Sacred River – Embracing the Sacredness of Life and Death
Center for Conscious Living-Dying and Grief Companioning
The Currents of Life and Death - Where the River joins the Ocean
Care of the Dying and our own understanding of death are ever-growing and changing. Sacred River serves as a pioneer in this growth, whose holistic model celebrates the sacred mystery and gift of life and embraces the final passage of human life.
Kathy guides people through one of life’s most profound journeys, supporting them with compassion, wisdom, and listening presence. She holds space in a way that allows families to face a loved one’s passing not with fear, but with understanding and love. Kathy weaves her heart into the fabric of someone’s final days.
Kathy also offers her education platform, which invites each person into a space of contemplating their own death, so that it may enrich and deepen their life.
My Purpose:
I believe when we consciously contemplate and connect with others around the reality of our mortality, it will change how we live and how we die, right here, right now, and for the rest of our lives.
My Vision:
Transform end-of-life planning and conversation into a rich opportunity for personal growth and community connection.
Care of the Dying and our own understanding of death are ever-growing and changing. Sacred River serves as a pioneer in this growth, whose holistic model celebrates the sacred mystery and gift of life and embraces the final passage of human life.
Kathy guides people through one of life’s most profound journeys, supporting them with compassion, wisdom, and listening presence. She holds space in a way that allows families to face a loved one’s passing not with fear, but with understanding and love. Kathy weaves her heart into the fabric of someone’s final days.
Kathy also offers her education platform, which invites each person into a space of contemplating their own death, so that it may enrich and deepen their life.
My Purpose:
I believe when we consciously contemplate and connect with others around the reality of our mortality, it will change how we live and how we die, right here, right now, and for the rest of our lives.
My Vision:
Transform end-of-life planning and conversation into a rich opportunity for personal growth and community connection.
Sacred River Offerings
EOL Doula Care: Companioning the Dying and Their Family
EOL Doula care is a bridge between the hospital and hospice. Kathy provides personalized guidance, support and non-medical care to patients and their families at end-of-life. End-of-life doulas provide the necessary time and companionship, which is often lacking in this special population. EOL Doulas serve the dying and their loved ones before, during, and after death. While hospice provides vital end-of-life care, it often cannot fully meet all the needs of patients and their families due to time and service limitations. This gap has widened over the past several years with healthcare shortages and an aging population, making doula support more essential than ever.
Death is not a medical experience – it is a human experience.
EOL Doula care is a bridge between the hospital and hospice. Kathy provides personalized guidance, support and non-medical care to patients and their families at end-of-life. End-of-life doulas provide the necessary time and companionship, which is often lacking in this special population. EOL Doulas serve the dying and their loved ones before, during, and after death. While hospice provides vital end-of-life care, it often cannot fully meet all the needs of patients and their families due to time and service limitations. This gap has widened over the past several years with healthcare shortages and an aging population, making doula support more essential than ever.
Death is not a medical experience – it is a human experience.
Body-Centered Grief Companioning & Massage Therapy
When you grieve, your body grieves. Grief is a whole-person experience. At times of grief, your body has special needs. Healing of the grieving body is born out of stillness, not frantic movement. When you honor the quiet forces of rest and stillness, grief can be transformed.
Offering massage therapy & listening presence for the grieving body and broken heart.
When you grieve, your body grieves. Grief is a whole-person experience. At times of grief, your body has special needs. Healing of the grieving body is born out of stillness, not frantic movement. When you honor the quiet forces of rest and stillness, grief can be transformed.
Offering massage therapy & listening presence for the grieving body and broken heart.
Mortal-i-Tea - A Compassionate Space for End of Life Conversations
This gathering offers a unique opportunity to explore topics that are often considered difficult to approach and are frequently overlooked. Our community is characterized by a quality of warmth, safety, welcome, and understanding.
Our gathering begins with a short meditation, followed by a brief reading to inspire reflection and intention. Participants are then invited to engage in open sharing. Personal stories, thoughts, and questions are welcome. Whether you are seeking to share your experiences, listen to others, or simply explore your thoughts on end-of-life matters, please join our community for meaningful dialogue and inspiration.
This gathering offers a unique opportunity to explore topics that are often considered difficult to approach and are frequently overlooked. Our community is characterized by a quality of warmth, safety, welcome, and understanding.
Our gathering begins with a short meditation, followed by a brief reading to inspire reflection and intention. Participants are then invited to engage in open sharing. Personal stories, thoughts, and questions are welcome. Whether you are seeking to share your experiences, listen to others, or simply explore your thoughts on end-of-life matters, please join our community for meaningful dialogue and inspiration.
Good Death Series
- The Elder care crisis - baby boomers are booming.
- How to care for someone who is dying – three phases at the end of life
- How caregivers can avoid burnout.
- Good Death – physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual.
- Death as a sacred experience
Education Classes: Enrich Your Life by Contemplating Your End of Life~ Live & Embrace what Really Matters
- How Then Shall We Live – The power of contemplative inquiry
- A Grief Kept Secret – Missing Ourselves
- Suffering – A Source of Inspiration
- Nature as our Teacher – Embrace the renewal you find in nature
- Power with Heart – Awakening the quieter virtues
- You are not Crazy; You are Grieving
The Invitation
Become part of a growing community of people who are reshaping how we view death, dying, and grief—a movement where every small act can ripple out into something so much larger. Remember, contemplating our death can teach us how to live!
Kathy Ginn (Zastrow) is the creative force behind 4Rivers Center for Well Being, along with Sacred River, located in Oconomowoc, WI. She has been actively involved in the field of holistic care since 1991. She is a Licensed Massage Therapist, End-of-life touch therapist, Hakomi Practitioner, Certified Grief Companion, and Certified end-of-life care doula. Kathy also serves as an Educator, Retreat Leader, and Author. She is a Veteran who served on active duty in the US Army and the Air Force Reserve. Kathy was born and raised in Oconomowoc, moved away for 35 years, and returned home in 2013.
Kathy is passionate about the sacredness of our life and our death, and feels honored to walk with you on your unique and individual life journey.
Kathy Ginn (Zastrow) is the creative force behind 4Rivers Center for Well Being, along with Sacred River, located in Oconomowoc, WI. She has been actively involved in the field of holistic care since 1991. She is a Licensed Massage Therapist, End-of-life touch therapist, Hakomi Practitioner, Certified Grief Companion, and Certified end-of-life care doula. Kathy also serves as an Educator, Retreat Leader, and Author. She is a Veteran who served on active duty in the US Army and the Air Force Reserve. Kathy was born and raised in Oconomowoc, moved away for 35 years, and returned home in 2013.
Kathy is passionate about the sacredness of our life and our death, and feels honored to walk with you on your unique and individual life journey.