Latest Death Cafe News
New Blog post: Happy 13th Birthday, Death Cafe!
Posted by Jools Barsky on Sept. 25, 2024, midnight
Every year on this day, I find myself reflecting on the very first Death Cafe, back in 2011. I remember being in Jon’s house in Hackney, Jon serving tea and cake as our Mum facilitated that first gathering in his basement. Back then, Death Cafe looked quite different. We’ve refined things over the years - there are no longer any prompts, talks, or exercises. Instead, Death Cafes remain one of the few spaces where ...
Death Cafe write up: The Huntington Beach, CA Zen Den Death Cafe -
Posted by Lisa Stuhley on Sept. 22, 2024, 4:12 p.m.
This was my first time hosting a Death Cafe after attending many over the years and I was very happy with it! We had about 6 people and everyone was excited to learn more about the process of the Death Cafe. Everyone took time to share and it became a very natural round robin conversation. There were light and fluffy subjects to very heavy and all were held in the space beautifully and met with acceptance.
Death Cafe write up: Swanage Death Cafe
Posted by peterneall on Sept. 18, 2024, 2:36 p.m.
A slightly smaller group than previously met with Lucinda and Peter Neall in the friendly premisses of The Loft COmmunity Centre. Peter's homemade chocolate cake is becoming legendary!
As before there were a. couple of folk who had had no previous experience of a Death Cafe, they were surprised at their own honesty and the depth to which they quickly allowed themselves to go 'with complete strangers'.
As we get used to one another the conversation is less about others, and more intimate and I think, more healthy.
We will meet again in a month or so.
Death Cafe write up: Central Houston’s Monthly Death Cafe - September 2024
Posted by Houston Death Cafe on Sept. 13, 2024, 9:18 p.m. 4 comments
Central Houston's September 2024 Death Cafe
We were so happy to be hosted by Omega House Hospice in Montrose this month! Over 20 folks were in attendance, from all ages and walks of life. What an incredible group and conversation together.
Below you can find links to various things mentioned during the dialogue:
Local events and groups:
- Houston Zen Center: Preparing for Your Own Death class:
https://houstonzen.org/classes/preparing-for-your-own-death-1
- Texas A&M University Stevenson Companion Animal Life-Care Center:
https://vetmed.tamu.edu/stevenson-center/
Books
- Walking Each Other Home: Conversations on Loving and Dying by Ram Dass
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/39346786-walking-each-other-home?ref=nav_sb_ss_1_23 ...
Death Cafe write up: FOCO Death Cafe
Posted by rjmudgett on Sept. 8, 2024, 3:45 p.m.
I had my first Death Cafe 9/7/24. It was was well attended and well received. It was free flowing without an agenda. There was in depth and thoughttful discussion around death and dying and living. I'm hoping to have one every two months. I was very encouraged by the feedback I received.
Becki Mudgett
Fort Collins, CO
Death Cafe write up: Huntly Death Cafe
Posted by Grampian_Death_Cafe on Sept. 8, 2024, 1:02 p.m.
We had an unexpectedly lively meeting with three first-time members contributing to the lively discussion.
Death Cafe write up: Manly NSW Death Cafe
Posted by mknight on Sept. 4, 2024, 10:50 p.m.
Our August Death Café took place on the eve of Spring, with locals and tourists alike thronging the surrounds of the library. Above them, a small group of people were gathering together to talk about a shared interest and curiosity; death.
Our conversation was spirited, especially when the work of Carl Jung and theoretical quantum physicist Wolfgang Pauli was discussed. From the lofty realms of the archetypal unconscious to Ray Martin’s TV series, The Last Goodbye, Death Café did not disappoint. Other topics discussed included the role that black humour and death jokes play as a coping mechanism when grieving, and, thinking about our end of life ...
Death Cafe write up: Los Angeles Death Cafe
Posted by janemiller18 on Sept. 3, 2024, 12:06 a.m.
Had about 20 people show up! lovely weather. I wonder if I want to cap these somehow -- it's amazing to see so much interest, but tricky to have a real group conversation with that many people. super friendly, earnest group.
Death Cafe write up: City of Roses Death Cafe Portland OR
Posted by nomenoyou1 on Sept. 1, 2024, 10:32 p.m.
