Latest Death Cafe News
New Blog post: The Joy of being a Death Cafe Facilitator!
Posted by Continuity of Life on Sept. 21, 2014, 9:54 a.m.
It never ceases to amaze me how people can come together, many and most as strangers, sit in a circle and allow themselves to all become connected at some level. As a Death Cafe facilitator I have found each event to be unique and very interesting. We had our 6th Death Cafe yesterday with a crowd of 42, our first one had 15.
Many who attand have no real idea what to expect or perhaps ...
Death Cafe write up: Death Cafe Seattle - Greenwood
Posted by Seattle Death Guyz on Sept. 19, 2014, 12:12 p.m.
Here's what we had to say afterwards: open and safe conversation, nurturing, honest, awakening, deep connections formed quickly, thoughtful and informative, low key. Oh the places we roamed - playing ukuleles in beautiful cemeteries, what we want for our own deaths, new and old ways to approach death, caring for our dead. Brownies, the homeys at ‘the Couth’, and little Luna in her chair. We want to do it again and again.
Death Cafe write up: Highcliffe Death Cafe
Posted by Lis Horwich on Sept. 17, 2014, 3:33 p.m.
Today's Death Cafe had to move indoors, first one hosted indoors.
With 3 new members we had some fasinating discussions as we differed in opnions on afterlife, suicide, Karma and much else. A warm and loving respect was easily kept between us all. Mail Online article from 28th Sep 2014: Australia's Dr Death starts UK "Suicide club" was looked at too.
Death Cafe write up: Longmont Death Cafe
Posted by Death Doula on Sept. 17, 2014, 3:01 p.m. 2 comments
We were a small group and were able to discuss a number of issues about death, dying and living. Looking forward to growing this group around this topic. We so need to talk about our dreams and desires for our exit out, and learn to bring the topic up comfortably with our loved ones. See you on October 11th, 9 AM, in the Community Room at Lucky's in Longmont!
Death Cafe write up: Denver Death Cafe-August
Posted by Anita Larson on Sept. 17, 2014, noon
Denver Death Café Summary
August 24, 2014
Many thanks to Karrie Filipios with Agape Hospice Services (independently owned) for hosting the August Denver Death Cafe and providing refreshments. The cake was delicious and beautifully decorated.
The room was overflowing with 55 participants ranging in age from 20-89. No one seemed to mind because the chairs were comfy and everyone could hear each other without a microphone.
Below is a summary of our discussions and thoughts in no particular order.
Burial, Cremation, Whole Body & Organ Donation
The majority of attendees indicated they prefer cremation over burial. There was discussion around burials, cremated and buried on top of another grave ...
Death Cafe write up: Death Cafe in Reno, NV
Posted by Paula Schneider on Sept. 15, 2014, 7:55 p.m. 1 comment
Our death cafe drew 20 or more people who enjoyed over two hours of in-depth explorations of death and dying. We met outside in picture-perfect weather. Many participants are doing great work in the community in the areas of education, hospice, and caregiving. We are already planning more events of this nature! Our evaluations showed the majority of attendees derived much satisfaction from the sharing.
We had a terrific Lawrence Death Cafe at the Lawrence Public Library on Saturday, September 13th. Our meeting room holds 20 and we had 15 attending. After the normal history, guidelines the conversation opened into cultural ceremonies with feedback from Native American, Buddhist and others. The elvauation forms as always ...
Death Cafe write up: Stratford-upon-Avon Death Cafe
Posted by glynis on Sept. 14, 2014, 12:15 p.m.
I've just enjoyed another fascinating and absorbing Sunday afternoon, sharing thoughts and experiences around the topic of death and dying. I'm always impressed at the very respectful listening that goes on between strangers drawn to look more closely at a difficult subject. So many topics this time: living wills, the Right to Die debate, dignity and choice, talking with the family, living with the diagnosis of cancer in your early 20s, a widow's experience of losing her husband over 30 years ago. One group member read a very moving account, written by someone choosing to end their life in the early stages of dementia. So ...
Press: Inside the Death Cafe: Death Cafes give people a safe place to discuss end of life decisions.
Posted by Continuity of Life on Sept. 14, 2014, 11:21 a.m.
By CARRIE SEIDMAN
carrie.seidman@heraldtribune.com
On a blazing summer afternoon, cars vie for the few shaded parking spots outside Radiance of Sarasota, a storefront in a small strip mall billed as a "wellness and inspiration center."
Visitors, mostly aged 50-plus, enter the center's cool, dimly lit quarters ...
See more at: Sarasota Herald Tribune
Death Cafe write up: Marin Death Cafe
Posted by Nancy Rhine on Sept. 11, 2014, 2:38 p.m.
Marin Death Café
Sept 10 2014
Mt Tam United Methodist Church
6:30 – 8PM
Facilitators: Nancy, Teresa, Kim, Norma Jean
Attendees: 43 people, not including facilitators
9 men, 34 women
Age range: approximately 30 years old to 92 years old
Things that worked this time:
· Having no RSVP requirement was so much easier! So having a large enough space to accommodate varying numbers is good.
· People brought plenty of cake. J
· Having more facilitators made for a more positive experience for participants
· Marin IJ “In Your Town” blurb and then being on the front page of the 2nd Section the day of brought more last minute interest ...
Death Cafe write up: Death Cafe in Berryville, Virginia
Posted by Mary Jane Lee on Sept. 10, 2014, 5:59 a.m.
Death Cafe
Berryville, Virginia
September 7, 2014
It was a beautiful fall day in Berryville, Virginia where nearly twenty people came together for the first Death Cafe. The discussion moved from the practical issues in dealing with death like advanced medical directives and the dnr order to amazing stories of experiences in families related to death and dying.
The intention and conscious choice to cease all nourishment to facilitate death, or the amazing resolve to walk into the woods to die show the deep and abiding awareness there is to dying and courageous action to facilitate and be with death on one’s own terms. There was realization ...
Death Cafe write up: Primer Death Cafe en Latinoamerica
Posted by Viviana on Sept. 9, 2014, 1 p.m. 1 comment
Last friday sept 5th and saturday sept 6th we held the First Death cafe in Buenos Aires, Argentina. 30 people attended. Intimate, fluent conversation in a home setting. Several topics were covered spontaneously: euthanasia, suicide, preparing for death, even capital punishment! It was a pleasure and an honor to be able to hold the event. Everybody ackowledged in the final evaluation: what a blessing to have a place to talk about these issues freely, openly and with no judgement.
It was a great start!!
Thanks !
See more at: The Aquarian
Practitioners question: Please don't...
Posted by Jon Underwood on Sept. 4, 2014, 12:28 a.m. 8 comments
There are a number of things that we ask people offering Death Cafes not to do. These are in our guide but aren't nearly clear enough it seems. I will address this but in the meantime, here they are....
If you're offering a Death Cafe please don't ...