Pictured: a bee with pollen on its back flies toward an open sunflower
The Sunflower Cycle
The Sunflower Cycle is the title of an educational zine about change created in 2018. Over the past five years, The Sunflower Cycle has shifted into a project which includes a variety of artwork, writing, and resources. The namesake, of course, is the common flower recognized by bold petals dancing around the center; a gift of the earth reflecting changes in time.
For me, sunflowers invoke feelings of safety, inspiration, and awe. Perceiving these magical flowers brings warmth to my soul in a way that only the sun can rival. Sunflowers turn toward the sun as a source of guidance and nutrients. It is my intention to turn toward you, beloved community, collaborating together in cycles of life, death, and in-between.
Zines

The Sunflower Cycle
A mini-zine about the life and death cycle of the sunflower from seed to death. This is a digital PDF copy of The Sunflower Cycle Version II zine.

Body Care After Death: Options for Disposition
A mini zine about what options are available for body disposition. This zine is raising funds for death education, with any money from sales going to ASP!

Body Care After Death: Washing & Shrouding
A mini zine about how to wash and shroud a body after death. This zine is raising funds for death education, with any money going to ASP!
About
Summer Gail Diegel loves the ocean, chocolate chip cookies, their friends, and kin. They can be found playing D&D, taking a nap, sharing stories, and admiring book shops.
As a full-spectrum doula Summer offers embodied support, consent communication, creative activities, information for care planning, and learner-centered education. They enjoy collaborating with people of all-ages leaning into life cycles, transitions, and rites.
Summer is currently a pastor at Valley & Mountain Fellowship serving as director of education & youth ministry programs, and on the board of directors for A Sacred Passing: Death Midwifery & Community Education. They have over a decade of experience integrating storytelling and playfulness as allies in care work in the service of peers, children, and elders.
Contact
Want to collaborate? Let's get in touch!