ABOUT
The Bardo is a shared dream—and a social impact business—
that supports people on diverse journeys related to death,
loss and end of life. We teach and practice new ways of relating
to our mortality and our purpose here on earth.
Our mission is to restore reverence to the universal experience of death and bring more meaning, beauty and support to every moment along the way.
We also offer a supportive hand for the practical challenges that come with this territory: things like understanding medical terminology and treatment options, and intentionally tending to the spiritual and emotional needs of the grieving, the suffering and those who are caring for them.
The place we call home…
Mend Sanctuary is 43 acres of land that was sacred to the Dakota—lovingly tended today with healing nature trails, a wildflower labyrinth, food forest, pasture and a spring-fed pond. Mend is home to a menagerie of animal friends: sheep, kitties, ducks, chickens, bunnies and Francis, the giant fluffy puppy. And three Lakota Spirit Horses: Wiyan, Meenah & Sky. It’s a place that receives us as we are–and reminds us of the innate beauty and perfection of the entire cycle of life. Many of The Bardo’s offerings take place on these hallowed grounds.
and the one who makes it all possible.
Mend is the dream and daily practice of our benefactor and founder
Deb Fee (lovingly known as Debs). Deb is a benevolent steward of the land and animals and is passionate about reweaving our relationship to the earth and all its living creatures. She is inspired by how the natural world models reciprocity and selfless giving, and seeks to translate that into new models like the gift economy and mutual aid.
Why The Bardo?
Our name was chosen in reverence and reference to Bardo, a Buddhist concept and Tibetan term that refers to “an in-between state that gives
us the opportunity to prepare for the next stage with full presence,” according to faculty member Tenzin Namdul, a Tibetan medicine doctor and researcher. While we are not a Buddhist facility, we deeply resonate with this Buddhist concept, and its relevance to the modern life.
With humility & gratitude…
We gratefully acknowledge the Dakota Peoples on whose ancestral lands we gather, as well as the diverse and vibrant multicultural communities who make this their home today. With humility and a genuine intention to be of service, we lead with our hearts and strive to honor and value wisdom ways outside of our own. We are forever listening and learning–as we serve as stewards of this land and the many beings who inhabit it.