“It is high time death had its own moment of truth.” - Good Read

[malaise]

http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2015/aug/29/death-cafes-embrace-last-taboo
<snip>
On a sleepy August afternoon, 10 people meet in a cafe in Malvern, Worcestershire, to talk about death. Over tea, cake and a flickering candle, the discussion ranges from recent bereavement, past losses, assisted (and non-assisted) suicide, near-death experiences, funeral wishes and the lessons of life from those facing its imminent end.

One of the group recounts the death a few days earlier of her elderly mother: “We did everything right, she died at home surrounded by loved ones, but it was still a horrible death,” she says. Another says the previous day’s second anniversary of his wife’s death was worse than the day she passed away. A woman who has lost two husbands discusses the different impacts of sudden, out-of-the-blue and lingering deaths.

But this was not a bereavement group. There was also talk about how to plan for one’s own death – whether ending one’s life is an act of ultimate self-determination or an unforgivable burden for loved ones – and of the meaning of life itself. The mood was warm, thoughtful and surprisingly positive for what this is: a death cafe.
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Since the first event in London four years ago, pop-up death cafes have spread across 31 countries, drawing thousands of people into discussions about what some consider to be the last taboo. The movement is part of a growing openness and shifting attitudes to the end of life, reflected in the emergence of death doulas, civil celebrants conducting funerals; alternatives to conventional, religious-based funerals; online forums; debate about end of life care; and assisted suicide. Next weekend sees the Ideal Death Show, a weekend of discussion, practical advice and even celebration taking place in Winchester.

[Stardust]

1. It is high time, indeed. Great read, thanks. nt

[Solly Mack]

2. knr

[smirkymonkey]

3. +1000

[brer cat]

4. K&R nt