ABOUT BACII

In Western societies, we typically avoid talking about anything that involves loss, grief, or death until we are forced to do so, despite this being one of life’s guaranteed experiences and what we all have in common around the world.

BACII’s purpose is to shift how we experience these end-of-life topics by offering educational and supportive services, gatherings, and products that guide us through these inevitable experiences, while renewing our engagement to life.

BACII is influenced by traditional Lao baci ceremonies performed at gatherings of birth, life, and death. During the ritual, people wish baci, or “blessings,” onto others in an act of true compassion, unity and connection.

MEET MANGDA

Photo: Courtesy of Daniel F. White

Mangda Sengvanhpheng is an artist, death doula, and the Founder of BACII. She is devoted to creating a deeper culture of care and expanding our experiences through the wisdom of impermanence through all of her work with individuals, communities, and organizations alike. Her life and death work is guided by her Lao last name, which means “the light of the full moon.”

BACII is inspired by all of her experiences with loss and life, and specifically the challenging loss of her mother. This life-changing experience of helping her mother through the dying process included being with her in the final moments, washing and dressing her body, arranging a funeral service, and managing a household of tasks that come with death. This experience revealed to her how difficult and isolating grief and loss can be which became the catalyst in reimagining our society’s relationship to the end-of-life as a healthier and more supportive experience. 

Driven by these experiences, Mangda became a certified death doula through Going with Grace and an end-of-life volunteer. She then launched BACII as a platform to integrate death into our lives so that we can better support ourselves and those we love in 2020 right before the pandemic hit NYC.

Additionally she has been immersed in the mystical, creative, and healing arts for over 15 years and is certified and trained in pranayama, asanas, and meditation with Bhooma Chaitanya and Swami Yogeshananda through Aarasha Yoga Vidya Peetham in Kerala, India, Reiki 2 accreditation by Joanna Crespo, NYC, 13th Octave LaHoChi accreditation from Soul Healing, CT, Grief Literacy from Being Here, Human and Contemplative Care from New York Zen Center.

Mangda was an awarded recipient of Reclamation Ventures grant for under-represented leaders making pathways to addressing grief and loss.

Her work has been featured in publications such as Vogue, Vice, NY Mag’s Curbed, Brydie, Chacruna Institute, Svenska Dagbladet (Swedish Wall Street Journal) and more.