Death Cafe profile for Josefine Speyer
Location: United Kingdom
https://www.linkedin.com/in/josefine-speyer-18787612/
About Josefine Speyer:
Josefine Speyer is a UKCP registered psychotherapist and clinical supervisor with a special interest in death education. A co-founder with Nicholas Albery of the Natural Death Centre (1991), (www.naturaldeath.org.uk), co-founder, trainer, supervisor and co-ordinator of the Befriending Network in London and Oxford (1994) for which she developed a death education course. (http://www.oxbel.org.uk) now part of Age UK and defunct in London due to lack of funding.
She received the Life Time Achievement Award for the Natural Death Centre at the 'Death Oscars' in London in September 2016, with co-founder Nicholas Albery (posthumously), and with the trustees Susan Morris and Richard Putt and Rosie Inman-Cook the manager of the Natural Death Centre.
She has been a supervisor at a bereavement service for many years. For over thirty years she has run death education workshops, discussion groups, courses and given talks.
Since November 2012 she has hosted Death Cafés at her home in NW London, the first one of these together with Jon Underwood, the founder of Death Cafe was for 10 people. She held very successful, monthly Death Cafés: in Hampstead, Dalston, West Hampstead and Death Cafe At Home online via Zoomn during the pandemic .
Josefine now hosts occasional pop-up Death Cafes in parks, private homes or online.
Josefine's Death Cafes have been documented for South Korean TV, Metro online, Huffington Post online and Canadian TV5, Brazilian TV and written about by many journalists, for magazines and national and international newspapers and have featured on BBC Radio 4 and BBC Worldservice. It has also been filmed for student projects and for German TV ZDF plan B and German radio, etc.
We have a Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/deathcafewesthampstead
Josefine hosted Natural Death Salons at the house in NW London at various times of the year. www.facebook.com/naturaldeathsalon
She holds closed groups on ageing and on talking about death. All meetings are now online. If you are wishing to have information on these and other work she offers, please contact her by email or ask to be added to the mailing list.
What brings you to Death Cafe?
I see Death Cafe as being part of the natural death movement, which I want to support in order to bring about urgently needed social change, in particular in view of the climate crisis. I firmly believe that we can not afford to be death ignorant as death has much to teach us about what is important in life. Death Cafe has been is a natural continuation, leading on from my work with the Natural Death Centre of which I am now a patron and am no longer actively involved in the charity.
Death Cafe is a way for me to feel part of a worldwide community of people who share my philosophy of death being a natural part of life which we need to make friends with in order to live a more fulfilling life now and that essentially we are all in the same boat: we are all going to die.
Death Cafe is about conversation, about people telling their stories, listening to others, exchanging ideas and learning from each other.
I also have stories to tell, about my husband dying in a car crash and organising his funeral ourselves, of my mother dying of cancer shortly after diagnosis of cancer and being with her in the last days and nights of her life and the moment of her death. Caring for my mother-in-law who died after many years of dementia and being by chance present at the moment of her death. And so many other stories of supporting people at the end of life or helping bereaved families with funeral choices.
Death Cafe is a wonderful place for people to come together and share moments of great intimacy. Every death cafe is different and it is always so moving to be with people in this way, sharing our humanity.
What would you like your legacy to be?
With my late husband Nicholas Albery I am a co-founder of the Natural Death Centre (1991), an educational charity of which I am now a patron, but am now no longer directly involved with it. The charity runs a help line, supporting people with famiy-organised funerals or funerals in general, offering advice. As part of the NDC I was holding workshops and seminars for the public and professional groups, talking about what it means to embrace death as a natural part of life, just like birth.
I was a co-founder of the Befriending Network charity (1994) for which I helped develop a death education course. As a therapist and cinical supervisor I have had the privilege to work with people who taught me much about the art of dying into life which I believe psychotherapy amounts to by learning to mourn our losses, that we can embrace ourselves and each other how we really are and stepping into life more fully. Accompanying people on part of their journey, learning to be present. Professionally, that is my legacy.
The Natural Death Centre has spearheaded the natural death movement for many years. Environmentally friendly, family-organised funerals and natural burial have spread across the world! I am proud to have been part of this movement. The NDC has helped revolutionise the funeral industry.
Death education is my passion. I see Death Cafe as another wave in the natural death movement, where death is a natural part of life and we treat it is as such: we can talk openly and honestly about issues of dying and death as a normal part of conversation. That is also a way we can create a more compassionate society, where we realise we are all in the same boat, we are all mortal and life and the planet we live on are precious.
On a personal level, I treasure my family and friends, especially my son, and his wife and my delightful grandsons.
And I appreciate that I have been able to work with so many people who all have made a contribution to my life. I am grateful to them all.
Thoughts for sharing:
I have had many personal experiences with caring for the dying, of family-organised, 'green' funerals and also of After Death Communications (ADCs) following my husband’s sudden death in a car accident in June 2001 and also immediately after my mother’s death in September that same year. These ADCs were an incredible surprise, each time.
I have done research into this phenomenon and see links with NDEs, death bed visions and nearing death awareness etc. I have given talks at conferences and hold Natural Death Salons on this subject.
A paper on research into these phenomena conducted in 2009 in collaboration with Dr. Mary Murray in NZ was published online in the 2011 newsletter of the Royal College of Psychiatry, London. ‘Psycho-spiritual transformation through bereavement’, filed in publications archive (see link from RCP home page www.rcpsych.ac.uk/spirit).
https://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/docs/default-source/members/sigs/spirituality-spsig/murray-m-and-speyer-j-psycho-spiritual-transformation-through-bereavement-edited.pdf?sfvrsn=348d7a53_2
I am a contributor to the Natural Death Handbook’s Writings on Death, published by the Natural Death Centre in 2012. http://www.naturaldeath.org.uk/index.php?page=book-shop
I am a co-editor with Stephanie Wienrich of The Natural Death Handbook (Rider, fourth edition) 2003. (available via Amazon)
I believe there is a direct link between the avoidance of addressing climate crisis (which demands us to drastically reasses our patriarchal attitude to nature of which we are a part and not a master), and the avoidance of embracing death as a natural oart of our lives.
Our lack of regard for the environment and all living beings has allowed us to exploit and abuse our planet. But Earth does not belong to us, we belong to Earth. Earth will survive us, but we may not survive on the current trajectory we are on.
Contact Josefine Speyer
Josefine Speyer's posts on the Death Cafe website
Death Cafe: Strictly Psychotherapists Death Cafe
Posted by Josefine Speyer on April 28, 2022, 1:04 a.m.
With Josefine Speyer
May 6, 2022, 3.00 p.m. - 4.30 p.m. (BST)
Free
This Death Cafe is held during Dying Matters Awareness Week in the UK.
It is a one off.
SOLD OUT!
With Josefine Speyer
Dec. 6, 2021, 7.30 p.m. - 9.00 p.m. (GMT)
Accepts donations
Places are still available due to late posting of this last monthly Death Cafe At Home.
Please book by contacting Josefine and she will send you the Zoom link.
You ...
