Death Cafe write-ups
A write-up for Marrickville Death Cafe - April.
Our Death Café this month took place on Anzac Day. It was the 100th year celebration, and the ensuing week of media coverage and related conversation was rivaled by that of the attendees at Death Café Marrickville!
Discussion included news of Australia’s first body farm, the Australian Facility for Taphonomic Experimental Research, which is to be located on a 48-hectare bush site in the lower Blue Mountains, an upcoming public lecture, Naming the Dead, featuring forensic scientists reporting on recent research, and the coming to Australia of the irrepressible Caitlin Doughty, mortician extraordinaire who will be speaking at a ...
First Castlemaine Death Cafe Write up
Posted by DeathCafeCastlemaine on April 25, 2015, 11:43 p.m.
Sixteen attended. After opening remarks on the Death Café concept, we broke into two groups. The topics discussed included:
- Current and past personal experiences with the death and dying of relatives and friends,
- Society’s avoidance of and the “medicalisation” of death and dying (and birth!),
- A local initiative for holistic funerals and disposal of the remains,
- Reflections from one attendee who is a funeral celebrant,
- Hopes of “euphoric” and “aesthetic” deaths,
- “Conscious Ageing”,
- The concept of wakes before you die and leaving possessions,
- Humorous stories about life experiences,
- Reflections from one attendee who heads the regional palliative care services,
- End of life planning,
- Remembering and grieving.
We ...
Another Death Cafe under our belts! One of the attendees researched articles and brought them for discussion. We talked about Steve Jobs last words, Roger Ebert's glimpse of the afterlife, the boy who lived as an actor in the 30's and a local article about 3 prominent suicides. I love hearing others thoughts on these topics. There was a young man and woman that atended (early 20's) and it was so wonderful to hear their thoughts and views on death. I'm in my 60's and death was the last thing I was thinking about when I was that age!
The conversation was lively, animated, thoughtful, and engaging. One visitor traveled 2 hours to join in the conversation, and half of the group were first time attendees.
To the question, "What are three words to describe the Cafe experience?" attendees wrote...
Enlightening, thought provoking, a feeling of connectedness
Comfortable/warm, clarifying and open
Engaging, comfortable and insightful
A wonderful afternoon and a great experience!
Seaside Death Cafe in Encinitas, CA Write up
Posted by carolineboaz on April 19, 2015, 10:39 p.m.
We had an 18 year old participant at this cafe'. He is a senior in high school. I made sure he could be without his cell phone for 2 hours and he said he would certainly try. This young man sat with a group of elder gentlemen and they said he particpated well. He told me he enjoyed the conversation and would certainly be sharing the experience with his friends when he returned home to Wisconsin. What a great thing to do on your spring break! Bravo to our youngest guest.
Providence Death Cafe Write up
Posted by Cassandra Tribe on April 17, 2015, 5:35 a.m.
Ah...last night was something different yet again. The tale of a recent crow funeral witnessed open the evening to much talk about the necessity of connecting to others - not to heal, but too be heard. Personal worries, fears and hopes were shared. Much laughter abounded and the cake was good. One of the main topics of last night was how you try to learn to live with being happy and engaged in life, while waking up every morning to the extreme disappointment of having to struggle on through another dayof chronic pain - both emotional and physical. It was National Semi Colon day, a day that recognizes the ...
Death Cafe Niagara Write up
Posted by Oakwood Cemetery on April 16, 2015, 2:06 p.m.
Nice meeting on April 9th. We are finding that a group below 20 people is about the right size. We had 13 at this meeting. It's more intimate and we are able to exchange thoughts and stories better.
The meeting started with someone whose brother had committed suicide in January. He is still trying to grapple with the scope of it all. He is not happy with judgmental people telling him how suicide is selfish, or against a religion. He is happy for his brother's release from his pain. Interesting conversation.
Michelle had a few great conversation starters....when did you feel the most alive ...
Highcliffe Death Cafe Write up
Posted by Lis Horwich on April 15, 2015, 11:12 a.m.
