Death Cafe write-ups
Our September Death Café saw us meeting in our new venue, Platform-62, a wonderfully eclectic café, and only relatively new itself, situated right in the hustle and bustle of up and coming Mascot.
Although you wouldn’t know that once you’d joined the Death Café, where discussion ranged from the board game Rebirth: The Tibetan game of liberation (available online from Amazon) to Sufi teaching stories of death and its timing in our lives, to the wonderfully entertaining Caitlin Doughty with her tales from the crematorium.
As we went around the group introducing ourselves, I was struck, as I always am, by the diversity of people who ...
Death Cafe Birmingham Write up
Posted by carrieweekes on Oct. 3, 2016, 10:19 a.m.
Fabulous response to this busy Death Cafe. Over to the participants for their comments!
“Best time ever talking about what we all want, think about death and dying”
“Relaxed environment”
“All good (you made me eat cake J)”
“Cheerful and focused”
“Very good to talk to interested and interesting people”
“Friendly atmosphere. Friendly people”
“Good to talk openly with others. Food for thought. Different opinions.”
“It felt very easy and relaxed- we were helped to feel comfortable re: the subject matter.”
“Thank you! ”
“…the laughter amongst the talk about death.”
“A wonderful evening thank you”
“We were able to talk freely about death and what happens after someone ...
On September 13th, 32 individuals gathered in the meeting room of the Wellington Library to talk about death. A brief introduction on the history of the Death Cafe was given and then each person was invited to give their name and to say a little about what brought them there tonight. Everyone spoke with such honesty and courage and stayed true to the intended nature of a death Cafe, keeping it an open and frank discussion. At the end of the evening, so many participants expressed their gratitude to us for organizing this event. Clearly, people want to talk about death. Our second Death Cafe is planned for ...
Albany WA Death Cafe Write up
Posted by Albany WA Death Cafe on Sept. 30, 2016, 7:38 p.m.
A particularly loud and lively gathering today!
We spent part of the session in a single group of about 12 and part split into two or three groups, so the conversation was wide-ranging, coming together as the numbers dwindled to share our experiences of the afternoon.
Several of us had seen the film 'Alive Inside' earlier in the week (about music and dementia) and we talked about how that might also relate to palliative and end-of-life care, which linked into discussions about the sorts of things that evoke special, pleasurable memories for us - particular songs/music, favourite perfumes, the aromas of foods our mothers or grandmothers cooked. We ...
LOS ANGELES, CA Death Cafe Write up
Posted by MadameLibrarian on Sept. 29, 2016, 4:08 p.m.
9/27/16
16 attendees
Our session began with a discussion about a documentary “How to Die in Oregon” and we discussed right-to-die issues v. assisted dying. It is available on Netflix and youtube.
We talked about fear—are we afraid of dying? Some more than others, some not at all and consensus was that it got easier as you got older and had had some time to live. One young man said it made him appreciate his family in the ‘now’ and to live for the moment.
Are we familiar with near-death experiences? There were several interesting stories around this.
The word relief often came up. Most ...
Death Cafe in Cirencester Write up
Posted by mysticmoon on Sept. 26, 2016, 12:28 p.m.
Seven of us gathered together in Jane Saunderson’s lovely wooden lodge, located at the rear of her equally delightful autumnal garden in Stratton, Cirencester. It was the perfect place to nestle down with a cup of tea and a piece of carrot cake to talk about things that really matter.
I know I have said this before, but I am always amazed by the willingness of those who come to these pop-up death cafes to throw aside reserve, and open up so quickly and with such honesty. We are, after all, mainly strangers when we meet.
It’s also interesting that the café often starts with conversations ...
Swindon Death Cafe Write up
Posted by Sue Holden on Sept. 26, 2016, 8:17 a.m.
This first Death Cafe in Swindon was very well attended by a wide range of people. Discussion centred around the question of why it takes so long between someone dying and the funeral. This brought into conversation what happens in other countriesafter someone dies.
Everyone contributed and said they had found the evening informative and interesting and that they would attend the next one on October 11th.
Highcliffe Death Cafe Write up
Posted by Lis Horwich on Sept. 26, 2016, 5:47 a.m.
Wednesday the 21st of September a group of 8 people descended in my “Observatory” talking about death. We spoke about the beauty of laying a body to rest in the home, dreams related to death and “Old Harry’s Game” on Radio 4 evenings 6.30pm, listen on IPlayer: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b007zv7f
We mentioned Living Will with the option of keeping it in a green box with a x, possible in your kitchen or sitting room.
ICE (in case of emergency) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_Case_of_Emergency an essential tool for storing details on your mobile phone.
As we often do, the talk ...
Death Cafe Grants Pass Write up
Posted by grantspass on Sept. 25, 2016, 5:13 p.m.
Each participant was encouraged to discuss what was most important to her/him. Within 10 minutes of starting, the room was filled with chatter and laughter. One person comented "it's good to be with people who are open to discussing it" (death.) Anoter noted "I didn't know the Death Cafe would be so much fun." Lots of chocolate brownies, and veggies and dip disappeared from the searving platters.
Death Cafe Cork Write up
Posted by Beth Wallace on Sept. 23, 2016, 9:57 a.m.
What an honour and a privilege it was to facilitate Cork's first Death Cafe!
Approximately 20 people gathered in the cosy & welcoming surroundings of Myo Cafe on the Autumn Equinox. The group varied in age from early 20s to mid 60s, was slightly more female than male, and a mix of at least 7 different nationalities!
Here's what some of the participants said:
It was:
warm, interesting, educational, relaxed, cosy, intimate, surprising, friendly, natural, healing, insightful, pleasant, enjoyable, sociable, ground breaking, different, expansive, challenging, safe, hard, easy
Here's what some participants said to people thinking about coming to a Death Cafe:
''Please go!''
''It is ...
Our focus was on suicide as we began by discussing the Wisconsin 14 year old who wishes to stop treatment, enter hospice and die and the controversy her wishes have generated.
Evaluation comments included answers to the question, What three words would you use to describe this Death Cafe experience?
* depth, compassion and joy
* Expansive, enlightening and wonder
* Interesting, probing and informative
* Insightful, spiritual and safe
* Safe, connecting and tolerance
* Exploration of messages from other side
One person wrote, :I always feel so blessed when I leave and I truly enjoy these gatherings."
Death Cafe Tampa Write up
Posted by Cat Martin on Sept. 19, 2016, 5:48 a.m.
A very enjoyable and lively conversation.
MeetUps.com is a fabulous way to let people know about events
And we have
Didsbury Death Cafe Write up
Posted by maxinespence on Sept. 17, 2016, 5:41 p.m.
Six people attended Didsbury's third Death Café, a great turnout considering everything going on in and around our town this weekend. We had four new people attend and two returnees, one of whom has attended all three Death Cafés. And today was her 17th birthday! Conversations ranged from the practical (what are the laws surrounding death in our province?) to the philosophical (is there really such a thing as death? is there a part of us that 'lives' through/beyond time and space) and several points in between. All were happy to have attended.
Settle Death Cafe Write up
Posted by Settle Death Cafe on Sept. 16, 2016, 10:58 a.m.
This Death Cafe started in the late Autumn last year. We have had 6 meetings and many aspects of death have been discussed.
We have had positive feed back about the structure being good and pleased with the initiative of bringing out the difficult subject of death into the open.
A couple of people said that one session gave them what they wanted. Another feed back on hearing about it was that she didn't feel quite ready to attend but it felt good to know it was there.
I am aware that it has cerrtainly brought the subject of Death into the open and many discussions about ...