I had a conversation with our spiritual care advisor today about blessing the room after a patient has died. It would have to be done in a way that would be respectful of people’s belief systems, even if they have a non-belief. Why are we thinking of doing it? A chance for final closure. A way of saying goodbye. Rituals are important in life and this gives us something that we could do in a meaningful fashion. This is part of what we do after someone has died. We remember the person and their loved ones. We give permission for whatever energies have been left in the room to move on. To clear the room out, ready and waiting to help the next person and their family. A time to farewell a patient and their family whom we might never see again.

We want to do things right, in a first do no harm manner, we don’t want to cause any offence. The blessings are not intended to be from any particular belief system. The staff providing the room blessing need to do so in a compassionate manner. They might have a personal spiritual belief of their own, but in this instance I want them to put that aside briefly, to present as their best professional self a generic blessing that would cover things at a bare minimum. People would be trained to give this blessing to allow the room to be put back into use again quickly. This would allow the cleaners to go in and prepare the room for the next person who will occupy the room.

Letting out the sad, angry energy that might still be there. Allowing the person’s spirit to move to where it needs to go. Spiritually resetting the room to be a blank canvas again. To allow the next person and their family to make their imprint on the room. To clean the silk screen before the next print is made. Is there something missing? Someone missing? A chance to air out the room and freshen it up for the next guests. In an acceptable fashion for all. People need to be empowered to do the right thing.