Death Cafe write-ups
On Sunday October 19th, the Death Cafe met with 12 attending. There was much discussion of suicide and assisted suicide inspired by a 29 year old woman named Brittany who has chosen to end her life next month as the result of being diagnosed with a virulent form of brain cancer.
Our gathering was enhanced with a gluten free dessert and fresh fruit; evaluation comments included responses to the question "What was the most enjoyable aspect of the Cafe?"
- It is inspiring to talk to others
- Our participation
- Enjoyed topic starter and how the conversation just flowed
- Open conversation about a difficult subject
- Safe enviroment to discuss death ...
Westport Death Cafe Write up
Posted by Val Lovelace on Oct. 23, 2014, 8:35 p.m.
It's been raining here for a few days now, and tonight was pretty awful. Even so, three brave souls ventured out into the wind and rain to talk about death...and life...and breathing...and near death experiences...and suicide...and...
One man spoke of a severe accident he had some years ago and how his father came to tell him he couldn't die yet, that he still had things to do.
Conversation drifted toward other NDE experiences we had heard about and wondering what role our minds and our souls play in things that happen. We all agreed that if we have guardian angels that ...
[hi. I think I already submitted this, but here goes again.]
Thanks to the 45 engaged people who turned up to participate actively in the Death Cafe! The room was buzzing with conversations. We talked in small groups about end-of-life choices, hospice care, our own fears about dying, our experiences being with family/friends who have died and much more. A worthwhile evening -- and the promised cakes were amazing! We plan to offer more Death Cafes on the South Shore -- keep your eyes open for notices. Join the Mahone Bay Centre (free) to receive the monthly events newsletter for announcements of related events to be held there.
Longmont Death Cafe Write up
Posted by Death Doula on Oct. 23, 2014, 8:16 a.m.
We had a very lively meeting with brilliance sparking all over the place. I so enjoyed the conversation, as we went deep quickly and covered a LOT of terraine. Big Thank YOU to the book club ladies. Hope to see you in November - bring your friends!
SW London Death Cafe Write up
Posted by Suzanne Michal on Oct. 21, 2014, 5:24 a.m.
The discussion this month naturally evolved around the weight of treating death as a taboo. Why do we do it and the many different costs for such a cultural attitude.
We wondered if it could be a legacy from the mediaval plague, how death and bereavement make us face our human limitations and emotional limitations...
Some were open in sharing about spiritual and near death experiences whilst others retained a more sceptical and down to eath attitude to death. All those shared views and experiences cohabited perfectly and easily in the most nourishing manner.
As always, despite meeting total strangers, it feels like meeting old friends with whom ...
Providence Death Cafe Write up
Posted by Cassandra Tribe on Oct. 16, 2014, 9:24 p.m. 1 comment
It was a dark and stormy night - the kind where no self respecting Rhode Islander travels ten feet without bread and milk. Seven brave souls braved the elements to come out for the first Providence Death Cafe, including one from the far away land of Worcester, MA. They entered into a brightly lit chamber echoing with the eerie, slightly creepy, and very ironic sounds of the Laughing Yoga group that was just finishing up. They sat down to talk death and eat cake. The cake scored a 10 out of 10 on a scale that only offered 1 through 5. The fruit disappeared like magic. Conversations ranged from ...
Our first rappahannock county Death Cafe' was well recieved by our rural community. 17 folks came and participated in an engaging format. There are only 6-7 thousand people in our whole county, so I was pleased to have so much turn out. Everyone expressed gratitude at having a forum to discuss this important subject. One participant stated that her only concern was that we had to wait another whole month to get together again! Valuable feedback was recieved from the participants for our future gatherings. We ate delicious cake, drank herbal tea and left looking forward to our next event.
Thanks to the 45 engaged people who turned up to participate actively in the Death Cafe! The room was buzzing with conversations. We talked in small groups about end-of-life choices, hospice care, our own fears about dying, our experiences being with family/friends who have died and much more. A worthwhile evening -- and the promised cakes were amazing! We plan to offer more Death Cafes on the South Shore -- keep your eyes open for notices. Join the Mahone Bay Centre (free) to receive the monthly events newsletter for announcements of related events to be held at the Centre.
Highcliffe Death Cafe Write up
Posted by Lis Horwich on Oct. 15, 2014, 11:21 a.m.
Today's Death Cafe had to move indoors, first one hosted indoors.
With 4 new members we had some fasinating discussions as we differed in opnions on afterlife, suicide, Karma and much else. A warm and loving respect was easily kept between us all. Mail Online article from 28th Sep 2014: Australia's Dr Death starts UK "Suicide club" was looked at too.http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2772209/Australias-Dr-Death-starts-UK-suicide-club-Workshops-online-guide-cause-endless-tragedies.html
Death Cafe Bristol Write up
Posted by Emma Edwards on Oct. 13, 2014, 7 a.m.
Caleb Parkin writes about his first experience of a Death Cafe after attending the Bristol Death Cafe on the 7th September 2014:
Out from the bright Sunday sun and down the steps, onto a bright carpet of flowers, a bright carpet of flowery crockery, atop immaculately laid tables. We’re here, among these far-from-funeral blooms, to meet new people, drink tea, eat cake and talk about death. Err, why?
The talk flows from the teapots and between us: of what we think this ‘death’ thing is; of what we’d like to happen for our own funerals, when we shuffle-off, tune-out, move on, or whatever other euphemism you ...
16th Death Cafe Hampstead, London, UK Write up
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 ...
Denver Death Cafe-September Write up
Posted by Anita Larson on Oct. 9, 2014, 5:52 p.m.
Denver Death Café Summary
September 28, 2014
Many thanks to Denver Hospice for hosting the September Denver Death Cafe and providing refreshments. Thank you to Jill Headbloom for donating the cake with the beautiful rainbow on it. When we were leaving the Death Café it was raining and what did we see? A beautiful, big rainbow!
Anita Larson opened the meeting by sharing her thoughts and experiences over the past year of facilitating the Death Café sessions. “This month we are celebrating our one year Anniversary. I learn something new every single time. Everyone is so respectful with their opinions and conversations. We have had so much media ...
Keyport Death Cafe Write up
Posted by mrsbbradley on Oct. 9, 2014, 5:47 a.m.
The first ever Death Cafe in Keyport, NJ was held on October 5, 2014. We had two facilatators and seven participants come to the event. There was a lively conversation which moved from serious subjects to uproarious laughter and back again.
Participants offered that they enjoyed the event and would definitely be interested in joining in again, which we plan to do in early December!
Death Cafe, Brisbane, Queensland Write up
Posted by Beth OBrien on Oct. 4, 2014, 10:40 p.m.
Had an indepth discussion about the topic of people wishing to die at home, and how that could happen. This was a conversation stemming from the new report by "Grattan Institute" called Dying Well. The report is at http://grattan.edu.au/publications/reports/.
We also discussed the social media site called Dead Social, on saying goodbye to your friends on Facebook and Twitter. http://www.deadsoci.al/
As usual an interesting chat all round.
Tuonen Tupa- Death Cafe Write up
Posted by kmarttinen on Oct. 4, 2014, 9:58 a.m.
The supposedly first Death Cafe in Finland - Tuonen Tupa was arranged today in Lappeenranta. Being such a new idea and as media got interested early on, the attendance was about 50 people. Also this first meeting was probably more informative, discussed what this type of activity is about. Much of the conversation started today will continue next month. This many people cannot get conversation flowing and everyone's voice heard. It's expected that the group will be smaller next time and we can continue to talk and drink coffee. After the Death Cafe, young musicians, Minna Mänttäri and Seppo Äikäs, who had composed and ...