Death Cafe write-ups
Filmed Death Cafe Hampstead, London, UK Write up
Posted by Josefine Speyer on June 9, 2015, 5:12 a.m.
Yesterday's filmed Death Cafe for Metro.co.uk was a great success. Nine of us sat around the oval table in the middle of the room, talking about death, whilst Ethan Daish, the young journalist armed with a camera, quietly moved around filming. We had a great time and the conversation flowed. Some of the things we spoke about were a funeral director speaking about organising a close family member's funeral, different funeral traditions, not following family traditions, funeral traditions in different cultures ; waking up at night in shock at the thought of dying one day (or could it be the realisation, "I am ALIVE! Now ...
Death Cafe - Fremantle Write up
Posted by Death Cafe - Fremantle on June 8, 2015, 9:10 p.m.
I was very lucky to be approached by WA Today about the Death Cafe movement and the impact its having on the citizens of Fremantle.
We had 9 people in attendance, the first DC that had a balance of men and women! It was a mixed conversation, ranging from philosophical ideals about death to lived experiences and the imminent deaths of parents.
The article in WA Today can be found here, just copy and paste the link into your browser...http://www.watoday.com.au/wa-news/death-cafe-coffee-muffin-and-a-coffin-20150608-ghiht3
It's propelled this conversation even further than I anticipated...I've got an invitation to be on Radio New Zealand ...
Death Cafe, Winchester, Virginia Write up
Posted by Mary Jane Lee on June 8, 2015, 3:36 p.m.
Death Cafe June 7, 2015
A bright and dynamic group of twelve people gathered around the table at Steamy’s Cafe in Winchester, VA on a bright and beautiful day in June.
A story of a dedicated caregiver for many people was told. After tending to her beloved husband for more than 20 years, his death came peacefully, and now she wishes to be alone for awhile, to be quiet before the rituals and family surround her. A time for grace, introspection, and rest.
The right to determine one’s time for dying is always a topic of interest and dialogue. The right to choose to die before ...
SW London Death Cafe Write up
Posted by Suzanne Michal on June 2, 2015, 5:49 a.m. 1 comment
17 people turned up to what became a lively, sometimes fun (I was sitting next to a man with a great dark sense of humour) and profound exploration around many facets of death and dying.
It took only the first round of introduction, in small groups to hit deep angles such as when the will to die overcomes someone facing traumatic pain after an operation, clearing war sites in Afganistan of dead bodies, is it normal not to have any fear of death, why do we hold onto people who are ready to die of old age, what makes a funeral meaningful, writing to someone on death row ...
Death Cafe Summertown, Oxford Write up
Posted by Joan @Oxbel on May 27, 2015, 4:11 p.m.
‘It was great to share time and views with others and gain new support ideas and strategies to help others’ Death Cafe participant
Oxfordshire Befriending for Life (OxBEL ) marked Dying Matters week 2013 with three death cafes aimed at encouraging ordinary people, going about their everyday lives, to spend a little time thinking and talking about death, dying and life.
Most people were surprised at how relaxed and comfortable they felt chatting about the issues that sprang to mind when they started reflecting on death and dying. They were also surprised at how much humour and laughter there was.
Several people did say they found the title ’Death ...
Zweites Death Cafe Zürich Write up
Posted by DeathCafeZurich on May 27, 2015, 1:03 p.m.
An einem regnerischen Frühlingstag trafen sich knapp zwanzig Menschen und ein Hund im raum44 in Zürich bei Kaffee und Kuchen zum ungezwungenen Austausch rund um den Tod. Wiederkehrende und neue Gesichter hielten sich die Waage. Auf zwei Tische verteilt fanden die Gruppen rasch ihren Einstieg ins Gespräch. Einzig war der Widerhall im schönen grossen Raum so erheblich, dass ein manchmal störender Lärmteppich entstand.
Dessen ungeachtet wurden angeregt persönliche Erfahrungen mit Sterben und Tod sowie gesellschaftliche Themen (z.B. Sterbehilfe und der Tod als Geschäft) zur Sprache gebracht. Die Stimmung im Raum war vertrauensvoll und vorurteilsfrei. Die zwei Stunden war viel ...
