Christchurch DEATH CAFÉ

Hello death-friends

I’m dropping into your inbox with spring news of death-related events and happenings here in Christchurch.

• Mortality Muse - A Guide for Living Fully Now
Available here: thecreatrix.co.nz/shop

The biggest news in my world is my new guidebook. It’s the culmination of 15 years work encouraging a more friendly relationship with death (through Death Cafe, the Death Matters conferences, other community events and many life experiences).

I am so excited to share it with you first - before it goes out into the world at large. Here it is (shameless self-promotion):

The Mortality Muse — A Guide to Living Fully Now is an upbeat, practical workbook that uses death awareness as a lens for appreciating life; reflect on the journey so far, savour what remains, and return to the present with renewed clarity and purpose.

It’s designed for people over 40 who are at a crossroads, shifting from one life stage into another, or simply wanting some honest reflection and fresh inspiration.

Please email me melanie@thecreatrix.co.nz
- if you wish to arrange a cash purchase and pick up
- if you would like a 1:1 coaching session to get you started
- if you are interested in joining one of my Mortality Muse workshops
- if you are a practitioner or therapist and want to use, buy/sell copies
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• Unchatter x Death Cafe: An Experience of Meaning + Mortality
Wednesday 09th September, 6pm - 8:30pm

Tickets $30 Book at events.humanitix.com/unchatter-x-death-cafe/tickets
Venue: Cracroft Guiding Centre, 151 Cashmere Road

What if getting more comfortable with death made us better at being alive?
Join us for an evening of deep conversation with strangers, where we’ll dig into meaning, mortality, and what makes a life well lived. We’re collaborating with Melanie Mayell of the Christchurch Death Cafe for this special event - all of the research-backed connection goodness of an Unchatter event with a zesty twist of existential curiosity!

This is a warm, gentle space to talk openly about death and what our own mortality can teach us about being here and how we really want to spend our time. Don’t worry, it’s not all skeletons & black roses - we’ll have a few fun exercises to bring a bit of levity to the deep & meaningful!
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• Dying Matters Day - Drop in, Mix and Mingle
Sunday 13th September. 10:30am - 2pm

Tuuranga Central Library, Cathedral Square
You are invited to join us for a “What Matters Most” mix and mingle.

At the event will be a representative from: Compassionate Communities, No One Dies Alone (NODA), Death Doulas, Celebrants, Carer support, Living Will/ACP, Death Without Debt, and Death Cafe. This is a rare chance to have a chat with a wide variety of end-of-life professionals.

Help create a “What Matters Most” Collage. Remember your loved ones and consider how you want to be remembered. Everyone is welcome to attend this free, family friendly interactive event.
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• September Death Cafe
Sunday 13th September. 12:30pm - 2:30pm

Portershed Cafe
This DC is already full - but if you go on the waiting list you will likely get a seat closer to the date.
meetup.com/christchurchdeathcafe
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• BLADE Forum - for coffee and conversation group
Sunday 20th September. 1:30pm - 3pm

BLADE Forum is my own stand-alone offshoot to Death Cafe. It is for individuals who are interested in exploring near-death and out-of-body experiences, afterlife beliefs, reincarnation, and scientific breakthroughs that validate spiritual revelations. Whether you have had a personal encounter with the afterlife or are simply curious about what lies beyond this reality, this is a safe space to discuss these topics openly, and connect with like-minded individuals.

This is a place where we can explore the unknown together - but it’s not therapy, group support or an advice hub. Details about the group here: meetup.com/bladeforum

Hello death-talkers

Over September throughout NZ we are taking a longer look at death during Dying Matters Week (Sept 7 - 13). In Christchurch there will be several death-related events to entertain and engage with.

I will also be launching my new guidebook 'The Mortality Muse - using death to live fully now'. This new work encapsulates my whole reason for encouraging death conversations, which is to use our mortality to help us find whats most important and keep us focused on making those discoveries a daily priority. PM me if you want to know more about this new offering (for yourself, or as a therapist).

Join us for a spacious conversation at one of our old haunts, the Portershed Cafe on Lincoln Road. We have the back cottage to ourselves for 2 hours.

If you aim to be there by 12:20pm you can order drinks and snacks, find a seat and give yourself time to get settled. We will get started soon after 12:30pm

Melanie

• WHAT HAPPENS AT OUR DEATH CAFE?

• It's a hosted, group-directed conversation about death and dying. Talking about death helps remind us of how precious life is.
• We talk about all sorts of interesting death-related things; aging parents, death doulas, books we've read, death in different cultures, assisted dying, near death experiences (NDEs), philosophy, the meaning of life, and our own personal experiences to name a few. Each meeting is different - a reflection of the ever-changing mix of people on the day. There are often gasps of wonder and bursts of laughter.
• We don't promote any particular conclusion, belief system or course of action. While we dont always agree with each other - we do aim to foster kindness and compassion.
• Death Cafe is not grief support. It is not for people who are recently bereaved or who are actively grieving. There are better support groups more suited to this.

• WHAT TO BRING

• An open mind, curiousity, and a willingness to join in the conversation.
• A koha towards the costs of running this site on Meetup is always appreciated. If cashless is easier - this is the account: Creatrix Limited 03-0830-0625413-000. Thankyou

• DEATH CAFE ETIQUETTE
Seats are limited and there is usually a waiting list of people keen to come. If after booking in for any reason you arent able to make it, please come back to this Meetup event page and change your attendance status - this frees up your seat for the next person on the waiting list. many thanks :-)

• FACEBOOK GROUP
if you'd like to join our FB group - this is us: www.facebook.com/groups/ChristchurchDeathCafe

• FAVOURITE QUOTE
Let come what comes,
Let go what goes,
See what remains.
- Ramana Maharshi