Finding Joy in Death: Reverend Jessica Sharpe of the Joyful Death Institute

The Death Dhamma Podcast

Meet Reverend Jessica Sharpe, founder of the Joyful Death Institute. Reverend Jessica shares their spiritual journey from being raised in a Mormon family to finding Buddhism, particularly the teachings of Thich Nhat Hanh and Tibetan Buddhism. They discuss the Buddhist concept of the Second Noble Truth - the truth of suffering, emphasizing the importance of acknowledging and sitting with suffering rather than trying to intellectualize or fix it.

Reverend Jessica shares how their spiritual journey has helped them develop the ability to hold space for others' suffering with compassion and neutrality, allowing the suffering to move through rather than getting stuck. They believe this is a key part of healing and integration. The conversation then focuses on Reverend Jessica's work with the Joyful Death Institute, where they help people approach death and dying in a more positive, joyful, and enlightening way.

The institute offers services such as transition readings and psychic healings, facilitating discussions around end-of-life wishes, and educating people about Tibetan Buddhist teachings on the stages of consciousness and the process of dying. Reverend Jessica emphasizes the importance of allowing all emotions around death and dying to be present, and shares their self-care practices to sustain themself in this emotionally demanding work, including energetic boundaries, meditation, prayer, and creative outlets like clowning and art. Overall, Reverend Jessica's holistic approach to supporting people through life and death transitions highlights the liberating potential of the dying process.