Death Café at Black Toast in Annandale, Sydney
A write up of Death Cafe - Sydney
By April Lewis
This was my first visit to a Death Café meeting and,having been recommended by a friend, I had a vague sense of what it would be like—a small social group of people, drinking coffee and talking about death.
Death is a big subject, possibly the BIG subject, and with so many aspects to it—dying, spirituality, home deaths, loss of loved ones and pets, recent celebrity deaths and funerals being just the tip of the iceberg (maybe the sinking of the Titanic would come up)—it seemed we would have no trouble finding something to talk about.
Among the 10 or so people of varying ages and backgrounds, the conversation ranged from the death of young persons, and the tragedy that is incurred by families and loved ones, to the loss of grandparents, and the sadness and difficulty the elderly face in dying, and the grief felt by those who lose the wisdom-carrier of their family. Advanced care directives were a hot topic,with everyone interested in having their current wishesmet at the time of their death, and creating memorable rituals and activities to honour our loved ones sparked some engaging interaction. We all felt touched by the tragic passing of Robin Williams this week.
Amidst the coffee and delicious muffins, the conversation was relaxed, emotional, open, supportive and respectful. April, the facilitator, gently and skillfully kept the group on track, by providing her previous Death Café experiences, sharing her motivations for running Death Cafés, and lovingly offering her own personal stories.
The sharing in the group was unhurried. Conversation unfolded congenially, as those who wanted to speak were able to, and those who didn’t were valued for their presence.
April mentioned that each Death Café is unique and that the conversations are never the same, so I‘m definitely looking forward to the next one.
Paul.