🍂 Autumn Reflections: Embracing the Season of Transition
- Danielle Slupesky
- Oct 5
- 5 min read
As the cottonwoods begin to turn gold and the air carries that unmistakable crispness, I find myself reflecting on the nature of change. Fall has always been a season of transition, a gentle invitation to let go, slow down, and prepare for what’s next. This year, that invitation has felt especially personal.
My husband, Luke, and I recently moved from Los Lunas to Peralta, NM. Our new home is nestled among trees near the Rio Grande, and every day I’m reminded of the healing power of nature. After holding space for others in their final moments, guiding families through grief, and walking alongside death, this land offers me a place to come home, unwind, and recharge. It’s a sanctuary, a quiet reminder that rest is sacred too.
Since my last post, which I’ll admit was back in December, I’ve had the honor of walking eight more clients home. Each journey was unique, tender, and deeply human. I supported their loved ones through the difficult process of saying goodbye, holding space for grief, love, and remembrance. I also helped plan and officiate two memorial services, including one for a husband and wife who died within just days of each other. These moments are at the heart of what it means to be an end-of-life guide. The administrative tasks often fall to the side, which means newsletters and emails go out less often than I’d like. But the real work happens in the quiet, sacred spaces where life meets death, and I’m grateful to be invited into those moments.
Professionally, this has been a year of deep transformation. I co-founded the New Mexico Deathcare Network (NMDN), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to connecting and uplifting deathcare professionals across our state. It has been a labor of love built on collaboration, late nights, and a shared vision for more compassionate, community-rooted end-of-life care. I’m proud of what we’re creating together.
One of NMDN's most meaningful initiatives is the Provider Reimbursement Program, which offers financial support to those offering end-of-life care in underserved or uncompensated situations. This program helps ensure that doulas, home funeral guides, and other deathcare providers can continue their work sustainably, even when serving families with limited resources. It’s a small but powerful way to honor the labor, love, and emotional energy that goes into this work.
Another meaningful shift this year has been moving my office. I was sad to leave the space I shared with my dear friend and fellow death doula, Brooke Nutting. The time we spent working side by side was filled with mutual support, deep conversations, and a shared commitment to this sacred work. I’m grateful for everything we built together in that space and even more grateful that our friendship continues. Brooke now serves on the board of directors for the New Mexico Deathcare Network, and her wisdom remains a guiding force. My new office is located within The Bio Science Center at 5901 Indian School Rd. NE, Suite 153, Albuquerque, NM 87110. It’s a fresh start, and I’m excited for what this new chapter will bring.
Transitions are rarely easy. They ask us to stretch, to trust, to release what no longer fits. But they also offer renewal. Just as the trees shed their leaves to make way for new growth, we too can honor the cycles of our lives, both the endings and the beginnings.
If you’re navigating a transition of your own, whether personal, professional, or spiritual, I see you. May this season offer you the grace to pause, reflect, and root into what matters most.
-Death Doula Danielle
Founder, Conscious Crossroads End of Life Services
Co-Founder & Executive Director, New Mexico Deathcare Network
🖤 Death Is Not a Dirty Word & Before I Die NM 🖤
Join us on October 13 for a full day dedicated to end-of-life planning, caregiving, and celebrating legacy. Let’s make death less taboo and more human!
This year, the Death is Not a Dirty Word Resource Fair is teaming up with Before I Die Festivals to bring you an unforgettable experience filled with:
🎶 Live music
🍽️ Delicious food
📚 Educational sessions
💬 Community conversations 📞 Wind Phones: Conversations Across the Veil
🛍️ Vendor Fair
📍 Events kick off at 10 a.m. — spend part of your holiday with us and discover how death can be talked about with honesty, humor, and heart.
🔗 Learn more: deathisnotadirtyword.com
🌿 What is a Death Doula? 🌿
Compassionate Support at the End of Life
A death doula (also called an end-of-life doula) offers guidance, comfort, and practical support for individuals and families facing the end of life. Doulas help create space for dignity, peace, and connection during one of life’s most important transitions.
✨ What Does a Death Doula Do?
Provides emotional support for the dying and their loved ones
Helps with legacy projects and storytelling
Offers non-medical comfort measures
Assists with planning and navigating choices around care
Holds space for grief and meaning-making
Coordinates with hospice and caregivers to ensure wishes are honored
💜 Who Might Need a Death Doula?
Individuals facing a serious diagnosis
Families wanting support and guidance through end-of-life planning
Caregivers who need respite and companionship
Anyone seeking a more personalized, holistic approach to dying
📅 Join Us for a Free Presentation
🗓️ Date: Saturday, October 18, 2025
⏰Time: 11:20 AM – 1:00 PM
📍 Location: 5901 Indian School Rd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87110
🎙️ I’m honored to be returning to the TJ Trout Show for the third time this Thursday, October 9th at 5pm on 96.3FM. We’ll be talking about the upcoming Death is Not a Dirty Word & Before I Die Event happening on October 13th, as well as the work of the New Mexico Deathcare Network and how we’re building community around end-of-life care.
Tune in live to 96.3 FM on the radio at 5PM Thursday October 9th or listen online here: News Radio KKOB 96.3
Let’s keep the conversation going. Death deserves to be talked about with honesty, compassion, and curiosity.
I’m incredibly proud of the work we’re doing through the New Mexico Deathcare Network and deeply grateful to everyone who has participated. Whether you’ve stepped into leadership on the board of directors, attended meetings, become a member, or donated your time and financial resources, your contributions have helped bring this vision to life in such a powerful way. It has been a complete joy to witness this community grow.
If I’ve been helpful to you, or if you’ve experienced the support of an end-of-life guide or death doula, and you’d like to help make that same care accessible to a financially disadvantaged family facing end of life, please consider donating here.
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