Death Cafe write-ups
Swindon Death Cafe Write up
Posted by Sue Holden on Jan. 12, 2017, 10:29 a.m.
At our new venue in the Village Hotel in Swindon we welcomed several newcomers to our Death Cafe. As the circle grew so did the discussions. One interesting topic was whether or not to view the body of a departed loved one. We learnt that there is a game you can play called mortall based around a series of questions like 'if you were handed an envelope with the date and nature of your death in it, would you open it?'
What was really good to see was the respect that everyone had for other peoples' sometimes different views. Thank you to all and the next meeting is ...
This was my very first death cafe, coming as it did, just 5 days after my mum died of leukemia. It was a popular event as I reckon there was a dozen or so people in attendance. A fair few funeral directors or celebrants, people interested in all aspects of death and dying etc.
A few of us had very recent exposure to the death of a loved one, and I think we all got tremendous benefit from being there.
I personally realised that it wasn't too late to see my mum for one last time. The last time I saw her was the day before she ...
Tucson Death Cafe Write up
Posted by tucsondeathcafe on Jan. 10, 2017, 6:03 p.m.
Tucson Death Cafe swashbuckles into 2017! A wonderful group of Tucsonan’s arrived at our new venue, Ward 6, for our first foray into 2017. Whether we grit our teeth or grin at death, the Grim Reaper finds hearty conversationalists in the Old Pueblo. We chuckled at death-busting patents of the past – like the 18th century “safety coffin,” which included breathing tube, bell and ladder - just in case! And if that appeals – modern variations on this idea are available today. We were beguiled by fascinating faraway holiday travel tales from the Paris catacombs, as well as the closer to home Houston National Funeral Museum and cemeteries of ...
Hornby Island, BC Death Cafe V Write up
Posted by Sylvia Sienikehä Elysiana on Jan. 5, 2017, 4:10 a.m.
Once again -- fantastic group, great conversation!
Swindon Death Cafe Write up
Posted by Sue Holden on Jan. 3, 2017, 11:11 a.m.
Eight of us discussed how and why Christmas is not always the season to be jolly for everyone. Interesting to hear that everyone has some sad memory around this time of year. Life does not stop or discern Christmas from any other time of the year. Christmas can actually make life unnecessarily worse for some! Roll on January!
Chambana Death Cafe December 14, 2016 Write up
Posted by Sherry Gilles on Jan. 2, 2017, 3:30 p.m.
Chambana Death Cafe was held on the evening on the fourteenth of December, 2016, at The Urbana Free Library in Urbana, IL.
There were six attendees; one could not appear in person. Four had never attended a death cafe before. Two were associated with the University of Illinois and death research is part of their jobs. One was also an Uber driver, one was retired and one woman, a nurse, stated she had authored a child's book on death and I got a peek at it before she left as her friend had it on hand. Finally the one who was in absentia had sent me a ...
Death Cafe Cape Town Write up
Posted by MortalMonday on Dec. 29, 2016, 3:52 a.m.
Thirty people attended our first Death Café at The Dining Room in Cape Town – the perfect venue. Mostly strangers to each other, the feedback (gathered afterwards via email) was very encouraging, and provided some good pointers to our next café, the date yet to be confirmed, either the 23rd of January or 6th of February, 2017.
People arrived (early!) and had the opportunity to write a word or slang phrase for death on the wall, or mingle while they waited for others. Already, there was an excitement in the room. Everyone chose a random slip of paper with a number on it – this was the number ...
Death Cafe: Bradford on Avon Marina Write up
Posted by mysticmoon on Dec. 20, 2016, 12:40 p.m.
I have purposefully not published this blog until the Winter Solstice. The Solstice is about the bringing back of the light. I believe death cafes do just that. They bring people together to shed light on the darkness and fear of death. So, this blog is to wish all of you who read it a happy Solstice, and to remind you that even in the depth of winter and in the depth of whatever darkness you may experience in life, the Light is always there, waiting for you.
November is a cosy time to hold a pop-up death café on Mystic Moon. The sun was already sinking as ...
Tucson Death Cafe Write up
Posted by tucsondeathcafe on Dec. 19, 2016, 7:38 p.m.
Our Halloween Friendly and Fearless Tucson Death Café was spook-tackular! Several attendees came in alternate visage among them, Witch, Pumpkin, Butterfly Angel, and Pagan Priestess (in her own skin) celebrating the eve of the Celtic New Year - Samhain - with us. Many thanks to the Bride of the Dead who appeared bearing a scary good chocolate spider cake! Our most enigmatic guest was Death “herself.” She was cloaked in black with a golden skull mask and was engaged, beguiling, and fittingly mysterious slipping away at Café’s close without ever uttering a word!
Our topics of interest turned to how awkward knowing what “the right” thing to say is ...
Tucson Death Cafe Write up
Posted by tucsondeathcafe on Dec. 19, 2016, 7:13 p.m.
December brought a beautiful close to a big year of Tucson Death Cafes. We shared thoughts on how to steward conversations on death and dying with family and friends, on death with dignity with and without the layer of legislation, and about pet grief – sharing that loss of beloved companion animals can be socially disenfranchised, but equally as difficult as loss of humans. We had a rich “everything else” breakout group and shared that although Death Café’s are not grief support groups, crying is a normal expression and tissues are always available. We talked about poet and musician Leonard Cohen’s recent departure and how it seemed ...
Death Cafe in Playa Venado-Puerto Varas Write up
Posted by Alfredo Ovalle on Dec. 11, 2016, 6:33 a.m.
Some feedback:
Low Country Death Cafe Write up
Posted by Jan Schreiber on Dec. 9, 2016, 1:53 p.m.
We met at a new venue: The Refuge cafe, and it provided a respite after the busy Thanksgiving holiday. Although it had been several months since we had last gathered, there were 2 new people among the 8 that attended.
I purposely scheduled the date after the presidential election and between the holidays. As a result, it seemed that the guests were more open and vulnerable in their sharing about loss. And, at the close of the meeting, nearly everyone stayed on to share a late meal and continue the conversation!
Death Cafe Seoul Korea Write up
Posted by http://cafe.naver.com/healingdying on Dec. 8, 2016, 7:02 p.m.
We held Death cafe 3 Dec. 30 people came here and talking about death.
many people deeply talkong and smile healing from Death cafe.
for the last Death cafe of 2016 year . it is very important for us.
Death Cafe Vitoria-Gasteiz Write up
Posted by Vivir con Voz Propia on Dec. 7, 2016, 12:51 a.m.
On the 1st December we had the most wonderful morning in mamia bakery. A beautiful large wooden table filled with warm coffee and cake and 16 wonderful, brave and adventurous people. This was the first ever death cafe in the Basque Region of Spain and we the organisers were slightly worried at the prospect that very possibly the idea of talking about death openly may not be quite as easy as it sounds. But to our wonderful surprise we had a fantastic, inspiring and emotional morning. Topics discussed were as varied from films and books to dreams, what happens after death, personal experiences of death and how this ...
On October 18th, Chattanooga's second Death Cafe took place. We didn't do as much publicity, and there were more people there than the first time; this is largely a credit to the local newspaper for doing a huge article on the first event and mentioning the date & location of this event.
Connection, conversation, and tea flowed freely as our facilitator opened up the night with introductions. We split up into 3 groups of and continued discussion right up until time to go.
Most attendees were over 50 and there was a wide religious spread (athiest, Christian, Buddhist, Unitarian Universalist, and more).
There was great interest ...