Death Cafe Beeston Write up
Posted by TapasTaster on May 27, 2015, 9:48 a.m.
I attended this event following the recent death of my father.
Found Death Cafe Beeston in Nottinghamshire, UK, was friendly, inclusive, welcoming and well facilitated by Jet Black, our charming and engaging host.
If you are curious about what a Death Cafe is about I'd strongly recommend attending one near you.
Not morbid, life enhancing and offered plenty of food for thought about dealing with death in an open candid and surprisingly positive way.
This was an excellent use of 2 hours over the weekend for me, given my circumstances I found it to be a holding,safe and healing 'third space'
There was a diverse range ...
St. George, Maine Death Cafe Write up
Posted by Sylvia Sienikehä Elysiana on May 26, 2015, 1:31 p.m.
The first cafe in St. George, Maine was a beautiful event with 12 attendees, split into 3 groups of 4. Free flowing conversation over tea, coffee and skull shaped bliss balls dusted with shredded coconut, studded with raisin eye sockets.
My 10 year old daughter co-hosted and surprised us with a handmade scythe she'd made out of cardboard, duct tape and a broom stick.
Thanks for the excellent discussion last night. Lots of thinking about science, religion, truth, and death.
Liskeard Death Cafe Write up
Posted by greenrites on May 22, 2015, 12:13 p.m.
A moving, humorous sharing Death Cafe, took place today in the Hub Vegetarian Cafe, Liskerrett Centre, Liskeard, Cornwall.
We shared tea, cake and experiences with matters surrounding death and dying... today we were led to discuss the sensitive subject of donation of organs, and how hard that feels to decide on the right thing to do, when logic dictates one thing and your emotions say the opposite... we were privileged to hear how one of our members has made provision to odonate the whole of his body, for research, after his death. We heard harrowing tales of choices having to be made, in impossible situations, and the whole ...
Providence Death Cafe Write up
Posted by Cassandra Tribe on May 20, 2015, 9:21 p.m.
A good turnout on our new night, the third Wednesday of each month. Tonight we had our usual cake and fruit, but also were graced with homemade hummus and chips. The conversation ranged far and wide from problems a local Druid has with finding a natural burial ground, to the functional apparatus and methods of determining the point of death. We talked about the patterns that happen with death and how it can effect grief and belief. Small tokens changed hands to add to a certain someone's collection and again - we were paid a very high compliment of being a death cafe in which there was a ...
Highcliffe Death Cafe Write up
Posted by Lis Horwich on May 20, 2015, 11:02 a.m.
It is wonderful how much fun and laughs five people, who have never met before, can have talking about death and dying!
Topics discussed were:
Preparing a “Living Will” for no resuscitation can be done by a double appointment at your GP. It will be legally binding for GP’s, hospitals and paramedic care, as all heath institutions have access to same information about you.
MacMillan Units have different protocols to GP’s (pre Shipman), which is far more caring for the dying person.
Felt having a “Dignitas” in the UK would be wonderful, let’s hope organisations like ourselves and “Dignity in Dying” will be able to ...
Death Cafe in Taiwan #21 Write up
Posted by CelinJheng on May 20, 2015, 3:13 a.m.
this is a spicial death cafe
we talk about our pets about their
sick,life,and death.
Death Cafe Low Country Write up
Posted by Jan Schreiber on May 19, 2015, 8:24 p.m.
A beautiful Saturday in the Low Country and yet, we still had 9 attendees! 7 women and 2 men ranging in ages: 20's - 70's. A few participants were active in Hospice and others had recently experienced personal loss. There was quite a bit of participation, with the evaluations reflecting complimentary enthusiasm.
Providence Death Cafe Write up
Posted by Cassandra Tribe on May 18, 2015, 5:42 p.m.
It was the teensy-weensy Death Cafe today. It was our last day time cafe of the year (we hope to return in the fall and the night one continues on through summer). For some reason known only to the universe, all the adult size chairs were missing from the room. So we sat in the eeensy chairs and had teensy-weensy mini cupcakes with little cups of tea and talked about a kind of death and grief that doesn't get much attention even in a death cafe. The passing of innocence and trust is its grief weight that many know and are often shamed for in life ...