18 of us gathered in the Sun Room of the Leaven Community on Northeast Killingsworth for our 17th consecutive monthly Death Cafe. We broke out into two tables for a free-flowing discussion as well as tea, carrot cake, and vegan cookies.
At my table we talked at length about the difficulties of coping with the death of a family member who was not loving or was abusive. One person offered a moving description of her near death experience. We discussed the difficulties of assuring that our advance directives for end of life care are actually repsected by care providers. Several expressed concern about the challenges of ending life ...
Death Cafe write up: Death Cafe Northside
Posted by Carmel OBeirne on Aug. 24, 2024, 5:25 a.m.
Thanks to the nine people who attended our Death Over Brunch in Northcote recently. The cafe atmosphere was a little noisy however we still managed to connect our hearts as we shared stories and pondered on everything end of life and death.
We now have a small group of inspiring humans who are wanting to run with these conversations and see how many different groups we can impact ....opening the conversation around death.
I am looking forward to watching where this leads .
Death Cafe write up: Manly NSW Death Cafe
Posted by mknight on Aug. 20, 2024, 11:33 p.m.
Each time Death Café convenes, and because attendees bring different life experiences with them and different questions, the overall ‘tone’ has a distinctive ‘note’. Not only that, but it never ceases to astound me at Death Café, at how generously people share in such a frank way, intimate and very personal aspects of their life, their knowledge and understanding of end-of-life matters, and their spiritual belief systems. And our July Death Café was no exception.
In addition to chatting about ‘all things death’, a focus of discussion was death education and associated extracurricular activities, which was embraced with great enthusiasm. A recent online post (https://www.abc.net ...
Death Cafe write up: Death Cafe Whangarei
Posted by Jo Moselen on Aug. 20, 2024, 9:35 p.m.
A group of 8 gathered at a new venue for this Death Cafe, the venue worked well and the conversation flowed. A lot of questions asked seeking clarification and understanging of what happens to the body when someone dies, what it takes to look after someone at home, busting the myths. Other topics included the End of Life choice act NZ, natural burial and water cremation in NZ
We look forward to the next one which is yet to be scheduled.
Death Cafe write up: Central Houston’s Monthly Death Cafe - August 2024
Posted by Houston Death Cafe on Aug. 5, 2024, 12:47 a.m.
Central Houston's August 2024 Death Cafe
What a diverse and wonderful group! 25 folks attended this month's vibrant discussion at the McGovern Stella-Link Library.
Below you can find links to various things mentioned during the dialogue:
Local events and groups:
- Sept 14: Michael J Fox Run/Walk for Parkinson's
https://give.michaeljfox.org/event/2024-houston-run-walk/e544377
- The Jung Center
https://junghouston.org/
- Community for Conscious Aging https://www.communityforconsciousaging.org/
- Texas Death with Dignity https://texasdeathwithdignity.org/
- Omega House Hospice https://avenue360.org/houston-clinic-locations/montrose/
Books
- Walking Each Other Home: Conversations on Loving and Dying by Ram Dass
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/39346786-walking-each-other-home ...
Death Cafe write up: Death Cafe North Canterbury NZ
Posted by Death Cafe North Canterbury, Aotearoa New Zealand on Aug. 4, 2024, 9:39 p.m.
Kaiapoi (21.07.2024)
Today was a big group – 11 plus Anna and I, once we got over our initial shock and delight, it was a busy kōrero which darted all over the place! I had co-delivered a workshop the weekend before about reducing death costs and some of those attendees came along - so this was the initial talking point. We chatted about expectations of funeral costs – such as who pays for visitors and travellers to the funeral, what is the custom in NZ – in fact, is there a custom at all? We chatted about ashes and how to scatter these – do we have the freedom to scatter ...
Death Cafe write up: Let's Talk Death Cafe Shell Lake, WI
Posted by Maureen Skuban on Aug. 3, 2024, 1:48 p.m.
On July 25, a lively group of six participants jumped right in talking about options at end of life and specifically Death with Dignity. We also spent time on the difference between reconciling and acceptance. Frustrated with limited support after losing a loved one, the value of other traditions was discussed, like the seven day Jewish custom of Shiva. Always learning. Always something new at these gatherings!