New Blog post: So long!
Posted by Josefine Speyer on Oct. 8, 2021, 9:52 a.m.
Dear all,
With Josefine Speyer
Nov. 1, 2021, 7.30 p.m. - 9.00 p.m. (GMT-6 +2 +11:00) Canberra, Melbourne, Sydney +1 (BST) +1 (BST) -03:00 - SAO PAULO )
Accepts donations
Death Cafe At Home is
for 12 participants and meets online.
Please book via Eventbrite:
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/death-cafe-at-home-via-zoom-tickets-179532284897
The log in link will be sent to ...
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/natural-death-salon-on-zoom-tickets-162804040267
With Josefine Speyer
Sept. 6, 2021, 7.30 p.m. - 9.00 p.m. (BST)
Accepts donations
Death Cafe At Home meets on the first Monday of the month via Zoom.
For 10 participants, advance booking via Eventbrite:
https://deathcafeathomeseptember.eventbrite.co.uk
The log in link ...
With Josefine Speyer
July 5, 2021, 7.30 p.m. - 9.00 p.m. (BST)
Accepts donations
Death Cafe At Home meets on the first Monday of the month via Zoom.
For 10 participants, advance booking via Eventbrite:
https://deathcafeathomejuly2021.eventbrite.co.uk
The log in link ...
With Josefine Speyer
June 7, 2021, 7.30 p.m. - 9.00 p.m. (BST)
Accepts donations
Death Cafe At Home meets on the first Monday of the month via Zoom.
For 10 participants, advance booking via Eventbrite:
https://deathcafeathomejune2021.eventbrite.co.uk
The log in link ...
With Josefine Speyer
May 3, 2021, 7.30 p.m. - 9.00 p.m. (BST)
Accepts donations
Death Cafe At Home meets on the first Monday of the month via Zoom.
For 10 participants, advance booking only.
The log in link will be sent to you on ...
With Josefine Speyer
April 5, 2021, 7.30 p.m. - 9.00 p.m. (BST)
Accepts donations
Death Cafe At Home meets on the first Monday of the month via Zoom.
For 10 participants, advance booking only.
The log in link will be sent to you on ...
Death Cafe write up: Death Cafe At Home on Zoom GMT
Posted by Josefine Speyer on Feb. 2, 2021, 11:57 a.m.
“I experienced many emotions during Death Cafe this evening. Listening to others gave me the confidence to open up and share my thoughts and feelings in a safe space.”
“I found it a very interesting experience and there's something so supportive about sharing thoughts on a 'difficult' subject with others. I look forward to the next one.”
With Josefine Speyer
March 1, 2021, 7.30 p.m. - 9.00 p.m. (GMT)
Accepts donations
Death Cafe At Home meets on the first Monday of the month via Zoom.
For 10 participants, advance booking only.
The log in link will be sent to you on ...
With Josefine Speyer
Feb. 1, 2021, 7.30 p.m. - 9.00 p.m. (GMT)
Accepts donations
Death Cafe At Home meets on the first Monday of the month via Zoom.
For 10 participants, advance booking only.
The log in link will be sent to you on ...
With Josefine Speyer
Dec. 7, 2020, 7.30 p.m. - 9.00 p.m. (GMT)
Accepts donations
This event is fully booked!
Death Cafe At Home meets online every first Monday of the month. For 10 participants, advance booking only.
You will need to have downloaded Zoom ...
With Josefine Speyer
Nov. 2, 2020, 7.30 p.m. - 9.00 p.m. (BST)
Free
Death Cafe At Home is for 7 guests only, held every first Monday of the month. You will need to have downloaded Zoom to take part. You can log in ...
With Josefine Speyer
Oct. 5, 2020, 7.30 p.m. - 9.00 p.m. (BST)
Free
Fully booked!
Death Cafe At Home is for 7 guests only, held every first Monday of the month. You will need to have downloaded Zoom to take part. Best do ...
With Josefine Speyer
Sept. 7, 2020, 7.30 p.m. - 9.00 p.m. (BST)
Free
This intimate Death Cafe is for 7 guests only. It is 90 minutes. You will need to have downloaded Zoom to take part. Best do this in the days before ...
Death Cafe write up: Virtual Death Cafe At Home BST
Posted by Josefine Speyer on July 7, 2020, 3:44 p.m.
Good morning Josefine,
I wanted to write to you to thank you for facilitating the Death Café last night. It was my first experience Being a novice I was initially nervous of contributing to the conversation, but I quickly overcame this fear because of the groups inclusivity and mutual respect. I came away inspired and with a real sense of connection with people I met for the first time. This experience has gifted me real insight into how we can facilitate conversations around death, safely, and the power in human connectivity.
Death Cafe: Death Cafe At Home online (BST) Fully Booked!
Posted by Josefine Speyer on July 7, 2020, 3:16 p.m.
With Josefine Speyer
Aug. 3, 2020, 7.30 p.m. - 9.00 p.m. (BST)
Accepts donations
We are fully booked!
Ask to be on the waiting list.
Death Cafe At Home via Zoom!
This intimate Death Cafe is for 7 guests only. You will need to ...
With Josefine Speyer
July 6, 2020, 7.30 p.m. - 9.00 p.m. (BST)
Accepts donations
Death Cafe At Home via Zoom!
This intimate Death Cafe is for 7 guests only. You will need to have downloaded Zoom to take part. Best do this in the ...
Practitioners question: Wondering about how to hold a death cafe?
Posted by Josefine Speyer on April 12, 2019, 6:38 p.m. 1 comment
Wondering about how to hold a death cafe?
Over the years I have often been asked for advice on this.
I like to encourage people and am happy to depart with my bit of wisdom for what it is worth. Writing about it is quite time consuming every time, so ...
Death Cafe write up: Death Cafe West Hampstead
Posted by Josefine Speyer on March 11, 2019, 5:55 p.m. 1 comment
With Josefine Speyer
March 11, 2019, 7.00 p.m. - 9.00 p.m. (BWT)
Accepts donations
This will be our last monthly Death Cafe at West Hampstead! We decided to host it in the knave of the church and have room for up to 30 people ...
Renate Werner filmed a death cafe hosted by Josefine Speyer in London as part of this German TV program, available until October 2019.
In Germany every second person dies in hospital, but it does not have to be that way. People could die at home, well cared for and not ...
https://www.zdf.de/gesellschaft/plan-b/plan-b-lebenswert-bis-zum-ende-100.html
With Josefine Speyer
Feb. 11, 2019, 7.00 p.m. - 9.00 p.m. (BWT)
Accepts donations
Limited to 10 people.
Please book via Eventbrite to register your name. No need for printing a ticket.
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/death-cafe-west-hampstead-tickets-51289203388
Please arrive on time.
We provide ...
Death Cafe write up: Death Cafe West Hampstead
Posted by Josefine Speyer on Oct. 11, 2018, 5:43 p.m. 1 comment
Death Cafe West Hampstead on 8 October was fully booked. I was expecting 10 people. On the night I arrived an hour early as usual, with teas, two cakes, one of them gluten free and some black and white grapes. I set up the room and laid the table, looking forward to the evening with anticipation. But instead of 10 guests only three people turned up. None of them had attended a death cafe before. We shared a sense of disappointment at the chairs being left empty, at the absence of strangers we had expected to share the evening with.
