Death Cafe write-ups
This was our first in person Death Cafe following the COVID-19 lockdown. Given that people were still cautious about gathering in restaurants, there was a good attendance - about nine people. There was cultural diversity within the group and a Chinese person, and two South Americans spoke about their cultural experiences. One of the South Americans described how difficult it was being on the other side of the world when her mother’s health was declining. One participant worked at a funeral home as an embalmer and people found her insights into the workings of a funeral home fascinating.
Shortly prior to this Death Cafe, the local newspaper ran a brief story about the Death Cafe and a podcast I host about death and dying, The Final Curtain. I was concerned that the media profile would result in more than a dozen people attending and it would be unwieldy. So, I took a fellow Death Cafe host’s advice and capped the numbers on Meetup. I need not have done this. Only nine people came and there could have been more comfortably. Two people who have come numerous times before were placed on Meetups wait list. Luckily, I was able to contact one and tell her to ...
Tucson Online MST Friendly & Fearless Death Cafe Write up
Posted by TucsonFFDeathCafe on Sept. 17, 2020, 5:13 p.m.
“I always come away feeling more alive,” proclaimed a Death Café attendee. Kudos to the Café movement for opening space for the paradox of death and all the wild richness it brings to life!
Reflecting on the fact that her father was a Holocaust victim, one woman spoke of her wish for peace in her own death. As we know only too well with chaotic events, natural disasters, war, violence, pandemics, the possibility for peace in death may escape us. I wonder if spiritual traditions that “practice death” do so not only to affirm life and lessen fear while living, but also simply to have that experience of ...
Online Death Cafe Iowa CST Write up
Posted by DeathCafeIowa on Sept. 16, 2020, 10:45 a.m.
For our September Death Café Iowa we met on Zoom. Buffy Peters and Becca Suvalsky from the Bereavement Professionals Group facilitated the group. In total there were 7 people in attendance, 2 men and 5 women, and participants ranged in ages and professions. We had individuals join from California, Connecticut, Florida, and Iowa. Several interesting topics were brought forward for discussion.
A few topics included:
Elliot Dallen article from the Guardian: One member brought an article by a young man who was actively dying from terminal cancer. The author talked about how by not avoiding death he was not avoiding life. Another member mentioned that we need to ...
Hello everyone, Thank you to those who joined the conversations during the September 9th Death Café – Hillsborough (DC-H) Zoom call! Using Zoom has changed our dynamic yet it also allows new people from faraway places to participate; thank you to the three new folx! We are grateful for UMC allowing us to use their Zoom account (versus their “little house” where we normally meet in person). If you have not yet sent a few dollars to say thanks for Wednesday’s get together, here is their website: uniongroveumc.org and mailing address: United Methodist Church, Rev. Rich Greenway, 6407 Union Grove Church Road, Hillsborough, NC 27278. Thank you ...
Tucson Friendly & Fearless Death Cafe Write up
Posted by TucsonFFDeathCafe on Sept. 6, 2020, 5:08 p.m.
A man was at the hospital with his wife who was nearing her departure. The circumstances of being at a hospital undergoing interventions were distressing and unwanted. The couple had imagined a peaceful passing at home. A nurse asked the man where his family was, and he replied they were all at the hospital. The nurse then said, “Home is where your family is.” This story was shared at a recent Café.
All the more poignant now, as even this – in the era of Covid – is denied. We thank all the hospitals, staff, emergency workers and caregivers for doing all they can to unite loved ones, and in ...
Well, a few hours ago we just had our first Death Cafe experience, and it was awesome.
9 assistants plus me, it was a record compared with the 3 people I expected to assist (counting my own mother..). Everyone says thank you for this project to John and Donna. we hope to bring upfront your vision in every meeting and you will be very welcome every time to make sure we follow your wishes and expectations.
I can translate for you.
:)
I have to be honest tho.. there wasn´t any cake or coffee from me.. being online make it a little bit difficult but I made the ...
Greetings dead companions!
This is the poster of our first Dead Cafe (virtual one) from Mexico city, included people in Australia and Xalapa, Mexico.
Thank you for creating this awesome project!
Ibiza Death Cafe Write up
Posted by Ibiza Death Cafe on Sept. 2, 2020, 8:50 a.m.
Can Tixedo is one of our favourite venues on the island. Amazing service and a great selection of cakes and drinks. Thanks to the team there and thanks to all that attended.
Ibiza Death Cafe Write up
Posted by Ibiza Death Cafe on Sept. 2, 2020, 8:41 a.m.
Thanks to Can Toni for having us. A great central spot for a drink and chat. We will be back!
'Death Cafe' Tunbridge Wells Write up
Posted by carmeldunmall on Aug. 31, 2020, 9:58 a.m.
The 6 of us enjoyed a lively and varied discussion.
Success! Seven people, including my husband and myself, attended the online Death Café Oxnard yesterday. One person was from NJ, one from Northern CA, the rest from here in SoCal. Topics had to do with the pandemic, living wills, and gratitude. The conversation was slow at first and then became more lively. It ended up being a very thoughtful and authentic experience. I look to hosting another online cafe soon.
Faversham Online Death Cafe BST Write up
Posted by Louise Allen (Faversham Death Cafe) on Aug. 25, 2020, 5:19 a.m.
Being and nothingness
Nothingness lies coiled in the heart of being – like a worm.
– JEAN-PAUL SARTRE, ‘BEING AND NOTHINGNESS’
Death Cafes are led by the group. There is no theme nor agenda, though events can be aimed at particular groups or audiences to ensure inclusivity and accessibility. This means that no two Death Cafes are the same; the conversation follows a path led by the people in it. Our most recent event was online (our third online Faversham Death Cafe since Covid-19 hit). We were a group of 7 from across the world, joining from Portugal, Maine, Seattle, London and Kent. We talked about death and about non-existence ...
Online Death Cafe Iowa CST Write up
Posted by DeathCafeIowa on Aug. 19, 2020, 3:14 p.m.
For our August Death Café Iowa we met on Zoom. Buffy Peters and Becca Suvalsky from the Bereavement Professionals Group facilitated the group. In total there were 5 people in attendance, 2 men and 3 women, and participants ranged in ages and professions. We had individuals join from California, New Jersey, and Iowa. Several interesting topics were brought forward for discussion.
Topics included:
Lifeweb360: LifeWeb360 is a memorialization website where people can create a LifeWeb account for a loved one who has died. Friends and family members can leave messages, videos, and pictures of the person. We discussed how a lot of funeral homes have something like this ...
Meeting the fear of death with spiritual practices
The value and comfort offered by Buddhist philosophy
Psychedelic experiences and insights
Fear of death and of the loss of identity
The heartache caused by distance from relatives or lack of (contact with) an extended ...