Death Cafe write-ups
St. George, Maine Death Cafe VIII Write up
Posted by Sylvia Sienikehä Elysiana on Aug. 3, 2016, 10:34 a.m.
Engaging conversation over coffee and tombstone brownies.
Tauranga Death Cafe Write up
Posted by Tauranga Death Cafe on Aug. 3, 2016, 1:58 a.m.
Well, this was our third cafe gathering and we had more expolration into topics including euthenasia, natural burial grounds and being prepared. The group is becoming more familiar with each other as time goes by, and it is interesting to connect with a broad variety of ages and experience of life.
Really looking forward to our next gathering in August
Death Cafe Christchurch, New Zealand Write up
Posted by MelanieTheCreatrix on Aug. 2, 2016, 4:02 a.m.
Sunday's Death Cafe here in Christchurch was awesome and delicious. There were 9 courageous and curious souls, most of us strangers, who met over coffee and cake for a 2 hour conversation about death and dying.
Some of the things we discussed were Soul Midwifery, what it means to 'hold space' for the dying, Natural Burial in NZ, DeathWalker Training, Preparations paperwork and tidying up for our own deaths, Narrative Therapy used for the Dying and the Bereaved, as well as some very beautiful and poignant personal experiences that people shared.
It was a small but eclectic group of people who attended our July Death Café, and as usual conversation was lively and energetic and spread across a range of death-related topics. This included viewings, whether or not to have a funeral, the afterlife and, rather than normalising death, that notion that death-literacy is about re-normalising death. Although people either left early or came late, which was somewhat disruptive, conversation still flowed freely with lots of laughter in-between.
In reflecting on the event later, I recalled some of the things Death Café is not. It is not a method of community engagement, research or consultation and it is not ...
Highcliffe Death Cafe Write up
Posted by Lis Horwich on July 27, 2016, 6:31 a.m.
Great afternoon sitting outside on our decking in the sunshine discussing death with 5 new people and a couple of former takers. We had so many interesting topics arising and everyone partook with great hearts. It is such a pleasure and gift to share a views so close to each of us. Highcliffe Death Café will be hosting meetings every two months I the future due to new commitments with my work taking new directions. So please make sure you make a note of the dates for the autumn:
3rd Wednesday every two months
2.00pm – 3.30pm
Dates:
September 21st
November 16th
Looking forward to see you ...
Highcliffe Death Cafe Write up
Posted by Lis Horwich on July 27, 2016, 6:23 a.m.
Good evening discussing death and dying and any fear realted to these topics. This was the last evening Death Cafe hosted. I will need time to work on another topic close to my heart. Thanks for supporting the evening cafe, pleased to say the afternoon cafe will continue every 2 month.
Tucson Death Cafe Write up
Posted by tucsondeathcafe on July 21, 2016, 7:58 p.m.
Thunder, lightening, and rain, REALLY! A gorgeous desert monsoon storm began just as our Monsoon Celebration Café got underway. Upon leaving we were greeted by puddles and those amazing fragrances that come from a rejoicing rain drenched desert. Two main café discussions emerged. One, a conversation about our right to die or death with dignity, who has the “say and the sway” regarding what choices we make for ourselves, and what sensitive issues are part of the quandaries engaging our culture right now. And two, mystery, mystery, and more mystery! What do we think happens when we die, if anything? How have our life experiences, beliefs, families and ...
Our Cafe group continues to attract new attendees and today was no exception. We discussed death and dying, the changes in laws in the US and Canada on physician assisted suicide and how each of us has experienced the death of our parents with a view to how we wish to die. Stimulating, free wheeling and very respectful and supportive of each others' opinions.
Montpelier Death Cafe Write up
Posted by MontpelierDeathCafe on July 12, 2016, 2:46 p.m.
Musings on the June 2016 Meeting of the Montpelier Death Cafe
"People might not want to talk about it, but the DO think about death. How could they not?"
It is traditional at our death cafe for the facilitator to ask the people there to say why they came, if they can. One person spoke of how when they shared they would be going to a Death Cafe the other person's reaction was "Why would you do that?!?" I think most of us who come to Death Cafe have had that reactions, but this person's response was truly wonderful. "Well," they said, "before you go on ...
Sonntag Nachmittag, der erste schöne Tag nach einer verregneten Woche, noch dazu Wahlsonntag, und dennoch kamen 14 Menschen wieder zum Death Cafe. Es war wieder eine schöne Mischung aus wiederkehrenden und neuen Gästen, die sich in einer sehr wohltuenden und angenehmen Atmosphäre austauschen konnten. Zentrale Themen waren die schwierigen Umorientierung im Leben einer Witwe, der Umgang mit trauernden Menschen (Was hilft? Was kommt überhaupt an? Was mag man gar nicht mehr hören?), die Angst vor dem Verlust, Grabpflege, Erinnerungstätten, Bestattungskosten ... Es sind wieder Tränen geflossen, es wurde auch wieder viel gelacht, und es war wieder eine große Bereicherung.
It seemed that the date for our June Death Café came around so fast this month that I couldn’t help feeling that it was only yesterday when we had last met for Death Café Marrickville, and this time as then, conversation was rich and meaningful, at times painful as tender spots were touched, open, frank and thoughtful.
As is often the case, people brought all manner of life experience/s with them. Some were recently bereaved and grieving, some worked in varying professional capacities with the aged or the bereaved and their families, and some were curious about death and wanted to explore their thoughts and feelings ...
Settle Death Cafe Write up
Posted by Settle Death Cafe on July 6, 2016, 4:49 a.m.
Settle’s fifth Death Café on 25th June had a very welcoming feel. The four tables were all laden with tablecloths, cakes and little vases of flowers. A total of eleven people came to the café, and most were there from the start. It felt like there were enough people for several discussions to be happening at once, but it was a small enough number to feel like a very relaxed and safe space. We changed to different tables about halfway through. Even though not everybody decided to move, the shift meant that the groups changed subtly, and it was a chance to take stock and think ...
St. George, Maine Death Cafe VII Write up
Posted by Sylvia Sienikehä Elysiana on June 27, 2016, 2:08 p.m.
Intimate, lively gathering.
Tampa Death Cafe Write up
Posted by Cat Martin on June 27, 2016, 8:52 a.m.
Cake, coffee, and a wide ranging conversation were enjoyed by the 3 of us.
Calgary Death Cafe Write up
Posted by Death Cafe Calgary on June 26, 2016, 7:53 p.m.
The sign of a great Death Café is one where the participants are so engaged that the noise level is the biggest complaint on the evaluations. This was the experience of the 23 guests at the Death Café held at Good Earth near Westhills in Calgary. Diverse ages, genders, and cultures were present to discuss death, the one thing we all have in common. It was a wonderful turnout for a sunny afternoon in June. Many of the guests were first-time attendees with the promise of return visits. Death Cafés will return in Calgary in October 2016.