So we huddled together at one end of ...
With Josefine Speyer
Oct. 8, 2018, 7.00 p.m. - 9.00 p.m. (BWT)
Accepts donations
Limited to 10 people.
Please book via Eventbrite to register your name. No need for printing a ticket.
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/death-cafe-west-hampstead-tickets-31028087846
Let us know if you have ...
This documentry film by Jane and Jimmy Edmonds will be screened all over the UK. On Thursday 7 June 2018 it will be shown at the Phoenix Cinema in Finchley followed by a Q&A session which they invited me to facilitate. If you live in London, do come!
WHAT ...
With Josefine Speyer
Sept. 10, 2018, 7.00 p.m. - 9.00 p.m. (BWT)
Donations gratefully accepted to cover expenses (room hire, teas, cake,posters, )
Limited to 12 people.
Please book via Eventbrite to register your name. No need for printing a ticket.
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/death-cafe-west-hampstead-tickets-31028087846
Let us know if you have ...
With Josefine Speyer
July 9, 2018, 7.00 p.m. - 9.00 p.m. (BWT)
Donations gratefully accepted to cover expenses (room hire, teas, cakes).
Limited to 12 people.
Please book via Eventbrite to register your name. No need for printing a ticket.
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/death-cafe-west-hampstead-tickets-31028087846
Let us know if you have ...
Resource: BBC1 about keeping the body at home until the funeral
Posted by Josefine Speyer on Feb. 12, 2018, 6:29 p.m.
Sophie Marsden wrote these two articles published online here about her experience of a Death Cafe hosted by Josefine Speyer at her house in London, specifically for it to be filmed for Sophie's student project.
The event took place in March 2013.
Conversations about Death: https://dyingtotalk.wordpress.com/tag/cafe-mortal/
With Josefine Speyer
Feb. 12, 2018, 7.00 p.m. - 9.00 p.m. (BWT)
£5 donation to cover expenses (room hire, teas, cake,posters, )
Limited to 12 people.
Please book via Eventbrite to register your name. No need for printing a ticket.
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/death-cafe-west-hampstead-tickets-31028087846
Let us know if you have ...
With Josefine Speyer
Jan. 8, 2018, 7.00 p.m. - 9.00 p.m. (BWT)
£5 donation to cover expenses (room hire, teas, cake,posters, )
Limited to 12 people.
Please book via Eventbrite to register your name. No need for printing a ticket.
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/death-cafe-west-hampstead-tickets-31028087846
Let us know if you have ...
With Josefine Speyer
Dec. 11, 2017, 7.00 p.m. - 9.00 p.m. (BST)
£5 donation to cover expenses (room hire, teas, cake,posters, )
Limited to 12 people.
Please book via Eventbrite to register your name. No need for printing a ticket.
Let us know if you have to cancel so someone else can ...
With Josefine Speyer
Nov. 13, 2017, 7.00 p.m. - 9.00 p.m. (BST)
£4 donation to cover expenses (room hire, posters, etc.)
Please book via Eventbrite to register your name. It does all the admin for us. Thank you! No need for printing a ticket.
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/death-cafe-west-hampstead-tickets-31028087846
Please ...
With Josefine Speyer
Oct. 9, 2017, 7.00 p.m. - 9.00 p.m. (BST)
£4 donation to cover expenses (room hire, posters, etc.)
Please book via Eventbrite to register your name. It does all the admin for us. Thank you! No need for printing a ticket.
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/death-cafe-west-hampstead-tickets-31028087846
Please ...
With Josefine Speyer
Sept. 11, 2017, 6.30 p.m. - 9.15 p.m. (BST)
The event is free but please support out host by buying some of the delicious food and drink!
Please book a place via Eventbrite to let us know you are coming. (no need to print out a ticket)
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/death-cafe-west-hampstead-tickets-32646851612
Come prepared to ...
With Josefine Speyer and Philomena Corrigan
May 8, 2017, 6.30 p.m. - 9.15 p.m. (BST)
The event is free, but donations are welcome!
This Death Cafe is part of Dying Matters Awareness Week 2017!
We meet every second Monday of the month (except April and August).
Book a place via Eventbrite to help ...
With Josefine Speyer and Philomena Corrigan
Feb. 13, 2017, 6.30 p.m. - 9.15 p.m. (BST)
The event is free, but donations are welcome!
We meet every second Monday of the month (except April and August).
Book a place via Eventbrite to help us safe admin time (no need to print out a ticket ...
With Josefine Speyer with co-facilitators Philomena Corrigan and Juliane Spaete.
Feb. 6, 2017, 6.30 p.m. - 9.00 p.m. (BWT)
£5 donation to cover expenses
We provide gluten free and dairy free food and teas for everyone. We ask for a donation of £5 to cover expenses.
To join us register here:
Link: Firmly on the side of the ordinary mortal – the Natural Death Centre
Posted by Josefine Speyer on Dec. 31, 2016, 3:41 p.m.
This is a brief article I wrote about the Natural Death Centre and the Lifetime Achievement Award it received in September this year.
The article appeared on the blog of the Kicking The Bucket Festival website. Kicking the Bucket is a month long festival held in Oxford in October every ...
With Josefine Speyer and Philomena Corrigan
Jan. 9, 2017, 6.30 p.m. - 9.15 p.m. (BST)
The event is free, but donations are welcome!
We meet every second Monday of the month (except April and August).
Book a place via Eventbrite to help us safe admin time (no need to print out a ticket ...
Death Cafe write up: Death Cafe Dalston
Posted by Josefine Speyer on Dec. 4, 2016, 3:32 p.m.
Total number of participants: 18
Number of women: 15 (including three facilitators)
Number of men: 3
Average age: 37.8
Average age women: 48.2
Average age men: 25
Overall, how would you rate this event?
(10 = excellent, 1 = poor) Total: 9.7
Women: 8.7 Men: 10
Your experience of this Death Café:
Calm, accepting atmosphere where I felt – and everyone felt – able to contribute. Conversation happened easily and could have gone on. Although I feel at ease with death, I was surprised how powerful this meeting was in its effect: to talk about death like this for so long made me feel lighter. I enjoyed everyone ...
With Josefine Speyer and Philomena Corrigan
Dec. 12, 2016, 6.30 p.m. - 9.15 p.m. (BST)
The event is free, but donations are welcome!
We meet every second Monday of the month (except April and August).
Book a place via Eventbrite to help us safe admin time (no need to print out a ticket ...
With Josefine Speyer
Dec. 2, 2016, 6.30 p.m. - 8.45 p.m. (BST)
£5 donation requested to cover costs
About this Death Cafe:
This beautiful studio space was offered to us for a Death Cafe by the photographer Juliane Spaete.
We provide gluten and dairy free refreshments and teas ...
