Walking the Threshold: Tending Life, Death, and the Wisdom Beyond

Learning to die well is also learning to live with awareness, compassion, and grace. In this conversation, Irene Weinberg talks with Nancy MacMillan, a spiritual health practitioner and psychotherapist, about walking the threshold between life and death and the deep wisdom that arises in that space. Together, they explore how illness, loss, and tending to her mother’s final days revealed the sacred work of dying well, the continuing bond with our loved ones, and how embracing death as part of life opens us to greater healing and connection.

IN THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL HEAR ABOUT THINGS LIKE:

• Encountering mortality as portals to wisdom and insight.
• The ancient art of caring for the dead at home and green burials.
• Grief as a natural release that helps both the living and the newly departed.
• The possibility of continuing connections with loved ones after death.
• Approaching death with intentionality and making conscious choices for our dying time.
• Simple practices like deep breathing and mindful body attention to stabilize the nervous system.
• Awakening to the ever-present help of ancestors through gathering stories, lighting candles, and expressing gratitude.
• The three themes of the book “The Call to the Far Shore”: leaning into death while living, trusting the dying time, and remaining connected with loved ones.
• Healing as a continuous journey that leads to being more fully alive.
• Finding joy in life by allowing ourselves to be broken open by grief.

WATCH ON YOUTUBE: Walking the Threshold: Tending Life, Death, and the Wisdom Beyond: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nL3L3qkig5g&list=PL7judgDzhkAWmfyB5r5WgFD6ahombBvoh

Grab Nancy’s The Call to the Far Shore: Carrying Our Loved Ones Through Dying, Death, and Beyond: https://bookshop.org/a/93249/9798888501092

---

✨ Grief & Rebirth: Healing Resources & Tools ✨

🎧 Irene's Books (Including a Free Audiobook!)

They Serve Bagels in Heaven—Irene’s heartfelt story of love and life beyond.

Listen Free on Audible as a First Time User: https://amzn.to/4dG4l4w

Get the Paperback or Hard copy: https://amzn.to/3XrE995

📚 Embrace Life’s Third Chapter

Good to the Last Drop—A powerful anthology on aging with purpose: https://amzn.to/3VJgEa5

🛍️ Healing & Self-Care Picks

Curated books and essentials from Irene: https://kit.co/GriefandRebirth

📚 Grief & Rebirth Bookshop

Books by podcast guests for healing & wisdom: https://bookshop.org/shop/griefandrebirth

🎙️ Podcast & Community

Inspiring stories of transformation on the Grief and Rebirth website: https://griefandrebirth.com

📱 Stay Connected

Subscribe to Grief and Rebirth on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOSDru2EU1djRZaZxxFkMig?sub_confirmation=1

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/irenesweinberg

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IreneSWeinberg

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@irenesweinberg

🎥 Irene’s Spiritual Awakening Story

Watch how the podcast began: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s0mJWKfg5PM

🎙️ Be a Podcast Guest

Have a story or healing work to share?

Apply Here: https://ireneweinberg.com/be-on-the-podcast/

📰 Newsletter

Get updates, tips, and new episodes by signing up to the Grief and Rebirth Substack: https://substack.com/@griefandrebirth

💖 Affiliate Disclaimer

Some links may earn us a commission. We only share trusted, personally recommended resources.