As a death activist, someone who is committed to helping our culture heal its relationship to death, I feel so lucky to live in Asheville. We are a small city with just over 90,000 people and yet we have a thriving community that embraces the topic of death and offers many opportunities for the public to learn about and engage with end of life matters. It’s really incredible. It seems like every year we take it up a notch with new offerings, and this year is no exception. I did some digging to find out what death happenings are being offered this year. It’s only February, so it’s likely this list will grow but here is a list of death happenings in and around Asheville for 2019 organized first by type of offering then by date.
*Note: This is not a personal endorsement for the following events. I have participated in some but not all of these events in the past. This is simply a list of events for the community to explore death.
Events
Book Signing | Kimberly Paul presents Bridging the Gap: Life Lessons from the Dying
Author Kimberly Paul will be doing a book signing for her book ‘Bridging the Gap: Life Lessons from the Dying’, a collection of stories and wisdom Kimberly Paul gathered from 18 years of working with hospice patients that provides a roadmap for designing a better life and death.
Hosted By
Malaprop’s Bookstore/Cafe
Date
February 19th, 6pm [HAPPENING SOON!]
Learn More
Talk | Palliative Care and Hospice Care: Definitions, Differences and Benefits
What is the difference between palliative care and hospice care? Attend this talk to learn how they are different and how they intersect.
Hosted By
Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at UNC-Asheville (part of the Fab Fridays Lunch & Learn Lectures)
Date
February 22nd, 11:30am – 1:15pm [HAPPENING SOON!]
Learn More
Death Cafe Asheville
Death Cafe is an international movement that brings people together in a laid back setting to discuss death and dying. There is an Asheville chapter that meets monthly, usually at the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute located in UNCA.
Hosted By
Third Messenger
Dates
Monthly, usually on a Friday from 5-7pm
Learn More
Ceremonial Grief Concert
A concert brought to you by musicians Greg Lathrop, Jason Hebal, Jay Brown, Aditi Sethi and Jojo Silverman (many of whom are end-of-life professionals) that invites people to explore their grief through music and storytelling.
Hosted By
Aditi & Jay / The Raga Room
Dates
Quarterly – You can join the mailing list here to be notified about upcoming concert dates.
Learn More
Meetups & Groups
Doula Cooperative of Asheville – Monthly Meeting
Caring for the dying requires a lot of giving of the self. This is a community circle that meets monthly for healing support and self-care for those in service of the dying.
Hosted By
Greg Lathrop
Dates
Second Wednesday of the month, 6:30pm
Learn More
There is no weblink for this event. It is held at Holding Space. You can email your questions to Greg at gregorylathrop3@gmail.com.
Holding Space Community Potluck
A monthly potluck that brings together people interested in, or working in, end of life. Holding Space is a hospice house that is not providing hospice services yet, but is on its way and is already bringing the community together around death.
Hosted By
Holding Space
Dates
Third Wednesday of the month, 6-9pm
Learn More
Asheville IANDS [International Association of Near Death Studies] – Monthly Meeting
A community circle for support through sharing and reflection on all things related to near death experiences. Open to all who are interested in the subject.
Hosted By
Greg Lathrop
Dates
First Thursday of the month, 6:30pm
Learn More
Trainings
Home Funeral & Death Care Midwife Training
A 3-day training that teaches participants how to care for the body after death and facilitate a home funeral.
Hosted By
Center for End of Life Transitions
Dates
- May 31 – June 2
- July 19-21
- September 20-22
Learn More
Sacred Passage: End Of Life Doula Certificate
Broken into two phases, this training prepares participants in how to be a companion and doula to someone at the end of life. Participants receive 66 Continued Education Units and walk away with a Sacred Passage, End Of Life Doula Certificate.
Hosted By
Conscious Dying Institute Asheville
Dates
- Phase 1: September 13-15
- Phase 2: December 4-8
Learn More
Workshops
Advanced Care & After Death Care Directives
A 2-3 day workshop that educates people about end-of-life decisions and provides the space for participants to complete their advanced care and after death care directives.
Hosted By
Center for End of Life Transitions
Dates
- March 30 & 31
- May 18 & 19
- November 9, 16 & 23
Learn More
Creative Grief Workshop
Designed both for those who are grieving and those who support others through grief, this workshop facilitates the creative exploration of grief using grief mapping, a process designed by the facilitators, as well embodied awareness.
Hosted By
Inviting Abundance
Date
April 13th, 10am – 3pm
Learn More
Preparing for Your Own Good Death and Life
Year long class that meets once a month to explore what it means to live a good life and prepare for a good death.
Hosted By
Center for End of Life Transitions
Dates
Starting June, on the second Sunday of each month
Learn More
Dying to Live
A 6-day workshop/retreat that uses contemplative and reflective practices to explore death as a way to shed what is no longer serving and step more fully into life.
Hosted By
The Art of Living Retreat Center
Dates
August 20-25
Learn More
If you are hosting a death related event in or around Asheville that isn’t listed here, please contact us with details about your event, to see about adding it to the blog.
Learn about Carolina Memorial Sanctuary