New Blog post: What is your view on 'How to Die a Good Death'?
Posted by Josefine Speyer on Oct. 14, 2016, 2:02 a.m. 5 comments
With Josefine Speyer
Oct. 24, 2016, 6.30 p.m. - 8.45 p.m. (BST)
£5 donation requested to cover costs
This beautiful studio space was offered to us for a Death Cafe by the photographer Juliane Spaete.
Juliane will provide home made vegetarian, gluten and dairy free soup and a ...
Death Cafe write up: Death Cafe West Hampstead
Posted by Josefine Speyer on Aug. 12, 2016, 6:13 a.m.
This was our 4th Death Café West Hampstead and part of Dying Matters Awareness Week. Philomena Corrigan co-facilitated.
One journalist attended and took part in the closing circle. He was filming for a Huffington Post website article which included an interview with me and brief shots of the actual Death Café. It was published to be part of Dying Matters Awareness Week. See it here:
Last year, at Death Café Hampstead, during Dying Matters Awareness Week 2015 our Death Café was well attended and we organized a separate one to be filmed for Metro online. It was a small ...
Death Cafe write up: Death Cafe West Hampstead
Posted by Josefine Speyer on Aug. 12, 2016, 5:07 a.m.
This was our 1st Death Café at Café Rouge in West Hampstead. Philomena Corrigan co-facilitated
30 booked to attend
12 attended plus two facilitators
11 feedback forms were returned
Average age: 60.5
8 women: (aged 39– 64) 2 men (aged 67 & 81)
Overall, how would you rate this event?(10 = excellent, 1 = poor) 8.5/10
People's experiences of this ...
With Josefine Speyer
Sept. 12, 2016, 6.30 p.m. - 9.15 p.m. (BST)
The event is free, but donations are welcome!
We meet every second Monday of the month (except April and August).
Book a place via Eventbrite to help us safe admin time (no need to print out a ticket ...
With Josefine Speyer
July 11, 2016, 6.30 p.m. - 9.15 p.m. (BST)
The event is free, but donations are welcome!
We have a French Canadian film crew coming filiming for a French speaking documentary. They will want to take some general shots of the atmosphere of Death Cafe. If you ...
With Josefine Speyer
June 13, 2016, 6.30 p.m. - 9.15 p.m. (BST)
The event is free, but donations are welcome!
This is our fourth Death Cafe at this venue.
We meet every second Monday of the month (except April and August).
Book a place and join us for drink ...
With Josefine Speyer
May 9, 2016, 6.30 p.m. - 9.15 p.m. (GMT)
Free, but you are asked to pay food and a drink! Donations for organising this event are welcome.
This is our third Death Cafe at this venue. You need to book to attend so we have an idea of numbers.
The Cafe opens just for us. Please come ...
Death Cafe write up: 22nd Death Cafe Hampstead, London, UK
Posted by Josefine Speyer on March 21, 2016, 8:57 a.m.
Sorry for the late posting!
We held our 22nd Death Café Hampstead in May 2015
by Josefine Speyer
This was our 22nd Death Café at Café Rouge in Hampstead and part of Dying Matters Awareness Week. Tom Schuller co-facilitated. One journalist attended who was writing an article on Death Café for Spirit & Destiny.
16 booked to attend (2 arrived without booking)
13 attended: 11 womenplus two facilitators
5 feedback forms were returned
Average age all women: 39.4 (aged 31– 54)
Overall, how would you rate this event?(10 = excellent, 1 = poor) 9.6/10
People's experiences of this Death Café:
The range of experiences, topics ...
Death Cafe write up: 20th Death Cafe Hampstead, London, UK
Posted by Josefine Speyer on March 21, 2016, 8:43 a.m.
This Death Cafe Hampstead was held in March 2015! Now it is March 2016! Apologies for the late posting!
Write up for 20th Death Cafe Hampstead, March 2015
A surprisingly easy evening, 20 odd people arrived after worrying to accommodate 48 and accepting 33 bookings!
The conversation around our table flowed easily despite getting disrupted by late comers and student filmmaker Maya Rostowska getting up to film. A wide range of topics were discussed. A very enjoyable and moving experience with support from co-facilitators Philomena Corrigan, Heidi Twelvetrees and Caroline Dent.
Apologies for late posting of this. Stats will be supplied later.
People's experiences of this Death ...
With Josefine Speyer
March 21, 2016, 6.30 p.m. - 9.15 p.m. (GMT)
Free, but you are asked to pay food and a drink! Donations for organising this event are welcome.
This is our second Death Cafe at this venue. You need to book to attend. Send an email to the Josefine the organiser.
The Cafe opens just for us. Please ...
With Josefine Speyer
Jan. 25, 2016, 6.30 p.m. - 9.00 p.m. (GMT)
Free, but you are asked to pay food and a drink!
For bookings please go to https://www.eventbrite.com/e/death-cafe-west-hampstead-tickets-20092564401
This is our first Death Cafe at this venue. We have held a successful, monthly Death Cafe in Hampstead ...
New Blog post: Death Cafe Hampstead at Cafe Rouge has closed!
Posted by Josefine Speyer on July 5, 2015, 4:59 a.m.
Dear all,
Death Cafe Hampstead at Cafe Rouge has closed this week!
Our last Death Cafe was on Monday 29 June. It was a very good evening! We have held monthly Death Cafes at Cafe Rouge in Hampstead since April 2013, 25 Death Cafes, including the little filmed Death Cafe we held for Metro, see below.
The reason for the closure is that the venue costs have not been met in recent times and due ...
Press: Welcome to the Death Cafe: Where people go for a drink and talk about dying
Posted by Josefine Speyer on June 24, 2015, 1:46 a.m.
I host monthly meetings of Death Cafes in this lovely large space at Cafe Rouge in Hampstead and this Death Cafe was especially set up to be filmed for Metro.co.uk, the online branch of the London freebie news paper everyone reads on the underground.
We had an interesting ...
When we set up The Natural Death Centre Charity in 1991 Nicholas Albery and I were inspired by Sheila Kitzinger and the Natural Birth Movement. Like her we think birth and death are similar events and require a similar attitude. I am so glad Sheila had a home death and ...
http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2015/jun/19/how-to-plan-for-a-good-death-sheila-kitzinger
Death Cafe write up: Filmed Death Cafe Hampstead, London, UK
Posted by Josefine Speyer on June 9, 2015, 5:12 a.m.
Yesterday's filmed Death Cafe for Metro.co.uk was a great success. Nine of us sat around the oval table in the middle of the room, talking about death, whilst Ethan Daish, the young journalist armed with a camera, quietly moved around filming. We had a great time and the conversation flowed. Some of the things we spoke about were a funeral director speaking about organising a close family member's funeral, different funeral traditions, not following family traditions, funeral traditions in different cultures ; waking up at night in shock at the thought of dying one day (or could it be the realisation, "I am ALIVE! Now ...
New Blog post: Dying Matters Awareness Week 2015 - A short report
Posted by Josefine Speyer on June 9, 2015, 3 a.m.
