About Eva and The DreamCatcher Circle
Read more about me here, or click below to learn about my education and professional experience.
Eva Navarrete is a Vermont University trained End of Life Doula, Advance Care Planning Consultant and Patient Advocate, dedicated to supporting sacred dignified end-of-life care services.
For the past two decades, she has actively participated in multiple community-based programs all with a shared goal of enhancing the quality of life for individuals facing complex health and social limitations and serving as a point of contact to maximize engagement between patients, medical professionals, and the community.
Her passion and dedication earned her an invitation to lead the first Spanish-speaking Breast Cancer support group for underserved and uninsured Latinas through the San Diego’s Susan G. Komen Foundation. Eva recognized the pressing need for better end of life education, supportive measures, and treatment options in within Hispanic communities. She contributed significantly to the development and management of innovated Bilingual Cancer Patient Navigator Program. In this capacity, she led a team of dedicated and trained Community Health Workers /Promotoras and volunteers. Their mission was to act as a vital bridge between health and social services and the community. This comprehensive program impacted the lives of over many breast cancer patients and survivors, enhancing their access to essential services while promoting cultural competence and self-sufficiency during this alarming period.
Over the years, these experiences generated in her a deeper understanding of the fragility of life, and how death is a teacher in the art of living well.
Eva is passionate about educating the community.
As a Bilingual Health Professional, she feels a profound responsibility to educate Spanish-speaking communities particularly regarding their right to access dignified end-of-life care and options. To achieve this, she facilitates monthly bilingual in-person and virtual Death Talks & Charlas. Aim to provide safe environments for people to engage in open conversations about end-of-life care options and to help normalize conversations about death by providing culturally sensitive support and educational materials that comprehensively detail various options.
Eva's Partnerships
Since 2020, she has partnered with local and national organizations including Compassion & Choices, San Diego Coalition for Compassionate Care, National PACE Association, and the Binational Health Week at the General Mexican Consulate to educate Spanish-speaking communities about their rights and options regarding their end-of-life care. Over the past four years, they have hosted over 30 educational events in various San Diego communities.
In addition to her community work, Eva operates her own business where she works one-on-one with her clients, helping them create a success plan to address their unique goals and needs.
Recently, Eva expanded her impact by collaborating with health and senior centers as an independent Advance Care Planning Consultant. There, she works closely with all levels of healthcare professionals to advocate and ensure patients receive comprehensive and coordinated care, whilst promoting better access for end-of-life options for underserved communities.
The Dreamcatcher: A Sacred Symbol of Heritage, Protection and Cycle of Life/El Sagrado Atrapasueños: Un Símbolo de Herencia, Protección y Ciclo de Vida
The dreamcatcher is a sacred instrument deeply rooted in the traditions of Native American peoples, especially in the cultures of the Ojibwa (Chippewa), Lakota, and other tribes of the Great Plains. This talisman’s purposes to filter the dreams and energies that surround us while we sleep, acting as a guardian of sleep. While its symbolism and spiritual function have transcended many other indigenous cultures, it is essential to remember that the creation and use of the dreamcatcher is an ancestral practice of Native Americans and should be treated with the respect and reverence it deserves.
To me, the dreamcatcher represents much more than a mere symbol. It is a sacred instrument to honor my ancestors and a constant reminder of the interconnectedness of all things. It symbolizes the cycle of life and death, an eternal beginning with no end, a reflection of values of unity and continuity. This sacred talisman weaves eternal love that filters our lives and dreams, connecting us across time, beyond the boundaries of the physical and spiritual.
Disclaimer: Dreamcatchers are emblematic of Indigenous identity. The misuse and exploitation of this design are deeply offensive to Indigenous peoples and dismissive of their cultural significance. The creation of dreamcatchers is a traditional practice for Native Americans and must be treated sacred.
El atrapasueños es un instrumento sagrado profundamente arraigado en las tradiciones de los pueblos indígenas de América del Norte, especialmente en las culturas de los Ojibwa (Chippewa), Lakota y otras tribus de las Grandes Llanuras. Su función es filtrar los sueños y energías que nos rodean mientras dormimos, actuando como un guardián o amuleto del sueño. Aunque su simbolismo y función espiritual han trascendido a diversas cultura, es fundamental recordar que la creación y el uso del atrapasueños es una práctica ancestral de los nativos americanos, y debe ser tratado con el respeto y la reverencia que le corresponde.
Para mí, el atrapasueños representa mucho más que un simple símbolo. Es un instrumento sagrado que utilizo para honrar a mis antepasados, y como un recordatorio de la interconexión que existe en todas las cosas. Simboliza el ciclo de la vida y la muerte, un principio, sin fin, refleja unidad y continuidad. Este talismán sagrado entreteje el amor eterno que filtra nuestras vidas y sueños, conectándonos a través del tiempo, más allá de las barreras de lo físico y lo espiritual.
Descargo de Responsabilidad Los atrapasueños son símbolos emblemáticos de la identidad indígena. El uso indebido y la explotación de este diseño son profundamente ofensivos para los pueblos indígenas y despectivos hacia su significado cultural. La creación de atrapasueños es una práctica tradicional de los nativos americanos y debe ser tratada con el respeto y la sacralidad que merece.
Philosophy
Eva begins each day striving to help patients in need and to further educate the community. Her techniques allow her to take a holistic approach, while tending to her patients and continuously improving their medical care. She believes everyone deserves to understand their options and to realize they are not alone. She serves as an inspiration to those she works with and continues to bring hope to many people during their most difficult times.