Death Cafe write-ups
Death Cafe - Warren Write up
Posted by gloriamcunningham on Feb. 20, 2019, 11:49 a.m.
We are sorry to see Stephanie leave our hosting team for Death Cafe- Warren. Though we are happy for her as her life is filled with her work in Hospice and a new marraige.
We are pleased to announce that we have a new member of our host team. Welcome Joe Knight! Joe is a Board Member for the National End-of-Life Doula Association, a Certified Medical Hypnotherapist and an End of Life Doula. We are looking forward to gain from your expertise and wonderful energy.
November saw the fifth meeting of the Colliers Wood Death Café. Kevin and I co-hosted the event which was attended by three people who had been before, and one person who was attending for the first time.
Our discussion began with some reflections on the experience of watching a parent become seriously unwell before rallying and normal life resuming, contrary to medical opinion and prognosis.
We talked about the impact of watching someone get seriously ill, and ideas around Bucket Lists and the revision of priorities should time suddenly feel short. We shared our own experience of gaining clarity about what’s important, and what’s not, and ...
Bali Death Cafe Write up
Posted by Helen Joanna on Feb. 19, 2019, 5 a.m.
We gathered on a cloudy afternoon at the Bridge space in Bali, halfway through the electricity went out which only added to the feeling of intimacy that had been growing. We had a mid-sized group of 10 people.
We mostly discussed our thoughts and feelings towards having conversations with loved ones about wishes for our own deaths and how to possibly initiate that conversation. Another topic that we touched on was how each person felt about their mortality, and how precious seizing the present moment is.
Death Cafe Cave Creek Write up
Posted by nancyreecejones on Feb. 14, 2019, 5:18 p.m.
With 15 participants plus myself, this was one of the largest Death Cafes I've facilitated. It was also the first one held at the Desert Foothills Library, which is an outstanding facility with a vibrant community (hence the large turnout). As is typical for Death Cafes, we had lively, interesting discussions on topics such as the difference between resignation and acceptance, how to talk to those recently bereaved, and how dying can be a time of deep processing--even when the dying person is unconscious--at a level the living don't fully appreciate. Really looking forward to March's gathering!
Three of us held a sustained conversation about the experience of "emptiness" related to death and loss.
18 people convened around two tables to explore, share and ruminate about topics related to death ... and life.
This was the second Death Cafe hosted collaboratively by the Library and the Berks County partners' network of the Pennsylvania Link to Aging and Disability Resources.
Amongst those assembled were first-time participants and several who've sat in on previous Berks County Death Cafes.
Several of those were friends of Judy. Judy attended every previous Berks County Death Cafe; afflicted by breast cancer, she died on January 2, 2019.
Judy, this one is for you.
East Kent Death Cafe Pop Up Write up
Posted by EastKentPopUp on Feb. 7, 2019, 12:20 p.m.
There were eight of us this evening and everybody contributed to the conversation in some way. We talked about:
- not being able to discuss the fact that we're dying with our friends and family and wanting to be heard, how important it is for people to be comfortable when we want to talk and how it feels to be shut down;
- someone dying in the family and no one talking about it;
- different funerals from around the world and how different cultures deal with death and whether or not that makes them more at peace with death;
- how the Victorians used to almost celebrate death and that ...
Six of us last night at Interzone had a powerful discussion focused on the holocaust and other atrocities. The reflections were personal, searching, at times disturbing, ending on a relatively uplifting note.
Death Cafe Edmonton Write up
Posted by Gina Vliet on Feb. 3, 2019, 12:15 a.m.
New Year, new venue for us this Winter Wednesday night, January 30, 2019, and a conversation circle made up of local Edmontonians as well as people travelling in from St. Albert, Leduc, and Stony Plain. The meetup was lively and at times emotional, as we discussed for starters, did we want to die alone or surrounded by people. We talked about the sacredness of witnessing a loved one’s death, and how some would prefer for themselves that this last rite of passage be by invitation only.
This led to conversation about Near Death Experiences (NDE’s) from both the scientific and personal experience perspectives. Then some attendees ...
Death Cafe Wien Write up
Posted by Alexandra Kleinheinz on Jan. 30, 2019, 8:18 a.m.
So könnte ein Motto für das Death Cafe lauten, wenn wir eines bräuchten. Für unsere Jänner-Edition hatten sich sieben TeilnehmerInnen angemeldet – gekommen sind zwölf. Ein sehr persönlicher Austausch von unterschiedlichen Perspektiven und Erfahrungen verdichtete sich schnell und bewegte und berührte uns alle. Die Zeit verging wie im Flug, die Erzählungen waren sehr persönlich. Immer wieder beeindruckt mich die Offenheit und Ungeschminktheit mit der sich fremde Menschen im Death Cafe begegnen. Ein Teilnehmer berichtete von der letzten intensiven Zeit mit seiner Mutter – er hat sie beim Sterben begleitet. Berichte von der eigenen Todessehnsucht, Empörung über den Tod und ...
Встреча началась с обсуждения философских взглядов на смерть, затем участники поделились пожеланиями применительно к собственной кончине. Как всегда не обошли тему потери близких. Поговорили о том, как нас меняют утраты и близость собственной смерти. О том, что смерть неожиданно становится реальностью и именно это позволяет нам, людям, особенно остро чувствовать жизнь!
С нетерпением ждем новой встречи, через месяц
PS. Один из участников презентовал проекту козлиный череп. И теперь он станет нашим талисманом:)
Greetings, Death Positive People!
Our January 9th Death Café – Hillsborough (DC-H) was a positive and stimulating way to start off 2019! What a great group of 16 interesting folks! Thank you to those who came. Below is a summary of our discussions (links included, different subjects marked with an ‘*’) followed by a couple of relevant events, then details about the next DC-H on 02/13/2019.
Here are some of the many questions asked that we explored: *Geri asked if any had felt the presence of, or seen signs from, someone who died that you had known; *Heather asked if anyone had had a dream in which ...
So what a great assembly of interesting people we had today.
27 interesting people with wonderful contributions coupled with special table facilitators, delicious cakes and coffee and tea presented by the delightful team at the Long Community proved to be a magical two hours.
During the wrap-up, one chimed, "Why can't we go for three hours?"
It was a great question, and we'll look at that the next time.
Today's Death Cafe participants included several people who've been at previous Death Cafes and several who had not. The overall feeling is that this Death Cafe, indeed, was an afternoon well invested.
Everyone wants to ...
Williams Lake Death Cafe Write up
Posted by Cariboo Community Deathcaring Network on Jan. 24, 2019, 8:48 a.m.
Fourteen people attended our first Death Cafe of the new year. Looking forward to our next one on February 8th
Death Cafe Tunbridge Wells Write up
Posted by carmeldunmall on Jan. 23, 2019, 12:23 p.m.
We met again at the Trinity. 11 of us attended, there was lively conversation. We discussed DNR, types of buriel, confronting serious illness and death, bereavement and touched on beliefs concerning the after life. There was a warmth and acceptance within the group. An enjoyable afternoon.