Death Cafe write-ups
Death Cafe, Winchester, VA Write up
Posted by Mary Jane Lee on April 5, 2015, 4:28 p.m.
Sitting around a large table under two skylights with sunshine streaming, eight bright and inquisitive people gathered on Easter Sunday to talk about life and death.
"Maybe we don't have to die if we would just learn to take care of each other and love." This comment met with zero resistance and the notion quite intrigued us with possibility.
Viewing death as an organic, natural experience creates a liberation from fear of it.
Meeting our own death and the death of others not from a detached, conditioned cultural perspective, but from the authentic self facilitates acceptance and ease.
As part of doctoral studies in Occupational Therapy a ...
Rte. 90 Rockport Death Cafe Write up
Posted by plindquist on April 5, 2015, 7:02 a.m.
Once again, we had a turnout of 20 folks from around mid-coast Maine, to talk about death! It was a wonderful setting and the group divided itself into 3 groups that stayed together til the end of the night. I asked folks if they wanted to shift around, but it seemed to work out on its' own. Cupcakes and warm tea & coffee helped everything be a comfortable Death Cafe. I thank everyone for visiting and sharing their thoughts, caring and listening ....
Death Cafe of Metro Denver Write up
Posted by Death Cafe Metro Denver on April 4, 2015, 10:56 a.m. 1 comment
Hello, Every month I marvel at the conversations that emerge from a simple conversation on Death. We are on the Zoom Platform where the magic happens.
This is not a 'meet up' rather it is a place you can come once or as many times as you like and join a lively and informative conversation.
Join us, It is free and fun!
We are now online with the same schedule as posted, please email nancykenglish33@gmail.com for Zoom link.
Nancy and Jackie
Death Cafe TLV Write up
Posted by DigitalDust on March 31, 2015, 3:07 p.m. 1 comment
The first Death Cafe in Israel took place in Tel Aviv in February 2015.
It was an exceptionally cold, windy, dusty, rainy evening, so we were pleasantly surprised with the number of people who turned up in this weather: 25!
We were worried there would be moments of awkward silence, but I don't think there was a single minute of silence during the two hours long Death Cafe.
The attendees were divided into small groups - 4-5 people in each - and every 20 minutes were encouraged to switch places and sit with new people.
Spirits were high and as the event progressed, you could see how people loosened ...
Tuonen Tupa Death Cafe Write up
Posted by kmarttinen on March 30, 2015, 2:15 p.m.
Saturday the 14th of March we talked about many things. Discussion started slowly about the hatred and guilt we feel towards death and the dead person. Moving on to suicides and euthanasia. All very interesting. But what made me write today, was the information of the death of one special person. Antti O. Arponen was not world famous, but in our little community he was well known. Representative in the city politisc and wrote over 50 sports related books and numerous articles still this year. He wanted to say his word about incurable illness and his upcoming death in the December 13th Tuonen Tupa Death Cafe just a ...
Death Cafe Birmingham Write up
Posted by carrieweekes on March 30, 2015, 7:40 a.m.
Another fantastic Death Cafe at the Lovely Coffin Works yesterday.
As usual, I will hand over to our participants to tell you what they thought!
What was good about Death Cafe today?
"Lovely like-minded people, really enjoyed meeting everyone and the time just flew by!"
"Relaxed atmosphere, flowing conversations, no awkward silence."
"Welcoming and informal"
"The company, the venue, the warm welcome, the exchange of information, the environment for easy sharing and the humour".
"Great conversations, funny, great company and lovely cake!".
"Approachable hosts, knowledgeable and friendly."
"Excellent, understanding people."
"The fact that it happened!"
For more information on our next Death Cafe in Birmingham email deathcafebirmingham@gmail ...
Last evening’s Death Café was remarkable for me. The ideas and topic moved fluently and widely with liberty and honesty. I am honored to be in rapport with such marvelous minds. It seems clear that while our lives are finite, the span of ideas about that fact is not. The conversation continues on Monday 03.30 6:00-8:00 26th Street Beanery on Monroe in Corvallis.
http://www.allannbroscoffee.com/#!26th-street-beanery/c5zf
I’m the guy in the tie. ~jon
Death Cafe of Venice, Florida Write up
Posted by Pam Schierberg on March 21, 2015, 5:16 p.m.
Another great discussion today with those who have been attending for some time, along with those new to the concept and conversation. With every session we listen...we learn...we ponder, and for some we may even consider a change for our remaining time on earth.