I hosted 2 Death Cafes, one in Hampstead at Cafe Rouge and one in Paddington on a narrowboat (with Sue Brayne). Both events were free. A third event, a Natural Death Salon on family-led funerals versus funeral director-led funerals, charging £15 for 3 hours, did not run due to lack of participants and was cancelled.
At the Death Cafe in Hampstead we had only 12 participants, an unusually low number for this monthly event, which ...
Death Cafe: Filmed Death Cafe Hampstead, London, UK
Posted by Josefine Speyer on May 31, 2015, 4:20 p.m.
With Josefine Speyer
June 8, 2015, 7.00 p.m. - 9.00 p.m. (BST)
Donations towards the cost of hosting the event are welcome!
Fully Booked!
This is our 23rd Death Cafe Hampstead.
It will be filmed for an article in Metro.co.uk
Death Cafe: 22nd Death Cafe Hampstead, London, UK
Posted by Josefine Speyer on April 28, 2015, 12:59 p.m.
With Josefine Speyer
May 18, 2015, 6.30 p.m. - 9.15 p.m. (BST)
Donations towards the cost of hosting the event are welcome!
Death Cafe Hampstead is now in it's third year!
If you are coming for the first time, please send an email to Josefine, the organiser, and say a little ...
Death Cafe: 21st Death Cafe Hampstead, London, UK
Posted by Josefine Speyer on April 10, 2015, 5:41 p.m.
With Josefine Speyer
April 27, 2015, 6.30 p.m. - 9.15 p.m. (BST)
Donations towards the cost of hosting the event are welcome!
THIS DEATH CAFE IS FULLY BOOKED!
If you are booked to attend this Death Cafe: On the day come upstairs and check in. We keep a register.
Death Cafe write up: 19th Death Cafe Hampstead, London, UK
Posted by Josefine Speyer on Feb. 15, 2015, 3 p.m. 2 comments
26 booked to attend (4 arrived without booking)
25 attended: 5 men and 20 women(including 5 female facilitators)
25 feedback forms returned: 20 Women, 5 Men (including 5 female facilitators)
Average age: 54
Average age for Men: 51 (aged 28-83)
Average age for Women: 55 (aged 34 – 78)
Overall, how would you rate this event?(10 = excellent, 1 = poor) 8,7/10
People's experiences of this Death Café:
I had a great experience. We had warm and deep conversations and it just flowed easily. It was exhilarating to talk about death and I felt closer to my group after. I think its important to talk about ...
Death Cafe: 20th Death Cafe Hampstead, London, UK
Posted by Josefine Speyer on Feb. 12, 2015, 1:46 a.m.
With Josefine Speyer
March 2, 2015, 6.30 p.m. - 9.15 p.m. (BST)
Donations towards the cost of hosting the event are welcome!
We are fully booked for our Death Cafe upstairs, but rather than turning people away, here is an idea we will try this month. If it works we will continue ...
Death Cafe: Pop-up Death Cafe on Narrowboat, London W2, UK
Posted by Josefine Speyer on Jan. 31, 2015, 5:34 p.m.
With Sue Brayne & Josefine Speyer
May 22, 2015, 2.30 p.m. - 4.30 p.m. (BST)
We welcome a contribution towards the cost of cake and tea. Thank you!
We are fully booked!
We are running a waiting list in case of a cancellation. There is a VERY SLIM chance only....
(To book a place, please email Josefine including ...
Death Cafe: 19th Death Cafe Hampstead, London, UK
Posted by Josefine Speyer on Jan. 10, 2015, 11:12 a.m.
With Josefine Speyer
Feb. 2, 2015, 6.30 p.m. - 9.15 p.m. (BST)
Donations towards the cost of hosting the event are welcome!
Fully booked and running a waiting list!
Please book your place by sending an email to Josefine and if you come for the first time, please say a little about ...
Death Cafe write up: 18th Death Cafe Hampstead, London, UK
Posted by Josefine Speyer on Dec. 26, 2014, 5:15 p.m.
18th Death Café Hampstead write up,1 December. 2014
by Josefine Speyer
This write up needs some bits adding to complete it. There was no time for this before the Christmas holidays. Josefine
38 booked to attend
32 attended: 3 men and 29 women
(including 6 female facilitators)
Average age:
Average age for Men: 70
Average age for Women: 57
19 feedback forms returned: 16 Women, 3 Men
Average age: 62
Overall, how would you rate this event? 9
(10 = excellent, 1 = poor)
People's experiences of this Death Café:
Really fascinating – and the atmosphere at our table was generous and level. I specially felt our openness ...
Death Cafe write up: 16th Death Cafe Hampstead, London, UK
Posted by Josefine Speyer on Dec. 26, 2014, 5 p.m.
This really was our 17th Death Cafe Hampstead (and not the 16th)!
The stats for this write up are not complete. To be added later. Sorry, the time flew by since holding the Death Café, taken up with other things. Josefine
23 booked to attend this Death Café.
18 attended (including 3 facilitators): 3 men, 15 women
Feedback forms returned: 15 Women, 3 Men
Average age : ?
Average age of women: 55
Average age of men: 65
Overall, how would you rate this event?
(10 = excellent, 1 = poor)
This is how people described their experience of this Death Café:
Illuminating of some feelings I have about my own age ...
With Josefine Speyer
Dec. 5, 2014, 2.30 p.m. - 4.15 p.m. (BMT)
Free
FULLY BOOKED!
This is a filmed Death Cafe for an educational programme of the Sage Publications website. By attening you agree to be filmed.
The venue is a private house ...
Death Cafe: 18th Death Cafe Hampstead, London, UK
Posted by Josefine Speyer on Nov. 4, 2014, 10:03 p.m.
With Josefine Speyer
Dec. 1, 2014, 6.30 p.m. - 9.15 p.m. (BST)
Donations towards the cost of hosting the event are welcome!
FULLY BOOKED!
If you have booked a place but are unable to attend, please let us know at the earliest opportunity, so we can tell Cafe Rouge what numbers to ...
Gracie Lofthouse was one of the journalists who came to our Death Cafe Hampstead in May this year. This article looks at many aspects and attitudes to dying, death, funerals, and people involves in the alternative scene to bring about change, including Death Cafe.
Breaking the mold that has gone ...
Libertine: https://medium.com/@libertinewomen/lightening-up-about-death-5240c489c1fb
Death Cafe write up: 16th Death Cafe Hampstead, London, UK
Posted by Josefine Speyer on Oct. 10, 2014, 12:10 p.m.
This was our 16h Death Café Hampstead at Café Rouge in 18 months. (We started in April 2013.) Tonight as usual, we had a buzzing crowd. It was an exciting, moving and inspiring evening! Philomena, Corrigan, Bernie Folan and Caroline Dent helped facilitate individual tables.
As usual we split the evening into two halves: an intimate conversation around a small table for 1 ½ hours facilitated by a facilitator who also takes part in the conversation. We ask people to introduce themselves and say why they have come. This helps people to bring up the topics that interest them, tell personal stories, ideas, concerns and experiences. At 8pm ...
