Death Ed with Erin

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Death Ed with Erin

Fear wont keep you from dying, only from living. Classes and events: beacons.ai/erinmerelli

11/14/2025

We don’t just study death to prepare for dying. We study death to learn how to live.

In these times of unraveling and urgency, the ones who know how to sit with death are often the ones who know how to hold life with clarity, compassion, and courage. The next round of Deathschool Evolved is here.

Deathschool Evolved is one of the most comprehensive death education programs in existence. Over 33 hours together, you’ll earn a professional Certification in end-of-life care and philosophy, gain the tools to begin a sustainable and successful death doula practice, and discover a new way of appreciating life itself.

We begin on January 19th.

Sign Up link in Comments and Bio. We hope to see you there!

January 19 - March 4
Mondays and Wednesdays
6:00PM - 7:30PM MST on Zoom

11/14/2025

Did not realize that today is the third anniversary since my Tedx Talk! 📺

Did you know - at the time I did this it was the longest Ted talk to date? Not sure if it’s been surpassed 🤔 but I memorized every word of my 14 minute, deeply personal speech.

Ted talks don’t seem to be big anymore, and that’s ok, for everything a season. So cool that got the opportunity.

I’ll link it below if ya wanna see. 🎤but to be honest I’ve never watched it 😂

11/13/2025

I want affordable health care and food for everyone. I do not care where you come from, how much money you make, or if you are worthy of these things - to want them for you.

We could easily have a peaceful land if we didn’t have elites playing colonizer monopoly. Spending our money on their ballrooms and wars, and worse, developing decades-deep capaigns to psychologically manipulate us.

It has always been this way. We’re just starting to see it more clearly. If you need to discuss politics or worthiness in the face of a hungry child, I am talking to you. The real war is on your soul. Don’t f-n sell it.

I want to tell you the story of Mother Cabrini and my family lineage to her soon. Leaning into her - the patron saint of immigrants - now. 🍽️

11/13/2025

We brought Alfred enough money to fix his roof today. YOU DID THAT!!! Thank you for being better than the government ❤️

11/12/2025

It’s been almost a week since I’ve been home, which feels crazy since my heart is in two lands at once.

I started teaching again last night, and shared one of the most profound moments with my students.

We were waiting for the impact of the eye. I was outfitted for survival with my life jacket on, shoes on, even in bed, like the “top 10 survival” lists say too. (If you are judging me for this 👟as a shoes off inside girl, I understand . But desperate times lead to desperate measures 🤷‍♀️)

Anyway there we were, outfitted like spontaneous Caribbean peppers, praying. Really reconciling with God.

These were not average prayers, but quiet faithful pleas, asking God and ancestors to protect my life. I was proclaiming that I was not done living yet. I was claiming it as mine, and precious, as unfinished.

I don’t think we do that enough. We don’t really grab our own life by the baby hairs and say I want you! I will nurture you, make your way, protect you. But in those moments I did, and I meant it.

Had the retreat gone to plan, I was going to guide a mortality meditation on the sea side cliffs, to the sound of waves and singing bowls.

Instead I was in the fetal position in bed, praying against the sound of the wind hissing like a fleet of asthmatic monsters banging down the building.

Praising God for my life by begging for more if it. If the antidote to grief is praise, I was doing it in real time. Back to the privilege of philosophy soon, but more importantly…

Tomorrow morning my loved ones in Jamaica will make the long journey back to New Market, St. Elizabeth, for the third time since to storm, bringing aide, food and construction supplies.

This time, they are bringing the money you donated to Alfred. You already gave him food and tarps as temporaty survival, and tomorrow will likely be the biggest hand-up and show of love that sweet old man Alfred has ever received. I’ll report back soon, I so wish I could be there.

Being able to help him and others is keeping my soul sprouting in a season of drought.

(Pictures from before and after the hurricane)

11/12/2025

I’ve been quiet since I’ve been home. Napping. Eating like I never have before. Finding a balance between the demands that bite the edges and the spaciousness I know I need.

I’ve been looking through my photos of Jamaica, forever changed by this land and its people. I knew that from day one, but could never have imagined where God would bring me.