Our conversations easily move from the pragmatic to the spiritual, and how our thoughts and feelings have changed over time. But the bottom line keeps coming back to the fact that only in a Death Cafe can one openly consider life and death in a safe and open environment.
Join the conversation on the third Saturday each month, 1:30 pm - 3 ...
Providence Death Cafe Write up
Posted by Cassandra Tribe on March 19, 2015, 9:57 p.m.
My goodness....another Death Cafe tonight and the subject ranged as usual - but we began much differently - instead of laughter yoga or my awful ice breakers - we had a proposal of marriage and acceptance. It set a kind of joyous tone as we explored infant death and the love & grief of parents, ideas about accepting imminent death only to be surprised with a change to imminent life, we await the word from our death row friend as he enters his final appeal and talked about the complications of death penalties, we also talked about the concept of the "death hormone" and whether or not our bodies are programmed ...
Death Cafe Low Country Write up
Posted by Jan Schreiber on March 19, 2015, 3:40 p.m.
At South Carolina's 2nd Cafe, I was interested in trying a new venue (restaurant vs. a yoga studio) and scheduled a weekday evening, instead of a weekend afternoon. Although I requested rsvp's-only half of the participants contacted me. As a result, there was a little confusion initialy in the table arrangement. Of the 9 attendees, 6 were " first-timers". Both male & female & 50-75 yrs of age. I personally felt the absence of a more varied age group.
Unfortunately, the venue was a little distracting with kitchen noise. Nevertheless, the group was quite animated, forthcoming & opinionated!. The sharing ranged from personal funeral wishes, processing loss, wills & probate, to ...
Highcliffe Death Cafe Write up
Posted by Lis Horwich on March 19, 2015, 7:14 a.m. 1 comment
Our March evening Café could welcome new members who inspired to a very lively discussion about death, meditation, Liverpool Care Pathway, staying with the dying or does the dying need to be left alone? A social worker among us has often been the only person for the dying as no relatives were to be found – such a privileged. One of us has listened to Youtube: “Gone from My Sight” where Barbara Karnes from Heartland Hospice in the US talks about discovering grief, loss, and the dying experience. So much to learn from this talk as Babara sits with the dying and has a unique way of talking with ...
Highcliffe Death Cafe Write up
Posted by Lis Horwich on March 19, 2015, 6:57 a.m.
On this nice spring afternoon we met with two new members of the café. Discussing many topics from making sure you are one of the 30% of the UK population who has a will specifying every aspect of your passing from funeral, possessions, home etc. to considering using a solicitor, who normally charges 10% or a probate company, who charges 4% to finalise your estate. Particularly if you have no living relatives it is essential you have your wishes expressed on paper. We also talked about gratitude for your life no matter how it might feel for you right now. Some of us believe that we choose our ...
Death Cafe Hong Kong Write up
Posted by Carmen Yau on March 17, 2015, 10:47 p.m.
It was a wonderful experience for everyone to join the "death cafe x Lost & Found" on 15 March 2015 in Hong Kong.
As usual, Death Cafe Hong Kong rely on facebook to invite participants to join. After the coverage from a local newspaper Mingpao, there were more participants to join. Therefore, we were lucky to have more diversity among our participants. Both elderly and young adults had great conversation. Participants using graphics and quotes to facilitate their sharings.
Providence Death Cafe Write up
Posted by Cassandra Tribe on March 16, 2015, 5:18 p.m.
in a little red room, still so fresh it smells, with kindergarten chairs just waiting for the afternoon crowd - 6 of us gathered in the middle of the day for the daytime Providence Death Cafe in Fox Point. We were laden with hospice workers, as well as a familiar face - and of course, our guest from death row. The topics ranged about perception of age and death, meaning and awareness - and weather it was a generational awareness - or just one that comes and goes. The stories about chidlren sent off to school to tell strange tales of their homelife - that shocked and appalled as no one knew they ...
Death Cafe Calgary Mar 15, 2015 Write up
Posted by Death Cafe Calgary on March 15, 2015, 6:14 p.m.
Calgary Death Café attendees came from as far away as Red Deer on March 15 and enjoyed the lovely venue: Sunterra Village Marché. Thirty people configured themselves into large groups of 5 or 6 per table. There was a lot of lively conversation and laughter over coffee, tea and a variety of delicious pastries and muffins. Participants arrived by motorcycle, C-train and car, but we're not sure how the goose got there (sorry the goose wouldn’t pose for a photo)! The majority of attendees were new to Death Café and shared that they enjoyed the experience. We look forward to hosting the next Death Café in ...