Death Cafe: 16th Death Cafe Hampstead, London, UK
Posted by Josefine Speyer on Oct. 2, 2014, 3:57 a.m.
With Josefine Speyer
Nov. 3, 2014, 6.30 p.m. - 9.15 p.m. (BST)
Donations towards the cost of hosting the event are welcome!
We love Death Cafe and welcome you to join us for an inspiring evening of conversation.
Please arrive early and place an order with our waiter, Antonio. There will be ...
Death Cafe: 16th Death Cafe Hampstead, London, UK
Posted by Josefine Speyer on Sept. 15, 2014, 8:53 p.m.
With Josefine Speyer
Oct. 6, 2014, 6.30 p.m. - 9.15 p.m. (BST)
Donations towards the cost of hosting the event are welcome!
We love Death Cafe and welcome you to join us for an inspiring evening of conversation.
Please arrive early and place an order with our waiter, Antonio. There will be ...
New Blog post: Thinking of setting up a Death Cafe?
Posted by Josefine Speyer on Aug. 11, 2014, 9:40 a.m. 1 comment
A friend of mine is thinking of setting up a DeathCafe and dithering about starting. I gave her some advice. Perhaps it maybe useful to others? Here is is:
I think if you start up a Death Cafe with just one group of people around a table and then do all the feedback sheets and reports/write-ups and post these on the Death Cafe website, and link up with other Death Cafe hosts in your ...
New Blog post: Preparing for Dying - to live as fully and as richly as can be There's nothing more we can do? Let’s stamp out that phrase!
Posted by Josefine Speyer on Aug. 10, 2014, 7:39 a.m. 3 comments
“Instead of telling a terminally ill person "there's nothing more we can do," what if doctors actually said something more like this:
My Dear Patient, we've come to a point in this journey where to continue with traditional interventions will more than likely not stop the progression of your disease and in fact could do more harm and potentially shorten your life. Having said this, please know that there is much that we ...
Death Cafe: 15th Death Cafe Hampstead, London, UK
Posted by Josefine Speyer on Aug. 7, 2014, 10:29 p.m.
With Josefine Speyer
Sept. 8, 2014, 6.30 p.m. - 9.15 p.m. (BST)
Donations are welcome!
This Death Cafe is now fully booked!
Please arrive early and place an order with our waiter, Antonio. There will be a short break half way through the evening. You ...
Death Cafe write up: 14th Death Cafe at Cafe Rouge in Hampstead, London, UK
Posted by Josefine Speyer on Aug. 6, 2014, 6:08 p.m. 2 comments
by Josefine Speyer
A lively evening, but less busy than expected. A demonstration in town and some difficulties on the underground may have made travelling for some people difficult. It was the anniversary of the 2 July London Bombings in 2005. I had invited two poets to read a short poem each. Only one was able to come. He read both poems to us at the start of the plenary.
The evening was in two halves: an intimate conversation around a small table for 1 ½ hours facilitated by a facilitator who also takes part in the conversation. A 25 minute break, followed by a 45 minute plenary. Ending ...
Link: A passionate plea in support of assisted dying by Judy Finnegan and Richard Madeley
Posted by Josefine Speyer on July 10, 2014, 5:36 a.m.
Lord Falconer's Assited Dying Bill is coming before parliament on 18 July.
I hope the vote is in support of the bill. A similar law exists in Oregon and has not caused problems. Assisted dying has been a relief for some people who are suffering a great deal in ...
London Evening Standard: http://www.standard.co.uk/news/celebritynews/richard-madeley-and-judy-finnigan-we-have-a-suicide-pact-if-one-of-us-is-seriously-ill-9356561.html
This is a free online magazine produced by the Natural Death Centre Charity. It offers a wealth of information and u to date news. Wonderful to spark off discussions with friends and family or just an interesting read. Nothing morbid about it!
The first three editions are here:
http://issuu ...
Death Cafe: 14th Death Cafe at Cafe Rouge in Hampstead, London, UK
Posted by Josefine Speyer on June 24, 2014, 5:07 p.m.
With Josefine Speyer
July 7, 2014, 6.30 p.m. - 9.15 p.m. (BST)
Donations are welcome!
We are fully booked!
Please arrive early and place an order with our waiter, Antonio. There will be a short break half way through the evening. You can settle your ...
Death Cafe write up: Death Cafe at Cafe Rouge, Hampstead, London, UK
Posted by Josefine Speyer on June 24, 2014, 12:24 a.m. 1 comment
Our 13th Death Café was held on 9 June 2014 at Café Rouge in Hampstead, We had a full house! Sharon, Philomena, Heidi, Bernie and Caroline facilitated tables with me. It was a good evening. We had two journalists attending, Conxa writes for El Mundo and Anna wrote an article for Vice magazine online. There is a link to Anna’s article at the end of this write up. Conxa’s article is not published yet. The format for the evening was as before in two parts: To begin with conversations around small tables, each with a facilitator who also takes part as a participant. And after a ...
Death Cafe write up: Death Cafe at Cafe Rouge in Hampstead, London
Posted by Josefine Speyer on June 23, 2014, 11:41 p.m.
The first Death Cafe we held at this venue was over a year ago in April 2013. On 12 May 2014 we celebrated our first year of Death Café at Café Rouge during 'Dying Matters Awareness Week'. (No Death Cafe in April this year.) Four journalists attended this Death Cafe, bringing with them two photographers. Almost everyone was willing to be photographed. The event was a lively occasion. Every seat was taken. Over the year we have built quite a community of people attending regularly, several of them willing to facilitate one of the tables.
Sadly one regular attendee who was much cherished had died. She had ...
Death Cafe write up: Filmed Death Cafe at Cafe Rouge, Hampstead, London, UK
Posted by Josefine Speyer on June 23, 2014, 11:40 p.m.
We hold monthly Death Cafes at Cafe Rouge in Hampstead. April would have been our first anniversary there, but there was no Death Cafe in April this year. So our we celebrated the anniversary in May. The date fell on Monday 12 May and was part of Dying Matters Awareness Week 2014. So we advertised it as part of that and held it during the afternoon. That Death ACfe got fully booked. This, second Death Cafe of the day, our 13th Death Cafe, was held in the evening of 12 May 2014 and specially put on so it could be filmed for a South Korean TV documentary ‘Dying ...
Link: Short video about inspirational 17 year old Zach who died in May 2013.
Posted by Josefine Speyer on June 3, 2014, 5:28 p.m.
A short ducumentary video about 17 year old Zach who is dying on cancer but lives to the full. Inspirational and moving. A lovely young man and a delighful family:
Zach Sobiech, at the age of 14, found out he had a rare form of terminal cancer. So he became ...
Death Cafe: Death Cafe at Cafe Rouge, Hampstead, London, UK
Posted by Josefine Speyer on May 25, 2014, 5:44 a.m.
With Josefine Speyer with assistance from Sharon Young, Philomena Corrigan and others
June 9, 2014, 6.30 p.m. - 9.15 p.m. (BST)
The event is fully booked!
