“Dance of Autumn," circa 1917. Painted by Piotr Stachiewicz (1858–1938). What does this make you think of?

September is suicide awareness month. We wanted to take a moment to share why we say ‘died by suicide.’ There is a lot of stigma around suicide Using neutral language helps with navigating important and necessary conversations

🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹 thank you @talkdeath.bsky.social !!!!

We are honored to share our latest article by guest writer, Maya Williams. “The Importance of Black Feminine Beautification Rituals for Funerals in American Religion”

At rest by photographer Emma Kissel (2011) This series presents a tender view of an overlooked site of mortality and violence- animals killed by cars.

SAVE THE DATE! This year, TalkDeath’s Cemetery Scavenger Hunt will be held on Sunday, October 26th at 2:30pm ET | 11:30am PT. You can participate at any local cemetery of your choice that is open to the public and allows photography for private purposes 🖤

🧢SURPRISE! We have hats for you 🧢Just in time for autumnal strolls through the cemetery, contemplating death while fall leaves change color, and a little anonymity on your morning coffee walk.

Grief platitudes and knee-jerk responses might be meant to comfort but they can be more harmful than supportive. Even if you’re coming from a good place!

With Labor Day soon, we wanted to look what happens to grief when expectations of work prevents us from sitting with our grief. In our latest article by guest writer Jakob Straub, he explores labor, grief, and economies of care and time while sharing about the loss of his father.

Some cemetery symbolism you may or may not have seen before from @gravestonesofnewengland on IG “Many early 19th century gravestones feature willow trees as a symbol of mourning. However, this particular stone has a different take on that..

Deadline to apply is the 27th! docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...

In our latest article, guest writer, Jason Collins, shares about the disappearance of ancestral graves in the Pacific Islands due to climate change.

Scent has a chokehold on memory and even storytelling. If you were going to make a perfume inspired by your relationship with death, what would it smell like?

🖤🖤🖤@kfrbs on IG “all we ever have is the now” 🖤🖤🖤

TalkDeath Guest Writer George George shares about his experiences with Métis Wake Traditions⁠ “The Wake Belongs to the People In the Métis communities I grew up in, death did not belong to the funeral home. ⁠

Are you a death-conscious artisan? We are accepting applications for donations of artisanal crafts and wares that relate to death and grief for our annual cemetery scavenger hunt prizes.

We're looking to expand our programming to offer more in-person events, in addition to our virtual ones! What cities would be best for folks?

Have you ever wondered what it's like to be a Green Burial Cemetery Director? We caught up with John Christian Phifer to talk about what a green cemetery director does and how his work helps people control their death plans and helps conserve the land: talkdeath.com/careers-in-d...

While important conversations on how socio-political factors imbue the funerary fields and landscapes of death care have been more and more prevalent over the last half a decade, how disability plays into end-of-life care has been largely sorely neglected.

Do you have a favorite quote about death?

What changes do you want to see in the world before you die?

"In the Global North, cemeteries are generally recognised as important sites not just for burial, but also as community assets for safeguarding and celebrating cultural and historical links across generations. This is not the case in a country like South Africa."

Beautiful piece by @nobonzo on Instagram inspired by and featuring text from the poem Conscientious Objector by Edna St. Vincent Millay

What is your favorite cemetery and why?

Across cultures and communities, tattoos have been used to share and express ancestry, connection, and experiences. Memorial tattoos can be one such way to mark loss.

What are some of the most heartwarming, affirming, or caring words or gestures people shared with you after the loss of a loved one?

“Buffy the Vampire Slayer was revolutionary in so many ways, but something that stands out to us almost 25 years after its premiere is how it took people’s fears and attitudes towards death seriously.

RIP Fanny Howe whose poetry including many rich yet straightforward reflections on mortality and loss

In 1751 Maria Magdalena Langhans, the 28 year old wife of the parish priest of Hindelbank, died giving birth to a still born child. Her death was witnessed by the Prussian court sculptor, Johann August Nahl. Later that year Nahl created this Memorial, which has become a famed monument.

Have you seen a wind phone before? Wind phones are dedicated spaces for grief that feature an unconnected phone, typically in a booth or desk, so that grievers can speak into it and ‘reach’ their lost loved ones.

Grief wears many faces, takes many forms. Someone can be grieving and it can manifest in so many emotions! Where are you with your grief?

Warm reminder that if you’re interested in a cemetery tour, a grief circle, or an end of life planning workshop, you can find a variety of events, classes, and gatherings on death and grief on our Community Events Calendar! It's also free to share events that you are hosting!

How do you think conversations, or lack thereof, around climate catastrophe reflect or impact our relationships with death?

July 1 is Canada Day. Sociologists have coined the term “maple-washing” to refer to a prevalent tendency by Canadian governments, institutions, media, and groups to perpetuate the notion that Canada is morally superior to other countries, thus concealing negative historical and contemporary actions

"Still, I wonder what the conversations would be like with him about being perceived as a man. He was the person in my family I felt like I most wanted to be like, a symbol of soft masculinity that felt more fitting to me. I wish we could’ve related in that way."

Do you have any regrets in how you've navigated grief or end-of-life?

Death Project Manager, Silent Book Club of Death, Silent Book Club of Death NYC, Silent Book Club of Death MTL, and TalkDeath’s Book Club are thrilled to invite you to a Virtual Silent Book Club of Death meeting this Monday, June 23rd at 5pm ET/ 2pm PT.

We are always accepting pitches from guest writers! We are especially looking for writers who can speak to death practices and traditions from equity deserving groups, the Global South, and Indigenous writers. We also welcome anyone living with marginalized experiences to send us their pitches.

Fathers’ Day can be a doozie. You can grieve the father you had, the father you never had, the father you can’t or won’t be, and so much more.

How does the way people are treated or valued when they are alive affect how they die?

Have you sneaked a peek at all of the amazing events on our Community Events Calendar yet? 👀 If you hosting events, workshops, classes, and gatherings related to death, grief, and end-of-life, it’s free to share your events on our website💖 talkdeath.com/events

Roses are red, violets are blue, TalkDeath has new merch for pre-sale, for you and you and you! 🚨 Available now through June 30th!

What is a question that you have about green burial?

You might have encountered think pieces, video essays, and articles detailing the link between loneliness and a lack of so-called third places. We’ve noticed that less attention has been paid to cemeteries as potential third places. So we’re here to ask- why not?

What do you want your last meal to be?

Grieving the loss of pregnancy, infant, or child can garner intense feelings in parents and loved ones for weeks, months, and years to come. Poems, poetry, and quotes can be grounding and affirming for those carrying parental grief.

Artist Makoto Azuma often creates pieces that highlight the beauty of decay. “Humans live with flowers on their birthday, for the marriage or anniversary, as a greeting, and of course, their funeral...Here, the viewer can see the transformation as the flowers go through their life instead.”

What do you want your obituary to say about you?

We Deserve a Better Death by Palestinian poet Mosab Abu Toha 🕯️

When you experience grief you may notice that the typical levels of stress you experience on the day to day start to feel even more overbearing. Gardening can be an incredible tool for navigating loss 🌸🌱