Death Cafe write-ups
Online Death Cafe Cymru BST Write up
Posted by Sarah Hillcoat on Nov. 17, 2021, 9:41 a.m.
This, our third Death Café Cymru, had several overseas contributors for the first time, which was a welcome development. We, the organisers, noted a great diversity in our approaches to death and dying.
Topics raised included: 1. End of life: recognising the signs; supporting the dying; letting go; the role of the professional (e.g. the death doula); and 2. Our own mortality: preparing for, and thoughts about death, spirituality and the afterlife.
Feedback included the following comments: supportive space – refreshing discussion – good to share – listening is good – strangers but feel we know each other – please carry on.
Sarah Hillcoat and Brigid Haines
Online Death Cafe Manila November Meetup Write up
Posted by mamiyocamille on Nov. 13, 2021, 1:26 a.m.
We had a small group today but it proved to be a great session. After our initial introductions and reviewing of death cafe guidelines, the participants talked about why we were there and our relationship with death. We started out by bringing up society's relationship with death and how it's hard to talk about.
We talked about death and what thoughts and emotions come up for us when we hear the word death. We briefly touched upon whether or not we have thoughts on the after life. Some had thoughts that there is not life after death whereas others thought the question of an afterlife wasn ...
Monday night was Louth’s first Death Cafe.
It was nerve wracking waiting to see if anyone would turn up but by kick off time at 7pm, people had arrived - all wondering what they’d come to.
Kate began the session with a brief background to Death Cafe, its origins ten years ago and subsequent spread worldwide.
After that, everyone was invited to introduce themselves and say something about why they had come along.
What followed was interesting and thought provoking. There were different reasons for coming, some wanting to share experience, others simply wanting to find out more about a subject that feels so avoided in our ...
A Death Café was held in the learning commons on the evening on October 25th. 10 students, teachers, and community members gathered to talk about death while drinking tea and eating sweets. This third and final death café of 2021 was notable in that participants came from not only Hirosaki city, but also Aomori city and Kyoto.
The Death Café began with each participant introducing themselves and stating their reasons for attending. The attendants at this Death Café had either attended Death Cafés previously or were death practitioners. As a result, both the reasons for attending and the discussion that arose was focused more on societal ...
Online Death Cafe Iowa CDT October Write up
Posted by DeathCafeIowa on Oct. 27, 2021, 2:06 p.m. 1 comment
There were five people present at the Death Café Iowa this month! This month’s conversation centered more around older individuals and ideas of death. When people age they are realizing they are closer to death, one attendee mentioned their 51st high school reunion coming up and how that triggered them to think about growing older and the end of life. Members went on to talk about how important it is to make each day count, and that when saying goodbye to loved ones making sure they know their love for you because that could be your last moment with them.
The topic of death doulas is ...
Online Death Cafe Iowa CDT September Write up
Posted by DeathCafeIowa on Oct. 27, 2021, 2:05 p.m.
There were eight individuals in attendance at this month’s Death Café. Many topics were discussed this month but some of the highlights include showing up authentically, road blocks to grief, and interest in death work.
One attendee brought up the book Journey of Souls by Michael Newton, and another attendee talked about their work as a psychopomp.
Members discussed how important it is to show up wherever you are authentically. Without authenticity you cannot make as big of a difference. When you are working with a dying individual authenticity is key. There might be barriers because of differing values and beliefs but that does not mean you ...
I was pleased to have a wonderful man attend this Death Cafe' today. We had a great conversation, and shared many experiences including an appreciation for the Death Cafe' discussion groups. It was good to meet someone who was familiar with Elizabeth Kubler-Ross, Ram Dass and others who have been influential in the area of the Death and Dying topic. We exchanged information about authors and speakers who present ideas in this area. Even though only one person came to join the conversation, we had an enlightening time and expect to meet again. It is not the quantity of people attending, it is the quality of the ideas ...
Death Cafe Tunbridge Wells Online BST Write up
Posted by carmeldunmall on Oct. 21, 2021, 2:58 p.m.
6 of us attended the meeting last night. It was an open discussion. Talking about attitudes to death and dying and ending on what makes life worthwhile.
Online Death Cafe Cymru BST Write up
Posted by Sarah Hillcoat on Oct. 14, 2021, 10:50 a.m.
Online Death Café Cymru 12 October 2021 Report
For this, our second Death Café, we welcomed our regular core attendees and two new faces. The mood this time round was different and so were the topics that came up. The main one was the language of death and dying: euphemisms around death and dying, the language appropriate to talk about suicide, and medical staff – patient conversations. We also reflected on whether it would be helpful to call the event “Life and Death Café Cymru”. In all of these, the need for clear communication and sensitivity to the other was felt to be the common factor.
Hi, I'm noreen this will be first time at a Death Cafe ! A little about me is I love cats and hikes
North East London Death Cafe hosted by Debbie Young & Alberta Gutteridge Write up
Posted by Creating Conversations CIC on Sept. 30, 2021, 6:08 a.m.
Saturday 25 September saw the first (we hope) of the North-East London ‘in person’ Death Cafes at the lovely East of Eden café in Walthamstow. Big thanks to Abby and her team for offering us use of the venue. As one of the attendees fedback: ‘East of Eden feels like the perfect venue, calm and reflective… ‘
The online Death Cafes are an amazing experience, but as everyone expressed there is something so different about being in the same space and being ‘in person’. The connection is more immediate and well, more three dimensional!
As always, the conversations were wide-ranging covering a whole host of thoughts, feelings and topics ...
Cancelled -Alberta Death Cafe Rocky Mountain House Write up
Posted by Michele King on Sept. 29, 2021, 3:01 p.m.
Please be advised thes Death Cafe has been cancelled until further notice.
A Death Café was held on the evening on July 26th. 9 students, teachers, and community members gathered to talk about death while drinking tea and eating sweets. This was the second Death Café held at Hirosaki Gakuin University. This Death Café was unique, as it was also live streamed on YouTube, to allow for participation from people who wouldn’t otherwise be able to participate. Several people from across the country watched the live stream. In the future, it is hoped that it will be possible to create more chances to participate virtually.
This second café went well. Participants began the evening by introducing themselves and ...
Death Cafe Wetaskiwin Write up
Posted by Jessica Johnson on Sept. 23, 2021, 11:36 a.m.
We were finally able to meet in person, with masks and social distancing, for the first time in 18 months. We have changed our location to our local Funeral Home, with grateful appreciation for the use of space and beverages.
It was fantastic to reconnect with old and new faces, and share discussions. We discussed a lot about the effects of COVID and culture on death and the grieving process, and the varying perspectives were very intriguing.
Our Death Cafe runs for 90 minutes, and guests have asked to move it up to 2 full hours in future - we will remain slotted for 90 minutes, and allow up ...
Online Death Cafe Cymru BST Write up
Posted by Sarah Hillcoat on Sept. 19, 2021, 2:17 p.m. 2 comments
This, our first Death Café, went very well. Topics that arose included: the significance of pets in our lives; how to reach people who don’t want to talk about death; advanced care planning, living wills and enabling difficult conversations; the law on assisted dying in the UK in the light of the BMA’s recent vote not to oppose change; palliative care; juggling the sometimes diverse wishes of family members in funeral planning.
Feedback was positive and included the following comments: refreshing to talk about death; interesting to listen to others and discover commonalities while respecting their otherness; online experience is okay; fascinating in terms of breadth ...