Saturday, Sept 27, from 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. in the Safir Room, there will be a “Death Café” meeting. All are welcome.
“Death Café” is a recent movement that brings people together in small social groups to “drink tea, eat cake, and talk about death.” The purpose is to help people feel safe talking about death and dying. We believe that by increasing our awareness and comfort on this front we can make the most of our finite lives. Join in the conversation.
See background information below.
What is a Death Café?
At Death Café meetings, people “drink tea, eat cake, and talk about death.” Death Café is a recent movement that sponsors discussions in which death is the main topic.
These are NOT support groups or counselling session, and there are no pre-set objectives, agendas or themes.
The discussion goes wherever the people who turned up for it take it.
Death Cafes are always offered:
• On a not-for-profit basis
• In an accessible, respectful and confidential space
• With no intention of leading people to any conclusion, product or course of action
• Along with snacks and beverages
For more information about the phenomenon of Death Cafés, see their website: deathcafe.com
Why would anyone come to a Death Café?
The purpose of the “Death Café” movement is to help us come to grips with one of the most taboo subjects in our culture: death.
In the safe spaces of Death Café meetings we can let our hair down, relax, and share. Then, hopefully, we will be less overwhelmed when we must face end-of-life issues of loved ones or ourselves. Those who have already dealt with the “hard stop” at the end of the lives of loved ones have a chance to share experiences, and those who haven’t can explore their own ideas and concerns.
Death Café discussions are spontaneous. Each meeting is unique. They can be profound, fun, cathartic, moving, life-enhancing, surprisingly enjoyable… wherever the people who turn up for them end up taking them.
Bottom line: when we feel safe talking about death and dying, it helps us make the most of our finite lives.
The in-person Death Café meeting on September 27 at 2:00 p.m. in the Safir Room at UUCB is sponsored by three members of this church’s Applied UU Buddhist Sangha. This is an ongoing quarterly event here. All are welcome!
For further information about this meeting contact Lee Olivier (510) 604-7734.
