THE OYÉ ASÉ EXPERIENCE
Our mission is increase cultural awareness of death and dying processes through educational events, immersion experiences and end-of-life care.
We are dedicated to empowering families and individuals with the knowledge of ancestral practices, worship and history. We believe that everyone deserves to know their true history, have pride in their culture and access to lived experiences that promote sustainability. Our commitment is to creating ceremonies and learning experiences that are culturally immersive while addressing the intimate complexities of life and death in oppressed communities. Each session with us with leave you feeling more connected to yourself and the world around you.
about OYÉ
OYÉ is an acronym for Out Your Estimate, which also translates to meaning “understanding” in the Yoruba (Nigerian language). ASÉ is another Yoruba word acknowledging the power of making things happen, which loosely translates to “producing change.” OYÉ ASÉ together represents having a deeper understanding to produce change, which is the foundation of our organization.
What is Traditional deathwork?
Many different cultures honor the deceased in their time of dying as well as in the afterlife. In many African traditons, it is believed that the ancestors can provide meaningful guidance for the living, most especially, their decendants. In order for a soul to fully and safely transtion to the spirit realm, an appointed member of a tribal village is often responsible for caring for the person during their death, transition and funeral processing. These chosen individuals serve as a channel through spirit portals and the Earthly realm.
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In America, end-of-life doulawork started as a resposne to the rising deaths in hospitals and Hospice centers. Traditionally, prior to the establishment of hospitals, deaths were held in the home or a sacred space for a peaceful experience for the loved one and their family. In 2003, The International End-of-Life Doula Association started as a training facility for death doulas, which is where our founder was trained.
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Deathwork is ongoing, seeing as though death affects us in endless ways. There are end-of-life services, funeral services, as well as grief counseling and spiritual advisement in the afterlife. Deathworkers can be used for a considerable amount of life events including name-changes, initiations, career shifts, etc.
About AMIYAH KING
Amiyah has a track record of success in the areas of mindfulness, meditation, trauma-informed care and healing. She has assisted the healing journey of over 300 souls by offering ancestral readings, group healing sessions, meditation services and life coaching. She is a trained death doula, funeral celebrant, psychic medium, life coach and mindful meditation instructor. Amiyah has also served her community for years, as she holds a Bachelors Degree in Communications and Political Science from Howard University as well as a Masters in Nonprofit Management from Buffalo State College.
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Though she has been well adjusted to the professional world, Amiyah's interests lie in the spirit realm. She has been a volunteer since the age of 6, lending her talents all over the world to nursing homes, daycares, schools, juvenile detention centers, Hospice centers, soup kitchens, funeral homes and more. Her heart of giving has helped her understand the true meaning of life and death. Amiyah sees death as a transformational point in our lives, where healing can occur. For that reason, she is committed to helping grieving families as well as the deceased and dying.
In 2017, Amiyah lost her father in an unexpected way. Through this grief and trauma, her spiritual journey catapulted as she reimagined what death mean to her.
"I wish I had a death doula when my dad died. To this day, I can barely remember his funeral or the time he spent in a medically induced coma. I was so out of it. No one ever told me it would be that difficult." Since then, she has been observant of the customs in afterlife and funeral care for others. "Funerals are for healing and should serve as a final testament to the deceased person's legacy, culture and uniqueness. I believe if we honor our ancestors the most, at their homegoing celebrations, the healing journey for families after, can be much more manageable. "
Amiyah's goal is to help others reimagine death, the same way she did through educational experiences and intimate end-of-life care that prepares you for the afterlife as well as celebrates the life you've lived, in a culturally immersive way.
"A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots."
Marcus Garvey