The Jizo Foundation
The Jizo Foundation was established in April 2020 by mythologist, author, and grief counselor, Dr. Patricia Danaher, to help families grieving the loss of a baby at birth or before, by acknowledging such loss in ways that Western society does not currently accommodate. It aims to provide social, emotional, and spiritual comfort through the practice of ritual and engagement with Jizo by those grieving any kind of loss like miscarriage, still-birth, failed IVF, termination, missed chances, by creating public grieving areas in existing cemeteries and green burial grounds enhanced with public art.
In the West, there is scant place or process for this kind of mourning. With no possibility of a ceremony, no remains to bury or a grave to visit, families are left with no way to publicly mourn. Our project is inspired by an ancient and popular Japanese tradition involving public grieving grounds presided over by statues of the loving and compassionate Bodhisattva Jizo. According to the mythology which dates to the seventh century, when Jizo learns of the death of such a baby, he dives into the underworld and swoops the baby up in his cloak, bringing its soul directly to Nirvana, bypassing reincarnation. It is a comforting idea of a soul at peace and not lost, even if faceless. In Japan, Jizo is everywhere, in the marketplace, in the temple, in nature, just like spirit. He is affectionately known as the Universal Pain Reliever.
In November 2023 we opened our first Jizo Grieving Site within a historic cemetery, Westwood Hills Memorial Park, located at 2720 Cold Springs Rd. in Placerville, CA. This cemetery has been in operation since 1949 and is run by Destination Destiny, a green burial organization we are partnering with to establish additional Jizo grieving sites. This initial site in El Dorado County California includes a beautiful meadow for natural green burials and an Asian Garden with lovely elements that are the perfect home for our first Jizo monument and grieving area.
The public is invited to visit during cemetery hours, to sit, meditate, grieve, and remember. The beautiful stone Jizo sculpture centerpiece donated by Dr. Patricia Danaher was handmade by Indonesian artists and is the first large one of its kind in public in the United States. We are sure it will not be the last!
“Jizo helps smuggle children into the afterlife in the sleeve of his robe.”
Services
counseling
Dr. Danaher offers either single sessions or a series of one-on-one private counseling sessions via Zoom. Whether you are grieving the loss of a loved one, a beloved pet, or have lost an unborn child or the opportunity to nurture one, she can help. Grief counseling can help at any stage of the process, whether your grief is new or old. Unmourned grief can return many years later and cause issues you may not even be aware of, leading to chronic depression, marital issues, and the inability to live a happy life. Please reach out if you need help processing your loss.
public speaking
Dr. Danaher is available to speak to groups both large and small on various topics surrounding grief, healing, and ritual. Her expertise in subjects ranges from managing loss and the effects of unprocessed grief to the importance of ritual in everyday life. She has crafted secular rituals for all kinds of important life events, from conception to death, and often will perform ceremonies for those seeking closure.
workshops
Dr. Danaher offers day-long healing workshops where she will show you how to work through your pain with personal healing ritual practices. She also enjoys teaching and leads mindfulness workshops for journalists and artists. Overcome blocks that are holding you back from happiness and success by acknowledging and working through personal issues with her professional guidance.
It all begins with an idea.
