in England. The modern hospice movement has largely succeeded in helping people find physical comfort at the end of life, or becoming “well palliated” in hospice terms.
My 17-year study and reflection on hospice care, and my work with hospice patients and caregivers over this period, leads me to a different perspective on end-of-life care. I see clearly that the roots of hospice can be found in the Middle Ages. Hospices in this era were significantly different from what we see in the current hospice movement. A hospice of this time was operated to provide care for all of those in need, and were not the specialized end of life care facilities that we associate with hospice today. In the Roman Catholic tradition, hospices of times past were places of hospitality for the sick, wounded or dying, as well as for travelers and pilgrims.
However, there is a common thread that binds together the medieval hospice and the modern hospice inpatient care facility: both focused on offering compassionate soulful hospitality for those suffering in life.
It is the Latin word “hospes” that connects us to the heritage of modern hospice work. This word means both “guest” and “host”. The true meaning is “guest-friend”, such as being welcomed by another at their house, as well as you welcoming a friend to your house. From this word is also derived hospitality. There is a soulful character to “hospes”, which involves the opening of your life to another and their sharing of life with you. In medieval hospices and in hospice care today, soulful care is seen as holistic, involving care of the body, heart and soul.
This soulful hospitality is, I believe, rapidly being lost in modern hospice work today. Hospice care in America is undergirded financially by the Medicare Benefit, and so the medical community is “in the driver’s seat” in hospice today.
The soulful nature of end of life has been relegated to solely the hospice chaplain, with perhaps other ancillary disciplines touching on soulful companioning, such as music therapists or volunteers. However, soulful hospitality is certainly not in the mainstream of the modern hospice movement.
The Association of Hospice Spiritual Masters seeks to bring the soulful heritage of the end-of-life journey more fully into the hospice picture today. It is truly a soul and not just a terminally ill body that is making the journey to the end of life.
Regardless of the particular discipline of the health care provider, and regardless of whether a hospice companion is a family member, friend or other loved one, there are timeless ways that a soul can be companioned at the end of life.
The mission of the Association of Hospice Spiritual Masters is to make available to all hospice caregivers’ soulful ways to walk with those ending the journey of life on the Earth. Let’s reflect together on the soulful nature of hospice care.
In the Ancient Hospice Way of soulful hospitality that stretches back to at least the Middle Ages, the end of life can be seen as opening to an “Energy Portal”. It is a portal that presents a doorway to what is to come for the soul for all eternity.
Energy portals have a unique character to them that go beyond anything that can be expressed in simple words. You can be drawn to encounter an energy portal without really knowing the exact why and how the encounter is to take place. There can be a specific place for an energy portal, such as Sedona, Arizonia.
The majestic red rock scenery and evergreen vegetation are perhaps reasons for the unique energy of Sedona and its tangible regenerative and inspirational nature. It is suggested that the red-orange color of the rock is a euro-stimulating color.
An energy portal or vortex has a healing quality all its own. The Cathedral Rock Sedona Vortex has been seen as place where deep meditation can connect you with the earth’s energy and well as bring communication with your spirit guides.
I suggest that hospice work is a powerful soulful energy and force that stems from it being an energy portal to eternity. What we are calling “hospice” is truly a vortex of spiritual energy. It is a doorway that leads to the mystery, wonder and awe of what is to come for the soul. You can be drawn to hospice work as a caregiver without knowing the how and why of your participation in this ancient way of companioning the dying. This is the effect of the ancient energy portal on a soul that we have labeled as “hospice”.
The Association of Hospice Spiritual Masters has the mission of offering soulful education and training in the hospice portal or vortex at the end of life. There are three basic trainings offered by the Association.
“Soulful Companioning One” provides an introduction to the soulful nature of this end-of-life portal. In this one-day workshop/retreat you will be provided an understanding of the portal and some of its many dimensions.
The workshop will focus on how to provide compassionate companioning in this hospice portal. You will be supplied the tools and techniques for companioning another soul in the end-of-life portal.
“Companioning One” will allow you to build your own toolbox for compassionate companioning in the energy portal known as hospice. Regardless of your specific role as a health care professional, or you happen to be a family member friend, or loved one of a dying person, your soul will be introduced in Companioning One to timeless ways of compassionate care in the energy portal we call hospice.
If the Divine Spirit calls you to further lend your soul to compassionate care in this energy portal, you can embark on “Soulful Companioning Two”.
This is a 4-week training that is offered on-line through Zoom. It is a course based on spiritual coaching in the companioning of a soul. This training allows you to practically use the soulful tools and techniques that you have learned in Companioning One as you companion a dying soul yourself.
Companioning Two offers personal spiritual coaching as well as group work in soulful companioning in the hospice energy portal. It is a unique opportunity for you to hone your craft as a caregiver in this Energy Portal.
Successful completion of “Soulful Companioning Two” leads to the third stage on the journey to walking the path of the Ancient Hospice Way. This is discernment of a Divine calling to hospice soul work with the dying.
“Soulful Companioning Three” is a personal retreat at a place of your choosing. Hopefully it is a place of quiet and solitude where you can find true rest for your soul. In a day apart, you are asked to reflect on your spiritual pilgrimage on this Earth, and how you find this calling for compassionate end of life care “taking flesh” in your special time and place. The retreat is guided by a Retreat Manual.
The final step in walking the Ancient Hospice Way is Certification as a “Hospice Spiritual Master” in this sacred path of spiritual hospice care. This certification acknowledges to other souls that you have the spiritual awareness and training to be a compassionate soulful guide in the Energy Portal of hospice.
Certification connects you to a unique community of like-minded souls that have embarked on a spiritual journey of providing soulful care at the end of life. You will find support and encouragement in this soulful companionship.
The goal of the Association of Hospice Spiritual Masters is to extend soulful care of the dying far and wide in our society. This could involve a Hospice Spiritual Master being in each of the over 4,600 hospices in the United States (2018 NHPCO figure). These Hospice Masters could become available nationwide for soulful care and guidance in the modern hospice movement.
The Association of Hospice Spiritual Masters views soulful care as a vital dimension of hospice work that it seeks to make available for the over 73 million Baby Boomers now coming to the end of life.
It is amazing soulful work to share the journey of souls in the energy portal that we call hospice.
In the great tradition stretching back to the Middle Ages, Hospice Spiritual Masters from all walks of life have provided care and comfort for the soul through the Ancient Hospice Way.
You are invited to walk this timeless path when your soul is called to the hospice way of compassion in the world.
The vision of the Association of Hospice Spiritual Masters is to sponsor a yearly on-line Consortium that offers reflections and insights into how the path of the Ancient Hospice Way is continuing today in our world through so many diverse faith traditions and settings.
May all who are called to this ancient path of compassionate end of life care be One in heart and soul.
Ken Patrick
Executive Director
