Rating: 5 out of 5 stars. Many of us have experienced the loss of a loved one - family, partner, friend, and dealing with that loss can be so difficult. This book offers insight into death, and may offer some comfort for those looking for answers after the death of someone close to them. I don't want to give any spoilers, but I found the book well-written, and an interesting read. Having experienced quite a few losses of my own, I also found this comforting to a degree. I recommend this for anyone spiritual who is looking for some answers or comfort when it comes to death. ~ Liliyana Shadowlyn (Reviewer), NetGalley

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars. I found this book interesting as I had been researching death doulas. This is a different spin on the end of life viewpoint in the US. It addresses spirituality and the questions of what happens at death. ~ Natasha Schultz (Educator) , NetGalley

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars. Really fascinating read about the work that Debra Diamond has undertaken in her calling as a death Doula. For me this was a profound and ultimately uplifting read. While those of us interested in the spiritual world have read of those seeing their lost loved ones before they die, this is the first time i have read an account of a doula using her spiritual gifts to communicate with the person dying and also the spirits there to be with them when they pass. For anyone with an ounce of spirituality and curiosity about what happens when we die - and especially for those whose loved ones are or will go into a hospice - this is an essential read. ~ Samantha Brick (Media), NetGalley

Subtitled ‘25 lessons the dying teach us about the afterlife’, this is a remarkable book by a hospice death doula (with her role as a calming and peaceful presence) who is also a clairvoyant, and who previously worked on Wall Street. Her sensitivity enables her to perceive what is going on in the transition from the physical we call death and even to hold telepathic conversations with the patients. One key insight is that prolonged periods of sleep around the dying process represent preparatory inner work prior to departure, a retuning of consciousness to higher realms where we are connected to a much larger reality. The book is written within the cultural context of the scientific view of death as extinction, a view which turns out to be an illusion. I was struck by a quotation early in the book handed to the author by a nurse: ‘If the body is ready and the soul isn’t, you don’t leave. If the soul is ready and the body isn’t, you don’t leave. When the soul is ready and the body is ready, then you leave.’ The main part of the book consists of the 25 lessons, each drawn from a different encounter with a dying person. The author describes the physical background and experience as she settles in and tries to work out where the person is in the dying process. As in the books I reviewed in the main section, the lessons and insights are important for life as well as for a more profound understanding of the dying process as a transformational journey. The author sometimes perceives the pull towards a fullness of light and love as well as the supportive presence of deceased loved ones. People who have lived an intense spiritual life can manifest bright light in their auras at this point of transition. The key questions seem to relate to how well we lived, how well we loved and, at the end, how well we learned to let go. Spiritually (p. 179), the substance of the higher realms is love, ‘the fabric woven into our air, the chain of life in heaven.’ The absolute centrality of Love is always the final and crucial message of such inspiring books and one which we can sometimes forget, focused as we are principally on the physical. ~ David Lorimer, Paradigm Explorer

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars. ....Despite death being a regular visitor in my life I still had many questions, and regardless of belief or faith, this book does an excellent job of addressing many of them......Patterns in life are all around us. Debra does an excellent job answering questions we all have about end of life. It can help you with easing your own mind, that of your loved ones and children. If you believe in a higher power, or that the patterns and “coincidences” in life, are more...... That death is not goodbye, but I’ll see you later; everyone will find something to love or relate to in this book. ~ Mandee Lee (Educator), NetGalley

...Death is a topic that lots of people try to stay away from, yet all of us will be confronted with sooner or later. There's a common set of experiences - internal as well as physical - that dying people go through. This book can broaden people's awareness of what exactly goes on in hospices and can bring comfort to those losing a loved one. Rating: 5 out of 5 stars ~ Sofie D (Reviewer) , NetGalley

I thought that this was an interesting book by medium, Debra Diamond. I'm coming from a very death-positive mindset, so it may have spoken more to me than to other readers. While some repetition is in the writing, the messages have their own power to heal and transform the way the reader thinks of death and dying. I know that it will be a well-received book in my library, so I will definitely be purchasing it. Thank you so much! ~ Meagan Brown (Librarian), NetGalley

