Death Cafe write-ups
Herne Hill Death Cafe Write up
Posted by annkenrick on Oct. 17, 2024, 7:31 a.m.
Report on Death Café in the Carnegie Library, Herne Hill on 15th October 2024
Around twenty people of all ages gathered – all apart from one had not attended a Death Café in the past.
We divided into two groups and the discussion included:
· Different funerals (and living funerals) and how important it was for those present to have one that reflected their life and personality. Remember that the funeral is for those left behind as well as the person who has died
· In an increasingly secular society where do we mourn our dead? – some had parents who had wanted a church funeral even if they were not ...
Central Houston’s Monthly Death Cafe - October 2024 Write up
Posted by Houston Death Cafe on Oct. 12, 2024, 9:49 p.m.
Central Houston's October 2024 Death Cafe
We had about 20 people attend this month's high energy discussion!
Below you can find links to various things mentioned during the dialogue:
Local events and groups:
- Houston Zen Center: Preparing for Your Own Death class: https://houstonzen.org/classes/preparing-for-your-own-death-1
- Bo's Place: https://www.bosplace.org/en/
- The Jung Center: https://junghouston.org/
- Community for Conscious Aging: https://www.communityforconsciousaging.org/
- Free West University Aging Solo workshop (this is offered several time throughout the year):
https://www.amazingplacehouston.org/community-education/aging-solo/
Books
- 7 Lessons for Living from the Dying: How to Nurture What Really Matters by Karen M ...
Death Cafe Iowa Write up
Posted by DeathCafeIowa on Oct. 8, 2024, 10:43 a.m.
Our most recent Death Café was held September 17th and had 3 people in attendance. Due to there being only 3 of us this time around, we did have quite a short meeting this month ☹ We touched on a handful of topics, beginning with the planning of your funeral and how this pre-planning may benefit or take away from your family’s experience. However, the bulk of our conversation actually surrounded body donation! With one of our attendees having chosen this, the recent horror stories in Texas of unclaimed deceased being illegally sold had naturally been on their mind. We then ended our conversation with how all ...
As our September Death Café commenced in our usual meeting space, the Creative Library, I was struck by the fact that it seemed as though it was only yesterday that we had met as a group. Which then made me think of the passage of time, and how our understanding and experience of that seems to change across the lifespan, that is, as we live out our lives. Why is this, I wonder? Is it time that changes, or is it us? Is it our changing sense of self which in turn seeps into our way of being in the world/ which is the cause?
This metaphysical musing ...
Death Cafe North Canterbury NZ Write up
Posted by Death Cafe North Canterbury, Aotearoa New Zealand on Oct. 1, 2024, 2:37 a.m.
It was a sunny but cold winter day today in Amberley and we had five people – two couples, and the conversation was lively and robust. After sharing thoughts and musings, and general kōrero, we honed in on two main questions – what do you do when your loved one dies? Bluntly put: “if I wake up and my partner has died, what do I do?” We travelled down the ‘expected death’ pathway and the ‘unexpected death’ pathway. The other discussion was around natural burials, eco burials and green burials – what are they? What are the differences? And where in Canterbury can these happen?
Great stuff!
Until again, Liz
The Huntington Beach, CA Zen Den Death Cafe - Write up
Posted by Lisa Stuhley on Sept. 22, 2024, 4:12 p.m.
This was my first time hosting a Death Cafe after attending many over the years and I was very happy with it! We had about 6 people and everyone was excited to learn more about the process of the Death Cafe. Everyone took time to share and it became a very natural round robin conversation. There were light and fluffy subjects to very heavy and all were held in the space beautifully and met with acceptance.
Swanage Death Cafe Write up
Posted by peterneall on Sept. 18, 2024, 2:36 p.m.
A slightly smaller group than previously met with Lucinda and Peter Neall in the friendly premisses of The Loft COmmunity Centre. Peter's homemade chocolate cake is becoming legendary!
As before there were a. couple of folk who had had no previous experience of a Death Cafe, they were surprised at their own honesty and the depth to which they quickly allowed themselves to go 'with complete strangers'.
