The Death Network

Is grief affecting the way you move, your posture, the way you breathe, and your perception of yourself and the world around you? We believe you have these answers. Therefore, we are pleased to invite you to explore, not only if and how grief is part of your experience, but also how to sense this grief with compassion and incorporate grief’s voice into your personal process of self-healing and self-development.

How grief manifests in you and how you dialogue and integrate this grief is unique to you. This is why we’re diving directly, but gently and considerately, into your personal experience via a safe and practical, resource-oriented somatic method. You will be guided to listen openly and compassionately to the subtle ways grief might be presenting within you and then supported in dialoguing and moving constructively in a helpful and healing way with this grief.

The aim of this workshop is to be both therapeutic in the moment and to empower you with knowledge and skills to more calmly and collaboratively interact with powerful emotions, such as grief, when they present in your body and mind. Although these emotions can be powerful, our aim is for you to feel safe and supported the entire time.

Expect to be moving around freely in the studio, exploring subtle movements while standing and lying down, and verbally sharing/reflecting on your experiences with others in the workshop.

A willingness to dialogue with your body and your best effort to try on self-compassion and open listening is all that you need to bring to this workshop. Whether you're ready to explore your grief or simply curious about how the body holds emotional experiences, this workshop is for you.

This workshop is designed and facilitated by Kelly Lazzara, Somatic Teacher and Brannon Batchelor, Death Doula and Grief Guide.

In this busy world, it can be easy to forget that we all share a quiet, yet powerful bond: the experience of love, loss, and the grief that comes with it. We invite you to join us for an evening of remembrance, where we can come together to reflect on the lives of those we hold dear.

Bring a photo of someone—or a beloved pet—who has passed, and, if you feel called, share a story or memory that keeps their spirit alive in your heart. This evening is an opportunity to not only remember, but to connect with others who understand the depth of grief and the healing power of shared experiences.

Here are the details:

• Bring a photo of a person, pet or thing that you are grieving.
• Share a short story with our community (optional).
• Stories to be shared should be about 2 minutes.

As we gather in community, we’ll enjoy soothing tea and a selection of sweet treats, allowing space for reflection, conversation, and the comfort of knowing that we are not alone in our journeys of loss.

Let us honor the lives of those we’ve lost by celebrating the love they brought into our lives. May this be a night of connection, compassion, and quiet healing.

You might be wondering - "What on earth is a Death Cafe?"

At a Death Cafe, people, often strangers, gather to eat treats, drink tea and discuss death. Our objective is to increase awareness of death with a view to helping people make the most of their (finite) lives.

We are creating an inviting, safe space to share the heartfelt experience of diving into a taboo topic which unites us all. Whether you've experienced death first hand or you're exploring your mortality, you can expect authentic, engaging and lively conversation with people from all walks of life.

Our discussion groups are hosted by volunteer facilitators and the intention is to foster positive conversation within a like-minded community. Please be mindful and respectful of others. Remember, this is a discussion led by you. We want to hear as many voices as possible.

Things to note:

• Please plan to arrive around 9:50 am. We will begin promptly at 10:00 and will be locking the door at 10:05. If you are running late, please plan on joining us next time.
• We will begin our introductions together in a large group and then split into smaller groups to facilitate deeper discussions.
• No pets are allowed at this meeting.

FAQs:

• Is this a support or therapy group?
  No, this is a volunteer-based community discussion group.
• Is there a fee to attend?
  Nope! Death Cafe is a free event hosted by volunteers. If you'd like to support our gatherings, we welcome your donations. Our venmo account is @deathcafe.
• Is there parking?
  Yes, there is plenty parking in the lot.
• Will food and drinks be provided?
  Water, tea, and a small tasty treat will be available.
  Please feel free to bring your water bottle or favorite mug for tea.
• Is this event for kids?
  No, Death Cafe is an adult only gathering.
• Do I have to share?
  Our Death Cafe is lively and collaborative, we hope you feel comfortable sharing but it’s not a requirement.

Thank you! We look forward to meeting you!