Entering into life, we usually have some help. While exiting life, sometimes we need a little help too. Debra Diamond is a Death Doula; someone who sits with the dying as a source of comfort and support. Hospices are difficult places, and often family members are unable to spend every moment with their family member. As a psychic and medium, Diamond is also in touch with the otherside as well. This means she can see the transition from life into the spirit world, and she's learned many lessons on the way. Diary of a Death Doula is a quick and easy read, but the subject material can be heavy. Diamond discusses her experiences with people as they pass, as well as the feelings of peace and connection they feel. Her writing is clear and to the point, without being too heavy handed. ~ Victoria Irwin (Media), NetGalley

This is a fascinating read. It gives you insight into the work of a death doula. You need to be open minded in order to embrace this book. I found this book comforting and wished that when my mother passed that there was a doula on hand. ~ Cennin Thomas (Reviewer), NetGalley

Prior to this book, I had NEVER heard of a death doula.. so I was intrigued.. It's a very unique story.. informative too. ~ Kade Gulluscio (Reviewer), NetGalley

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars. When I saw Diary of a Death Doula I had to read it. I am very death positive and wanted to learn more about what a Death Doula did and her role in the end of life process for the patients in the hospice she works in. I found the book fascinating, especially since Debra is also a medium so she can see who is awaiting the dying on the next plane, and can converse with the person dying mentally. I would highly recommend this book. ~ Hazel Thomson (Reviewer), NetGalley

Science rules the physical world, but the non-physical belongs to the likes of Debra Diamond, a psychic Death Doula who goes where science rarely treads. Not full of 'afterlife bunk' like so many such books are, Diamond's information comes from the demanding work she has chosen to do. Diary of a Death Doula is a straight-up and informative look at compassion, mediumship, the heavenly realm, and the acute possibility that our souls live after death. ~ Paul Perry, co-author of four New York Times bestsellers on near-death experience

Death is never the end. Instead, it is a continuum of our journey, our consciousness, and always, our love. In this wise and hopeful book, Diamond shares her sacred work as a midwife to the dying, helping us understand the spiritual and emotional experience both of those transitioning, and those who support them. A clear, thoughtful book, sure to bring enormous comfort. ~ Sara Wiseman, author of Messages from the Divine: Wisdom for the Seeker’s Soul

Having served as money manager, psychic medium, and death doula, Debra Diamond provides a unique perspective on dying and death, topics we tend to fear but that each of us needs to understand. This moving yet sensible book normalizes end-of-life experiences with real stories from real people to be a much-needed road map during our own or our loved ones' journeys. ~ Julie Beischel, PhD, Director of Research, Windbridge Research Center

Through intimate storytelling, Dr. Diamond has gently released us from the debilitating heaviness of deep-seated cultural fears surrounding loss, death, dying, and perceived ontological uncertainties - veritably granting the permissions I think we all as humans wish for: the permission to be fully present in embracing this gift of life, and to walk our paths in levity guided by the innate knowing which connects us all. Dr. Diamond’s Diary of a Death Doula is an exceptionally empowering and uplifting contribution to the body of work which will actively facilitate and hasten humanity’s ongoing consciousness evolution. ~ Jill Hanson, Founder & Host THE Q.PSIENCE PROJECT

Debra Diamond writes with a comfortable style that allows the reader to enjoy the journey through the complex emotions and situations that surround the process of dying. With a gentle and compassionate tone, Diary of a Death Doula is not only a story of her experiences, but also a guide to help families and loved ones understand the processes involved in the death of the physical body. With the unique perspective of both a caregiver and a medium, the end of physical life is presented with an insight and detail that includes both the physical and spiritual connections between the patient, their families, caregivers and non-physical beings who join in to facilitate the transition. ~ John G. Kruth, Executive Director Rhine Research Center