The ceremony is a 2 to 3-hour long experience ( dependent on number of participants and other factors ) which focuses on turning towards one's own mortality. Participants are faced with their own memorial, participate in a writing exercise, and then are lead through a death visualization. The Living Funeral offers a transformative and cathartic experience, helping individuals cultivate a deeper sense of mindfulness, acceptance, and appreciation for life's beauty and transience. Death meditation underscores the importance of living fully in the present moment. CLICK HERE to read a beautiful piece on Living Funerals by Tall Grass. Currently, only one-on-one in-person ceremonies are offered at the Center as well as virtual ceremonies. CLICK HERE to view the calendar.
“I felt like afterward there was a lot of love in the air. Everyone felt really warm feelings, which is something I hadn’t expected.”
“This was the first time I’ve done anything like this. I had no idea what to expect...so everything I was writing and voicing was very immediate. I felt like it was easy to just talk about what was on my mind because there was nothing else to lose. It was comfortable.”
“...Their words became my words in the way that their thoughts were sort of my thoughts. There was a blurred distinction between what I was experiencing and what they were experiencing. Ultimately, it lead to this kind of...universality...”
Virtual Living Funerals
The virtual living funeral ceremony is an online experiential meditation on mortality. Participants are guided, in the comfort of their own spaces, by trained practitioners using Zoom. The ceremony is an invitation to connect deeply with the mystery and richness of one’s life. It is an opportunity to reflect on the past, evaluate the present and prepare for the future.
Participants will contemplate their personal memorial while imagining parts of their identity falling away. They will complete a writing exercise expressing their last words and wishes, and be gently lead through a death meditation using guided imagery. Many past participants have shared that the experience has been life-affirming and even life-altering.
The virtual ceremony has been adapted from its in-person counterpart spurred out of necessity during the current pandemic. Our practitioners offer both group and private sessions.
Living Funeral Practitioner training
If you are interested in bringing living funerals to your community, click HERE. I offer both one-on-one training and a cohort model. There are currently no cohort trainings scheduled, but please check back or email me if that’s something you’re interested in.
If after viewing the informational PDF you would like to proceed, please book a complimentary phone call to discuss your options. To book a call, please click HERE.
Group living funerals are arranged periodically throughout the year and will be posted to the ‘events’ page.