I would like to use “the life certificate” with my clients.

All my gratitude for sharing this legacy.

Francesca

THE LIFE CERTIFICATE IS SUCH AN HONORABLE WAY OF RE-MEMBERING.
THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR WORK AND EXPERIENCES.

IN GRATITUDE

This time around, listening to Fareez talk about the Life Certificate practice what really stood out was learning about the origin of this practice; how the idea sprung from Fareez’ work with a woman who carried around her father’s Death Certificate in her purse as a way to remember him. The reason that this captured my attention (and stayed with me until today, a week after watching the video) is because it reminded me of the importance of “talking about talking about grief” (or “talking about talking about” whatever it is the person has come to consult us about). It got me thinking about times when I may have gotten so excited about trying out a new idea or practice that I did not take the time to “talk about talking about…” and in so doing may have inadvertently prevented a conversation about something that was important to the person to discuss that day. This video has reconnected me with my preferred ways of working with people that align with the values and ethics of not centring myself in this work, and working collaboratively in determining the path forward. Thanks Fareez!

although we are less than 12 km away, i didn’t share about how when i first heard about the Life Certificate in Adelaide, i was excited to use it. I didn’t tell you how i was touched by your story about your dad and made me wonder what i didn’t know or had forgotten about people.

I didn’t tell you how me and my colleague witnessed the lovely stories unfold as we used this with a woman who lost her dad and had feelings of self blame. We embraced together the memories of tenderness when her father brought back those dolls with large wobbly heads, the wonderful excursions they would go on, and the romance between her dad and her mom. The faith and the values of family-centredness that was passed from him to her. When the certificate was presented to them in a photo frame, they were gleaming from ear to ear and i took a photograph of them actually with it (show it to you with their permission next time!).

I also didn’t tell you that my colleague had used it with her youth and that it was a special moment for both of them too. The life cert really makes re-membering very accessible and easy to relate to for those that are affected by complicated memories of significant people. We are excited to use it with children whose parents may be living away from them, incarcerated or unavailable at the moment.

Warmly,
Liz

(p.s. let’s meet up soon; to get your gift for me! Bought something for you too!)

We loved the social poetics of the origin story of the life certificate: emerging in the conversational moment between you and your client as she shared the death certificate she lovingly and painfully carried with her. The “twist” you speak of is a profound honoring of her intentions & hopes in keeping the death certificate with her at all times.

We also found ourselves grateful for the reminder that–despite our desire to twist prevailing discourses and imposed narratives–we must be attuned to peoples’ cultural practices and beliefs.

Thanks again, Fareez!
Julie and Lauri

Thanks so much for sharing some creative ways to have conversations in relation to grief. I would love to use the Life Certificate in my practice. Do you have a template you can share, as my graphic skills are a little limited? I imagine I could also give the option that the person might draw up their own certificate. I really appreciated the reminder of the need to respectfully ask what the person thinks would be helpful, rather than rushing in with a new idea we want to try out.

I found that during your presentation I was reminded of some lovely times I had with a friend who died many years ago. Our relationship was complex, and I enjoyed being reminded today of the values he had, which I have chosen to carry on. My thoughts were also taken to considerations of the ways we can renegotiate relationships with people who are still alive, when we acknowledge that there are always alternative stories, even in relationships that seem quite fraught. You have got me thinking more appreciatively of someone in my life. Thank you for this lovely gift.

Loretta

This knowledge and skill exchange with Fareez was an experience that definitely left me ‘moved’ to a different place because ‘The Life Certificate’ is an example of, to use Fareez’s words, “a twist” on an existing cultural practice that adds to my Narrative practice in a defined, palpable way.

So, Fareez, thank you for that.

I shared many of the same responses that Phillipa had in learning about this practice, and also wanted to mention a couple of other things that stood out to me. First, your description of
re-membering, related to grief, strongly resonated for me when you said, “Sometimes we need to access alternative stories in order to re-define our relationships with the people that we lost”, and I also very much appreciate how the examples that you use emphasize that this re-definition of our relationships with those whom we have lost creates double-storied accounts of these people, of our relationships with them, and of our memories about them.

Thank you, Fareez.

Geert

Thank you for sharing a glimpse into your practice! I appreciated many things about what you shared here but was particularly drawn to a few themes this time around. I’m struck by the way in which you described how the Life Certificate was developed. I was drawn to the way in which it seems you wove together your personal insider knoweldges of grief, knowledge garnered through co-research and collaboration with those you meet with and knowledge from narrative ideas to create this lovely way of working. I really enjoyed when you said that “the next one was a field recommended by a person I was consulting”. This has me thinking about how when we refuse to see ‘professional’ or ‘academic’ knowledge as more valuable than ‘insider’ knoweldges what lovely possibilities and responses can emerge. I’m also left considering what ‘legacies’ I and those I love are carrying on and forward into the future. Thank you Fareez!

Phillipa

Sarah