2017: A Year in the Life
Where my work as a Life-Cycle Celebrant and community conversation leader took me 2017 was the 3rd year in a row that saw me attend the death of a member of my inner circle 5th year of co-leading PDX… Read More
Befriending Endings
What does dying ask of us? Notes from a friend’s death bed, and the words of Stephen Jenkinson My friend had been under hospice care for weeks, in and out of consciousness for days. “I don’t know what… Read More
The Perils of Autonomy & Independence
It’s often said that the Baby Boomers – 10,000 of whom are turning 65 each day now – are going to transform how we age and how we die. But I’m troubled by the form this seems to… Read More
The Brilliance of Dying
On the eve of the Autumnal Equinox, a story by Carrie Stearns “about the grace of turning toward death with my beloved partner Sarah”. From the blog of Holly Pruett, Life-Cycle Celebrant The air is taking on that… Read More
A Finished Heart
In advance of his Sept. 26 performance, a deeply moving, thought-provoking conversation with author and composer Eliott Cherry On September 26, Death Talk Project presents A Finished Heart, written and performed by Eliott Cherry. A Finished Heart is… Read More
The Clootie Well
I know virtually nothing about how my ancestors cared for and carried their dead. I was 25 years old when I first visited a cemetery that contained the bones of my relations. I had to travel nearly 6000… Read More
Dying in Community
An antidote to “My life. My death. My way.” While considering one’s death has been central to many spiritual and cultural traditions through the ages, the modern incarnation in our individualistic, me-first society can become something of a… Read More
A Sad Farewell to the Man Who Started a Movement
Six years ago, a man and his mother started a worldwide movement. The 50-country-strong Death Café community is rocked today by news of the sudden death of founder Jon Underwood. Jon, who inspired, guided, and supported hundreds of… Read More
“We’re Meant to Carry Each Other”
DIY Coffin Clubs, Handmade Caskets and Shrouds Some retirees join bowling teams or bridge clubs. But every Tuesday night in Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand, several dozen gather to engage in what the New York Times reports is “a… Read More
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Posted: November 1, 2017 by hollyjpruett
All Souls Stories: Two Tales from the Vault
Participating in a powerful community mourning and remembrance ritual Each year, Halloween looks more like Christmas. The lights are orange and white instead of red and green; fake spider webs stretched over hedges, instead of fake snow; the… Read More