We have room for up to 25 participants. Please arrive early and order your food and drink as soon as possible so we can make a prompt start. (Make sure ...
Death Cafe: Filmed Death Cafe at Cafe Rouge, Hampstead, London, UK
Posted by Josefine Speyer on April 24, 2014, 2:55 p.m.
With Josefine Speyer with assistance from Sharon Young, Philomena Corrigan and others
May 12, 2014, 7.00 p.m. - 9.00 p.m. (BST)
The event is free, but donations towards the cost of running the event are welcome!
This Death Cafe Is fully booked!
It will be filmed for a TV documentary on ‘Dying Well’ by South Korean Educational Broadcasting System (EBS). If you book to attend you ...
Death Cafe write up: Death Cafe at Cafe Rouge in Hampstead, London
Posted by Josefine Speyer on April 24, 2014, 2:32 p.m.
At the March Death Café in Hampstead a small group of people attended, but we were slightly up in numbers compared to January and February. We had 11 guests: 8 women, 3 men. Six people came for the first time. Five people had come before, four of them up to 8 times. We were three facilitators, one for each table.
This was the eleventh Death Café at Café Rouge in Hampstead. As always, it was a deeply moving experience and a very stimulating evening. See feedback below.
In January February and March we did not ask people to book to attend Death Café. In May we will hold ...
Death Cafe write up: Death Cafe at Cafe Rouge in Hampstead, London
Posted by Josefine Speyer on April 21, 2014, 11:44 a.m.
Jon, would you please delete this listing? Thank you!
Practitioners question: Suicide talk on Death Cafe
Posted by Josefine Speyer on April 5, 2014, 9:14 a.m. 7 comments
Has the issue of plans for a possible suicide ever been dicsussed at one of your Death Cafes? At a Death Cafe last year, a person in late middle age, ill with cancer spoke about her thoughts of wanting to have the option to commit suicide when she is very ...
Death Cafe is about conversation, telling our stories, sharing stories. It is an important way of linking with other people but also a way we can make sense of our experiences. Death Cafe has a vital role in this process of authentic, personal story telling about death, told in an ...
Video: "Contemplating Happiness" talk by Thich Nhat Hanh
Posted by Josefine Speyer on March 25, 2014, 7:28 a.m.
Death Cafe: Death Cafe at Cafe Rouge in Hampstead, London
Posted by Josefine Speyer on March 20, 2014, 5:59 p.m.
With Josefine Speyer with assistance from Sharon Young and Philomena Corrigan
May 12, 2014, 4.30 p.m. - 6.30 p.m. (BST)
The event is free, but donations are welcome!
Sorry, we are fully booked!
If you have booked and are not able to attend, please let us know. We are running a waiting list.
This Death Cafe is part ...
Death Cafe write up: Death Cafe at Cafe Rouge in Hampstead, London
Posted by Josefine Speyer on March 10, 2014, 2:37 a.m.
To be deleted! Thank you.
Death Cafe write up: Death Cafe at Cafe Rouge in Hampstead, London
Posted by Josefine Speyer on March 4, 2014, 8:56 a.m.
Report on the Death Cafe at Cafe Rouge Hampstead, London, on 10 February 2014 with Josefine Speyer
This month the attendance was even lower than last month. So we decided that instead of two small tables we would have one double table for everyone to sit around, three facilitators and six guests, to make it just one group from the start. That way everyone was sharing in one conversation. But for two new comers this proofed to be somewhat inhibiting. They would have preferred the intimacy of small tables first before coming together in one group. But not everyone had arrived when we had made this decision. For ...
Death Cafe: Death Cafe at Cafe Rouge in Hampstead, London
Posted by Josefine Speyer on Feb. 3, 2014, 2:09 p.m.
With Josefine Speyer with assistance from Sharon Young and Philomena Corrigan
March 10, 2014, 6.30 p.m. - 9.15 p.m. (BMT)
Free. But donations are very welcome!
*** No bookings required. Just show up, first come first served ***
We have room for up to 30 participants. Please arrive early and order your food and drink as soon as ...
Death Cafe write up: Death Cafe at Cafe Rouge in Hampstead, London
Posted by Josefine Speyer on Jan. 17, 2014, noon 2 comments
Number of participants: 31 guests, (26 returned feedback sheets: 20 women, 6 men)
Average age: 50
(women: 48 (22 – 78)], [men: 54 (27 - 78)]
(Plus 3 female facilitators/host: Average age: 48)
Overall, how would you rate this event? Overall: 9
(Average for women: 9.1) (Average for men: 8.5)
This Death Café at Café Rouge on 9 December was surprisingly busy. We had space for 27 guests. But on the evening many more guests arrived and many who had booked did not turn up. We were a little crowded but managed to squeeze everyone in. I had already decided that the booking system did not work ...
Death Cafe: Death Cafe at Cafe Rouge in Hampstead, London
Posted by Josefine Speyer on Dec. 2, 2013, 12:42 p.m.
With Josefine Speyer with assistance from Sharon Young and Philomena Corrigan
Jan. 20, 2014, 6.30 p.m. - 9.15 p.m. (BMT)
Free. But donations are welcome!
*** No bookings required. Just show up, first come first served ***
We have room for up to 30 participants. Please arrive early and order your food and drink as soon as ...
Death Cafe write up: Death Cafe at Cafe Rouge in Hampstead, London
Posted by Josefine Speyer on Dec. 2, 2013, 12:17 a.m. 2 comments
Following a very positive article about the October Death Cafe at Cafe Rouge in London’s Time Out magazine, this November Death Cafe was soon fully booked. I even considered holding a second Death Café that month to accommodate everybody! Fortunately I didn’t, as instead of the 40 plus people expected, only 19 people attended. It was a bit disappointing as I had turned so many people away, thinking we were overbooked. Nevertheless, we had a very good and positive evening. It was moving, inspiring, heart warming. There was a wonderful open sharing from people, gathering around three tables. Thank you to Sharon Young and Philomena Corrigan ...
Death Cafe: Death Cafe at Cafe Rouge in Hampstead, London
Posted by Josefine Speyer on Dec. 1, 2013, 8:47 p.m.
With Josefine Speyer
Dec. 9, 2013, 6.30 p.m. - 9.15 p.m. (BMT)
Free. But donations are welcome!
When you ask to book a place, please tell Josefine a little about yourself.
The upstairs room at Cafe Rouge is beautiful, but the acoustics are less so. For this ...
Link: A poem by Paul Lawrence Dunbar
Posted by Josefine Speyer on Nov. 1, 2013, 10:33 a.m. 1 comment
During the Death Café Ed attended in October at Cafe Rouge, someone mentioned how we all ‘wear a mask’ in our everyday lives. It reminded him of this poem:
BY PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR 1872–1906
We wear the mask that grins and lies,
It hides our ...