As we get used to one another the conversation is less about others, and more intimate and I think, more healthy.
We will meet again in a month or so.
Central Houston’s Monthly Death Cafe - September 2024 Write up
Posted by Houston Death Cafe on Sept. 13, 2024, 9:18 p.m. 4 comments
Central Houston's September 2024 Death Cafe
We were so happy to be hosted by Omega House Hospice in Montrose this month! Over 20 folks were in attendance, from all ages and walks of life. What an incredible group and conversation together.
Below you can find links to various things mentioned during the dialogue:
Local events and groups:
- Houston Zen Center: Preparing for Your Own Death class:
https://houstonzen.org/classes/preparing-for-your-own-death-1
- Texas A&M University Stevenson Companion Animal Life-Care Center:
https://vetmed.tamu.edu/stevenson-center/
Books
- Walking Each Other Home: Conversations on Loving and Dying by Ram Dass
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/39346786-walking-each-other-home?ref=nav_sb_ss_1_23 ...
I had my first Death Cafe 9/7/24. It was was well attended and well received. It was free flowing without an agenda. There was in depth and thoughttful discussion around death and dying and living. I'm hoping to have one every two months. I was very encouraged by the feedback I received.
Becki Mudgett
Fort Collins, CO
Huntly Death Cafe Write up
Posted by Grampian_Death_Cafe on Sept. 8, 2024, 1:02 p.m.
We had an unexpectedly lively meeting with three first-time members contributing to the lively discussion.
Our August Death Café took place on the eve of Spring, with locals and tourists alike thronging the surrounds of the library. Above them, a small group of people were gathering together to talk about a shared interest and curiosity; death.
Our conversation was spirited, especially when the work of Carl Jung and theoretical quantum physicist Wolfgang Pauli was discussed. From the lofty realms of the archetypal unconscious to Ray Martin’s TV series, The Last Goodbye, Death Café did not disappoint. Other topics discussed included the role that black humour and death jokes play as a coping mechanism when grieving, and, thinking about our end of life ...
Los Angeles Death Cafe Write up
Posted by janemiller18 on Sept. 3, 2024, 12:06 a.m.
Had about 20 people show up! lovely weather. I wonder if I want to cap these somehow -- it's amazing to see so much interest, but tricky to have a real group conversation with that many people. super friendly, earnest group.
City of Roses Death Cafe Portland OR Write up
Posted by nomenoyou1 on Sept. 1, 2024, 10:32 p.m.
18 of us gathered in the Sun Room of the Leaven Community on Northeast Killingsworth for our 17th consecutive monthly Death Cafe. We broke out into two tables for a free-flowing discussion as well as tea, carrot cake, and vegan cookies.
At my table we talked at length about the difficulties of coping with the death of a family member who was not loving or was abusive. One person offered a moving description of her near death experience. We discussed the difficulties of assuring that our advance directives for end of life care are actually repsected by care providers. Several expressed concern about the challenges of ending life ...
Death Cafe Northside Write up
Posted by Carmel OBeirne on Aug. 24, 2024, 5:25 a.m.
Thanks to the nine people who attended our Death Over Brunch in Northcote recently. The cafe atmosphere was a little noisy however we still managed to connect our hearts as we shared stories and pondered on everything end of life and death.
We now have a small group of inspiring humans who are wanting to run with these conversations and see how many different groups we can impact ....opening the conversation around death.
I am looking forward to watching where this leads .
Each time Death Café convenes, and because attendees bring different life experiences with them and different questions, the overall ‘tone’ has a distinctive ‘note’. Not only that, but it never ceases to astound me at Death Café, at how generously people share in such a frank way, intimate and very personal aspects of their life, their knowledge and understanding of end-of-life matters, and their spiritual belief systems. And our July Death Café was no exception.
In addition to chatting about ‘all things death’, a focus of discussion was death education and associated extracurricular activities, which was embraced with great enthusiasm. A recent online post (https://www.abc.net ...