I’ve been looking online for the places I’ve known and loved, to see the state of their rubble. I’ve been grieving. I’ve been self advocating that I need rest before work, even if that doesn’t make sense.

I’ve been turning your donations into money and plans to help Alfred and the community in the remote mountains of New Market, Saint Elizabeth (next week). I cannot wait to see the look on his face.

I’ve been thinking of all the stories I want to tell you. About the retreat. About preparing for the storm. About the 12 hours she pounded down on us. About the Chilean family. About the infants and the elderly and the animals. About PTSD and the cognitive dissonance in my eyes. About helpers. About undying hope. About the Jamaican spirit. About the danger and adventure of a lifetime, about the deepest love.

All in good time, as I unfurl back into this reality.

All in good gratitude, as I remain so thankful for the support the community has given me. I am slowly responding to your messages and donations. Please be patient, but I haven’t forgotten a thing.

*Photo taken just after hearing we would have to evacuate and the storm was frfr. Last moments before everything changed. You can see the suspense and determination I am feeling in this moment. I have thousands of photos from Jamaica I want to share as I tell you these stories in the coming weeks.

11/11/2025

Grief moves slowly. Grief is offended that she must wake up in a world that is still spinning without you. It’s not a wound that closes overnight or in a month. In fact the whole first year is fuc%ed. We need the world to wait at bay while we remember how to live/ While our heart and mind recalibrate. Only then can we move towards a future. To grieve well, we need the privilege of time.

11/11/2025

Have you ever been really sad, and also at the grocery store? And you get to the checkout line and the lady says “How are you today?” and her grin is wide and fake, because you know she isn't that happy either. But instead of saying that your favorite person just died, instead you say “fine, and you?”

What we need is permission to grieve. Designated spaces where it's OK. Better funerals where good grief is given permission and better yet, instruction on how to exist. Not to control its expression, but the opposite. To recognize that its expression has to be controlled most of the time - and to welcome it here. The world may not allow it, but we can give that permission back to one another. To grieve well, we need the privilege of permission.

11/02/2025

Montego Bay, 10/31

Montego Bay is also where the airport is, which sustained significant damage. People have been able to book flights off the island, but get turned away when they arrive at the airport.

11/02/2025

From 10/30

The Bluefields and White House area took the hardest hit. Share these so people can identify areas - so many people can’t contact their loved ones, so getting real footage out helps.

11/02/2025

The devastation is unreal. From Sav la Mar to St Elizabeth is FLAT. No power or WiFi anywhere - few hotels have Starlink where Erin has been able to contact family, send photos, and relay information about the damage.

We will be updating here as much as possible while we have communication. This information is important to get out to people impacted by the hurricane and unable to get in contact with their family.

10/31/2025

Category 5 Hurricane Melissa made landfall in Jamaica on Tuesday, October 28th. It is the strongest storm to hit the island in recorded history, and one of the most powerful in the Atlantic in a century.

As you may know, Erin is currently in Jamaica where she was preparing for the Sea and the Soul retreat. She was in a secure, concrete building and made it safely through the height of the storm. However, in the aftermath, nearly 80% of the island has lost power, meaning we have not been able to contact Erin since. The airports were hit bad, and we have no way of knowing how she is doing or when she will be home. We appreciate your patience and ask that you bear with us while we pray that she makes it home to her family safely.

We are holding Erin and all of Jamaica in our hearts as the country begins to face the aftermath of unimaginable destruction. Thousands left with no homes, food, power or clean water. Hospitals flooded and gas stations ruined.

Jamaica is a beautiful country filled with resilient, generous, and inspiring people. They do not deserve this devastation, and they need our help. If you are able, please consider donating to reputable organizations supporting relief and rebuilding efforts. We’ll share some trusted links in the comments (please be cautious of scams).

Thank you for keeping Erin and the people of Jamaica in your thoughts and prayers. We have faith in their strength, their spirit, and their recovery.

One Love 🇯🇲

Address

Denver, CO
80236

Telephone

+17204365728

Website

http://Www.erinmerelli.com/, https://beacons.ai/erinmerelli

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