Death Cafe write up: Death Cafe at Cafe Rouge in Hampstead, London
Posted by Josefine Speyer on Oct. 25, 2013, 7:31 a.m. 1 comment
This Death Café was again fully booked in advance. Some people cancelled, some on the day whilst I was out and others just were not able to attend. Some emailed on the day and came along without me expecting them, one of them a young journalist from TimeOut magazine. Well, it all worked out fine on the night and we had a great evening together!
Philomena Corrigan (death doula) and Sharon Young (PdD student) and I each facilitated a table of about 6 – 9 people. Having intended to get started by 7pm after a 6.30pm arrival, we finally got settled and sorted by 7.15pm, much later ...
Death Cafe write up: Death Cafe at Cafe Rouge in Hampstead, London
Posted by Josefine Speyer on Oct. 17, 2013, 5:25 a.m. 1 comment
This Death Café held on a pleasant September evening was fully booked – overbooked - but not all 42 people attended and so I think we were pretty much down to 30 or so, the normal capacity for the room.
The evening was wonderful, inspirational, moving and a positive experience all round. Cj Swaby, Liz Wong, Thom Osborn and I each facilitated a table. Halfway through the evening we took a break. We ended the evening with a ‘plenary’. On Thom’s suggestion, we made a large circle, everyone facing into the room so we could see each other. This plenary was a closing circle and a chance for anyone ...
Death Cafe: Death Cafe at the Buttercup Cafe in Lewes, UK
Posted by Josefine Speyer on Oct. 17, 2013, 5:13 a.m.
With Josefine Speyer
Nov. 18, 2013, 6.30 p.m. - 9.00 p.m. (GMT)
Free. But donations are welcome!
Email janehenderson1@hotmail.com with your name and phone no and say a little about yourself
Or
Go in to the Buttercup Cafe and leave your name and contact details ...
Death Cafe: Death Cafe at Cafe Rouge in Hampstead, London
Posted by Josefine Speyer on Oct. 16, 2013, 2:57 p.m.
With Josefine Speyer
Nov. 11, 2013, 6.30 p.m. - 9.15 p.m. (GMT)
The event is free, but donations are welcome!
Please arrive early and order your food and drink as soon as possible. So we can start the conversation at 6.45pm prompt. Make sure you give the waiter your ...
Death Cafe write up: Death Cafe at Cafe Rouge in Hampstead, London
Posted by Josefine Speyer on Oct. 9, 2013, 2:33 a.m.
This Death Café held on a pleasant September evening was fully booked – overbooked - but not all 42 people attended and so I think we were pretty much down to 30 or so, the normal capacity for the room.
The evening was wonderful, inspirational, moving and a positive experience all round. Cj Swaby, Liz Wong, Thom Osborn and I each facilitated a table. Halfway through the evening we took a break. We ended the evening with a ‘plenary’. On Thom’s suggestion, we made a large circle, everyone facing into the room so we could see each other. This plenary was a closing circle and a chance for anyone ...
Death Cafe: Death Cafe at Cafe Rouge in Hampstead, London
Posted by Josefine Speyer on Sept. 26, 2013, 3:14 a.m.
With Josefine Speyer
Oct. 14, 2013, 6.30 p.m. - 9.15 p.m. (GMT)
Donations are welcome!
*** THIS DEATH CAFE IS FULLY BOOKED ***
We are meeting in a large room upstairs at Cafe Rouge. Choose a table and take a seat.
Death Cafe write up: Death Cafe at Cafe Rouge in Hampstead, London
Posted by Josefine Speyer on Sept. 26, 2013, 2:02 a.m.
Report on the Death Café at Café Rouge, Hampstead, London, on 29 July 2013 by Josefine Speyer
The July Death Cafe at Café Rouge in Hampstead was a success. For the first time it was fully booked a week in advance, in fact I had over booked it, allowing for several cancellations on the day.
Thank you to Liz Wong (Death Doula), David Spofforth (Interfaith Minister) and Celia Urbach (Psychotherapist) who agreed to help me facilitate – each of us to a table - which ensured that everyone had a chance to speak. Feedback in June suggested that this would help.
As the host, I welcomed everybody and set the ...
Death Cafe write up: Death Cafe In Oxford
Posted by Josefine Speyer on Aug. 12, 2013, 2:12 p.m. 1 comment
This was the first time I held a Death Café in an actual café. Café Rouge in Hampstead has been my favourite café for many years. So the idea of a death café in the upstairs room, newly decorated, where we could be amongst ourselves, was absolutely ideal and I looked forward to it in anticipation. The manager was open to the idea of hosting us free of charge. There was just one request, that they hoped we would order enough food and drink to make it worth their while. In the event this was no problem.
We had 19 bookings and three cancellations on the day. But ...
Death Cafe write up: Death Cafe with the Natural Death Centre
Posted by Josefine Speyer on Aug. 12, 2013, 2:06 p.m.
This was a special Death Cafe to celebrate the Natural Death Centre's 21st birthday. My husband Nicholas Albery and I founded the NDC in April 1991. Nicholas ran the office in the garden room and I held Death Salons and workshops in our living room. Ten years ago Nicholas died in a car accident and since then the office has moved out. It is now based outside London, near Winchester. For info see: www.naturaldeath.org.uk
This was the first Death Cafe I held, with Jon Underwood, the founder of Death Cafe in the UK. In setting up the Death Cafe website and promoting it as ...
Death Cafe write up: Death Cafe In Oxford
Posted by Josefine Speyer on Aug. 12, 2013, 1:57 p.m.
We had a very enjoyable Death Cafe gathering at Dennis's Albion Beatnik Bookstore. A big Thank You to Dennis for hosting us! Sitting around small coffee tables in the shop window, surrounded by books piled high. A really beautiful little place. Reminding of Harry Potter or days gone by. A really intimate and delightful venue for this Death Café.
A small group of eight people attended. Not all who booked were able to come and others joined us without booking, so it worked out really well in the end. It was a diverse and friendly group of people ranging from aged 20's - 76!
This Death Caf ...
With Josefine Speyer
May 13, 2013, 6.30 p.m. - 8.30 p.m. (BST)
£2.50 for a Pot of Tea/Coffee
Join us for tea, cake and conversation about dying, death and the end-of-life at Oxford's first Death Cafe.
Death Cafe: Death Cafe with the Natural Death Centre
Posted by Josefine Speyer on Aug. 12, 2013, 12:17 a.m.
With Josefine Speyer
Feb. 24, 2013, 2.30 p.m. - 5.00 p.m. (GMT)
Donations are welcome!
As part of this Death Café, young documentary filmmaker Olivia Humphries will show her 20 minute film ‘Noctuaries’.
http://vimeo.com/12971986
Olivia was a teenager when her mother died ...
Death Cafe: Death Cafe at Cafe Rouge in Hampstead, London
Posted by Josefine Speyer on Aug. 1, 2013, 2:53 a.m.
With Josefine Speyer
Sept. 16, 2013, 6.30 p.m. - 9.15 p.m. (GMT)
Donations are welcome!
*** THIS DEATH CAFE IS FULLY BOOKED ***
We are meeting in a large room upstairs at Cafe Rouge. Please order and pay for your food & drink at the till downstairs. Tell ...