Death Cafe write-ups
Our small, but consistent Death Cafe group had another very informative meeting. As we are not really getting that many new members and we pretty much know each other's story, we decided that for our June Meeting we will each watch the movie "Wit" with Emma Thompson before the meeting
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8IyEsnzH1uE
Highcliffe Death Cafe Write up
Posted by lis.horwich on June 26, 2014, 9:02 a.m.
A very unique selection of women were talking about death and dying; we were a soul midwife, a counsellor, a Macmillan carer, one had been touched by death in her family many times (and near death), another has always worked in a caring role among dying people etc. We shared many outlooks on death and all wish the way death is being dealth with in this country in hospitals would be changed very soon - we are looking for the individual to be listened to, the soul to emerge and shine!
Our death café is a living mirror of the conversation. When we met yesterday for our sixth monthly meeting, the group had familiar faces and new ones. As we introduced ourselves and the conversation started there were themes that have come up before and new ideas.
Last night fear seemed to speak to everyone in the room, or rather why fear? Isn’t fear, after all, a choice? Who decided that death had to be negative and scary? Is it possible to not only accept death, but view it as a reward, a possibility?
These opening questions led to an inspired conversation about how fear of death limits ...
Death Cafe at Cafe Rouge, Hampstead, London, UK Write up
Posted by Josefine Speyer on June 24, 2014, 12:24 a.m. 1 comment
Our 13th Death Café was held on 9 June 2014 at Café Rouge in Hampstead, We had a full house! Sharon, Philomena, Heidi, Bernie and Caroline facilitated tables with me. It was a good evening. We had two journalists attending, Conxa writes for El Mundo and Anna wrote an article for Vice magazine online. There is a link to Anna’s article at the end of this write up. Conxa’s article is not published yet. The format for the evening was as before in two parts: To begin with conversations around small tables, each with a facilitator who also takes part as a participant. And after a ...
Death Cafe at Cafe Rouge in Hampstead, London Write up
Posted by Josefine Speyer on June 23, 2014, 11:41 p.m.
The first Death Cafe we held at this venue was over a year ago in April 2013. On 12 May 2014 we celebrated our first year of Death Café at Café Rouge during 'Dying Matters Awareness Week'. (No Death Cafe in April this year.) Four journalists attended this Death Cafe, bringing with them two photographers. Almost everyone was willing to be photographed. The event was a lively occasion. Every seat was taken. Over the year we have built quite a community of people attending regularly, several of them willing to facilitate one of the tables.
Sadly one regular attendee who was much cherished had died. She had ...
Filmed Death Cafe at Cafe Rouge, Hampstead, London, UK Write up
Posted by Josefine Speyer on June 23, 2014, 11:40 p.m.
We hold monthly Death Cafes at Cafe Rouge in Hampstead. April would have been our first anniversary there, but there was no Death Cafe in April this year. So our we celebrated the anniversary in May. The date fell on Monday 12 May and was part of Dying Matters Awareness Week 2014. So we advertised it as part of that and held it during the afternoon. That Death ACfe got fully booked. This, second Death Cafe of the day, our 13th Death Cafe, was held in the evening of 12 May 2014 and specially put on so it could be filmed for a South Korean TV documentary ‘Dying ...
It was a pleasure to attend this meeting. Interesting viewpoints from everyone present.
I spoke of an obituary in the NYT for a woman who ended her life as she neared the end of Alzeimer's and saw a link here on the Death Cafe site. Here is a story from NPR about her: http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2014/06/23/323330486/how-a-womans-plan-to-kill-herself-helped-her-family-grieve
Thank you Nancy for hosting and I hope to see the group next month. It is so important for us to talk about death and "mainstream" it so that some of the taboos and fears that surround it can start to lessen for ...
Ann Arbor Death Cafe Write up
Posted by Merilynne Rush on June 23, 2014, 10:54 a.m. 1 comment
We had a particularly wonderful cafe last Saturday. Eighteen people attended and most (13) were there for the first time. Here's the follow up email I sent out to those who attended:
Dear Friends,
We had our 5th Lawrence Death Cafe at Personal Power Pilates Studio this past Saturday and were fortunate to have a reporter from the Lawrence Journal World (our local newspaper) with us to write a story. Richard Gwin, lead photographer for the L.J.World also came and took many photographs we plan to share on our Lawrence Death Cafe, Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Lawrence-Death-Cafe/520304204753986
soon. The article will be coming out on Sunday, June 29th, 2014. Since starting the Lawrence Death Cafe in February, 2014 each monthly gathering has been well attended, inspiring and rewarding. We hope our new library will be a ...
Death Cafe of Metro Denver Write up
Posted by Robert Mitton on June 22, 2014, 3:22 p.m. 1 comment
I only live one block away from Strange Grounds, but holding such a meeting so early in the day, as was done today, is just too early for me to make it there.
Hopefully the next one will be later in the afternoon or in the evening!
Today the entire group consisted of newcomers, gathering for their first experience of a Death Cafe. And what an interesting mixture of thoughts and experiences we shared. Topics discussed were: creative ways to celebrate and remember a loved one, with special focus on keeping memories alive for young children throughout their lives; spiritual beliefs, spiritualism, experiencing the loss of a child, how we explain the complex issue of death to a child, and when to discuss this; why we find death so difficult to talk about, helpful and unhelpful responses in bereavement.
I am deeply grateful for the generous sharing of thoughts and experiences today, and look forward ...
Death Cafe Hong Kong Write up
Posted by Carmen Yau on June 19, 2014, 10:54 p.m.
The first Death Café Hong Kong we held on 14 June, 2014 at the Bijas vegetarian restaurant at the University of Hong Kong was historical and international event. With the support from Faculty of Social Sciences, The University of Hong Kong as the activating organization of this event, there were 40 participants from New Zealand, Netherlands, Singapore, US, Taiwan as well as nurse student, social workers and helping professionals in Hong Kong. Also, it was so great to have Lizzy Miles, Megan Mooney to join us. Although some locals were unable to speak English, some participants volunteered to translate in order to ensure the conversation and discussion ...
June is a tough month to schedule in San Diego. It seems as if every Saturday is already filled to brimming with graduations in our College town!
But, as others here have noted, it is definitely possible to have a Death cafe with the facilitator and one participant. Initially, Tom asked me if we were gong to proceed. I responded by asking him why he had come, and he said he had 4 stories and a question. Those experiences and wisdom gained from them carried us through the time allotted. Like so many other attendees, he commented that the Death Cafe allows for an open exchange of ideas ...
Death Cafe - Sydney Write up
Posted by April Lewis on June 15, 2014, 2:42 a.m.
" After participating in the Death Cafe this afternoon I was left with plenty of food for thought. Death is not a mundane subject of conversation by any means, but to participate in a group conversation about it is certainly thought provoking. I walked away today with some very interesting impressions of different perceptions death in the people around me. Confronting and mind opening. Thanks for a unique experience." (Nathan)
Death Cafe Auburn CA Write up
Posted by Cindie Wilding on June 14, 2014, 3:11 p.m.
There was plenty of food for thought - along with cake, cookies and iced-tea – at Death Café Auburn on Tuesday evening. (Special thanks to Sally for the luscious, home-made sheet cakes!) Among our group of about 14, we had several familiar voices and a few new ones added to the mix. We appreciate the consistent number of repeat attendees and hope that this indicates an increasing comfort level with the stimulating topics of conversation. When you come back again, it says that you find these gatherings beneficial, which is GREAT! We can all consider ourselves to be part of the movement to normalize death. If you experience an uplifting ...