Resources
Whether you are here seeking spiritual direction, end-of-life support, or guidance through the loss of a beloved companion animal, you are not alone. This page offers trusted resources to help you explore, understand, and navigate some of life’s most tender transitions. You’ll find links to organizations, tools, and readings that align with the heart of what we do at Life and Death Services—offering comfort, clarity, and compassionate presence.
Please take what is helpful, skip what isn’t, and return anytime.
You are welcome here.
End of Life Planning & Support
These links will provide guidance on dying, advance care planning, and grief support:
The Conversation Project – Tools for discussing end-of-life wishes
National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) – Resources on hospice, palliative care, and advance directives
Compassion & Choices – End-of-life options and advocacy for quality of life
Cake – End-of-life planning platform for wills, funeral preferences, and legacy planning
Green Burial Council – Information on eco-friendly funerals and providers
Reimagine: End of Life – Events and resources for transforming how we live with loss
Companion Animal Care & Support
Support for pet loss, animal end-of-life, and pet guardianship:
Association for Pet Loss and Bereavement (APLB) – Pet grief resources and chat support
International Association for Animal Hospice and Palliative Care (IAAHPC) – Veterinary and pet caregiver support
The Pet Loss Support Page – A long-standing site with articles and support options
VetVine Pet Loss Support Service – Virtual support groups and webinars
The Grey Muzzle Organization – Resources for senior dog care and end-of-life support
Trusts for Pets (ASPCA Pet Trust Guide) – Legal resources for pet trusts and planning
Spiritual Direction
Spiritual nourishment and interfaith support:
Spiritual Directors International (SDI World) – A global directory and insight into spiritual companionship
The Center for Action and Contemplation – Resources on contemplative living and interspiritual wisdom
Faithful Companions – Animal chaplaincy and spiritual rituals for animal loss
Reiki Resources for Humans and Animals
International Reiki Organization (IRO) – Information on Reiki and practitioner listings
Animal Reiki Source – Education and resources for energy healing with animals
Reiki Rays - One of the largest online libraries of Reiki-related articles, meditations, techniques, and practitioner tips. Includes sections on distance Reiki, emotional healing, and working with grief.
The International Center for Reiki Training (ICRT) - Founded by William Lee Rand, this site offers in-depth materials, research, and resources for Reiki practitioners and clients alike. Includes info on Holy Fire® Reiki, distance healing, and ethics.
Shelter Animal Reiki Association (SARA) - A nonprofit that promotes animal Reiki in shelters and sanctuaries, with practical tools and success stories for supporting animals in stressful or end-of-life situations.
Kathleen Prasad’s Website (Animal Reiki Teacher & Author) - Founder of SARA and Animal Reiki Source, Kathleen’s site offers courses, blogs, and heartfelt stories about spiritual connection and healing with animals using the Let Animals Lead® method.
Reiki Healing Association (RHA) - An inclusive global organization offering practitioner directories, training support, and articles on how Reiki can support physical, emotional, and spiritual healing.
Other Helpful Resources
Aging with Dignity / Five Wishes – A personalized advance directive used in many states
National Institute on Aging (NIA) – Trusted information on caregiving, end-of-life, and aging
What's Your Grief – Practical grief education for individuals and professionals