Rain Phoenix's essay reveals a profound transformation in her relationship with death since the loss of her brother River. When River passed away in 1993, Rain initially shut out her grief, an approach that ultimately kept him from her. However, over the past few years, she has come to feel drawn into a vibrant and intimate connection with mortality.
Her decision to study for a "death doula" certification marks a significant shift in her perspective on death, grief, and dying. A death doula is someone who guides individuals through the final stages of life and supports their loved ones during this process. Rain believes that embracing death in a more open and honest way can lead to greater happiness and fulfillment in life.
Rain's journey into the "death-positive movement," which encourages people to discuss death, dying, and the deceased without fear or stigma, has been a deeply personal one. Her anxiety during the pandemic led her to take an online course on becoming a death doula, and she even wrote over 1 million songs as a way of processing her emotions.
Rain's essay includes a previously unpublished photograph taken by director Gus Van Sant, which serves as a poignant reminder of the bond between the sisters. The image is believed to have been captured on Halloween night in 1993, just before River's tragic overdose at the Viper Room nightclub.
Rain's transformation is a testament to her growth and resilience in the face of loss. By confronting death head-on, she has discovered a newfound appreciation for life and a deeper understanding of herself. Her story serves as a powerful reminder that grief can be a catalyst for healing and self-discovery.
Her decision to study for a "death doula" certification marks a significant shift in her perspective on death, grief, and dying. A death doula is someone who guides individuals through the final stages of life and supports their loved ones during this process. Rain believes that embracing death in a more open and honest way can lead to greater happiness and fulfillment in life.
Rain's journey into the "death-positive movement," which encourages people to discuss death, dying, and the deceased without fear or stigma, has been a deeply personal one. Her anxiety during the pandemic led her to take an online course on becoming a death doula, and she even wrote over 1 million songs as a way of processing her emotions.
Rain's essay includes a previously unpublished photograph taken by director Gus Van Sant, which serves as a poignant reminder of the bond between the sisters. The image is believed to have been captured on Halloween night in 1993, just before River's tragic overdose at the Viper Room nightclub.
Rain's transformation is a testament to her growth and resilience in the face of loss. By confronting death head-on, she has discovered a newfound appreciation for life and a deeper understanding of herself. Her story serves as a powerful reminder that grief can be a catalyst for healing and self-discovery.
. I think it's amazing how she's been able to find a sense of purpose and meaning in her life after losing her brother, rather than letting death define her. The concept of being a "death doula" is fascinating – it's like she's turned something that can be scary or overwhelming into a way to connect with others and celebrate the human experience.
). And I love how this essay includes that photo from Gus Van Sant – it's like a time capsule of their bond and a reminder of where she's come from. Overall, Rain's transformation is a testament to the human spirit's ability to heal, grow, and find new ways to live life to the fullest 
. It's amazing how she's found a way to process her emotions through music - 1 million songs is insane! 
. It's like, I get where she's coming from now - death isn't something to fear or hide from, it's like, a part of life, you know? And I love how she's embracing this whole 'death-positive' vibe 
. I mean, I've seen so many people struggle with grief and guilt after losing a loved one, but Rain is showing us that there's another way to live... and it's beautiful 
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That must've been such a tough time for her and River. I love how it's included in her essay - it's like a reminder of where she's come from, but also shows us that she's still connected to him even after all these years 
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. Maybe we can learn a thing or two from her about living life more fully and facing our fears head-on 
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. I mean, we're all gonna die at some point, so why not face our fears head-on? It's like she's saying, 'Hey, let's talk about this stuff instead of avoiding it' 
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. It's crazy how much history and emotion is behind that one pic.
. It's also cool to see how she's channeling her creativity into songwriting as a way of processing her emotions 
. Her story is a reminder that grief can be a powerful teacher, guiding us towards growth and self-discovery 
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. Now, she's on a mission to help others do the same and I am HERE. FOR. IT 
thinkin u gotta support ppl through the end its like, super admirable. And can we talk about how she turned her anxiety into songwriting? that's some next level creativity right there 
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interesting how she used songwriting to process her emotions, that's a great way to cope 
. She even turned her pain into something beautiful through her music 
. It's like she turned her pain into purpose, you know? And I love how she says embracing mortality can lead to greater happiness - makes sense to me 
and it's crazy how these tiny creatures have some of the most complex social structures in nature. Like, have you ever seen a bee colony at sunset? It's like one big, busy party! Anyway, Rain Phoenix's essay is pretty deep, but what really got me thinking was that whole pandemic thing... I remember feeling so anxious and isolated, but also kinda fascinated by all the weird stuff people started doing to cope (like writing 1 million songs in a year 
. i've been reading a lot about it too, and it makes so much sense - like, why hide from something that's inevitable? 
. btw, has anyone else seen that old documentary on the history of airplanes? it was so fascinating!
Rain's idea of being a "death doula" is so cool and I wish more people would think about this too 
its just a fancy way of sayin she's tryna make money off her own trauma 
idk if i'd want to be around someone who's always thinkin about death, it sounds super depressing 
It's so true, grief can be such a heavy burden to carry around 
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It's estimated that 70% of people who experience a near-death experience (NDE) report feeling a sense of peace and acceptance after their close call 
. It's all about perspective, right?