Highcliffe Death Café never has a dull moment. This week 2 cafés were hosted the same week.
Monday evening saw 4 new members; it became a very colourful evening with great philosophical discussions taken place. Many references to books, films and Youtube were given, recommend you to watch: 9 TEDTalks with new ways to think about death.
Wednesday afternoon had visits from The Daily Echo, a journalist taking notes and asking many question of us all, the photographer snapping away for a while.
Weekly I’m approached by people from both north and south of the country asking how to set up a café – wonderful we are ...
Canterbury Death Cafe Write up
Posted by AdrianAdams on April 14, 2015, 5:52 a.m.
It was great to see so many people at the Death Café on Tuesday 31st March. Many more than we had anticipated, as you could tell from the size of the room we had booked!
Thanks for all of your feedback, which we will use for planning our next event.
From your suggestions we intend to hold a Death Café in Canterbury 4 times a year
We will also be sourcing a café space in the centre of Canterbury that can accommodate up to 40 people with 5 tables of up to 8.
We will also provide some introductions to our conversations and suggest some topics for each ...
Denver Death Cafe March 2015 Write up
Posted by Anita Larson on April 13, 2015, 3:20 p.m.
Denver Death Café Summary
March 15, 2015
Thank you to Charlene Mason with Porter Place for hosting the March 2015 Denver Death Café and placing a beautiful color ad in the Wash Park Profile newspaper. One long-time, regular attendee brought delicious homemade chocolate chip cookies! She also brought “to-go” bags for everyone to take some home. You’ll meet the nicest people at a Death Café!
Sir Terry Pratchett, master of humorous fantasy and British Author died on March 12th and there was discussion around his life and Obituary.
“I came to the Denver Death Café eight months ago and now I am eight months closer to ...
Cowichan Valley Death Cafe Write up
Posted by Cowichan Valley B.C. Death Cafe on April 13, 2015, 1:58 a.m.
We have agreed to collect and post the big generative questions we have/find about death and dying. Here are our "beginnings" :
“It is better to know some of the questions than all of the answers”
James Thurber
COWICHAN VALLEY DEATH CAFE
ASKING THE “BIG” QUESTIONS
WHEN I THINK ABOUT DEATH AND DYING I WONDER….
Do you think ...
japanese Death Poems
written by Zen Monks & Haiku Poets on the verge of death.
compiled & commentary by Yoel Hoffman
1986 Charles E Tuttle Co.
ISBN 0-8048-1505-4
also huge thanks to Jet For an amazingly inspiring evening!
A lovely, relaxed and well-facilitated evening, of 22 people around four tables. Plenty of deep, meaningful, intimate, funny and touching conversations, quotes, poems, ideas, yummy cake and plenty of hot drinks. All participants seemed to enjoy the evening and most wanted to return for more.
Pretty good for my first time organising. It could not have worked as smoothly without the support and skills of the five facilitators who did an excellent job. Thank you all.
Arrived flustered, late with batteries for my hearing aid exhausted. Then the thought occurred to me how do I find the death cafe group too embarrassed to ask for the death cafe group. Then I had inspiration asked for “any groups here tonight? Yes in the corner.
I could not believe my eyes four young people; timidly I asked is this the death cafe group and was reassured I had found the correct group.
We had a very interesting discussion on death and funerals, before I know it was time to leave. I am looking foewared to the next meeting. With fresh batteries and hopefully on time.
The third Death Cafe Des Moines was held on 12-14-2014 at Java Joes Theatre, 214 4th Street, DSM, Iowa, 50309. The Death Cafe started at 4pm with delicious chocolate cake and coffee. Carrie England and Ryan Fredregill co-faciliated. There were eight participants all attending a Death Cafe for the first time. The group consisted of five women and 2 men ages 25 to 74. Participants identified on their evaluation forms that they heard about the Death Cafe from a friend, Facebook, and one participant saw a flyer in a health food store. Participants were given a handout with a brief Death Cafe history and a list of principles ...