Don't You Be Afraid Of Ghosts! They're Your Best Friends, Says Woman Freeport Journal-Standard, Illinois, 1923

With all eyes on LA the past few days I can’t help but note the eerie similarities in events that played out here over 80 years ago from June 3rd to 8th—the Zoot Suit Riots. A time when Chicanos & other poc were targeted, their communities terrorized & subjected to violent attacks.

Ghost bike memorials make a site of death visible, but they can also reveal the social and economic vulnerabilities of those who died #WorldBicycleDay www.bicycling.com/culture/a347...

In today’s What the Helly? An AI generated video of a man killed in a road rage incident was allowed to “talk” to the courtroom & provide the victim’s own impact statement at killer’s sentencing hearing. Family said judge was “moved” by video & gave max sentence www.10news.com/science-and-...

Craterellus cornucopioides were referred to as "The Trumpet of the Dead," as it was believed the dead buried beneath played them *doot doot* #FolkloreThursday

April 30th, is Walpurgisnacht (Witches’ Night), also known as the ‘other Halloween’ — a night that belongs to WITCHES

Tonight is St Mark's Eve, when, according to English #folklore, if you sit in a church porch tonight and stay silent from 11 pm to 1 am you will see a procession of the ghosts of all the people in the village who will die during the coming year.

First, paging #horrorcommunity #horrorsky #filmsky #mutantfam - we’re hosting a The Shrouds giveaway over at @ordergooddeath.bsky.social I have a LOT to say about Cronenberg’s latest film as it sits firmly at the center of my horror + funerals + the dead body wheelhouse. For now, I’ll share this

Modern funeral options like casketed burial and cremation contribute to deforestation, and create carbon emissions and toxic byproducts. Over 60% of Americans are interested in greener options, but what are they? #EarthDay

"You and i are Earth 1661” A tin-glazed earthenware plate found in a London sewer #EarthDay

I’m so excited to introduce a new game: Seasonala Cemetery – explore the serene beauty of an urban cemetery and see how it changes in real-time with the time of day and seasons. A completely free game coming soon to Windows/Mac Wishlist: store.steampowered.com/app/3272690/Seasonala_Cemetery/

#Yellowjackets season 3 finale screening with Sophie Nélisse, Samantha Hanratty, Sophie Thatcher, Courtney Eaton, & Liv Hewson

currently waiting to get into the #Yellowjackets finale screening & a man is out here going up & down the line asking “Have you heard about Jesus?” SIR, HAVE YOU HEARD ABOUT THE WILDERNESS?

Good to know that the morgue has the ideal conditions for both bodies AND books pasadenanow.com/main/pasaden...

Not a resident of Texas & still want to support? I’ve included ways you can help at the link provided! I’m also looking for Texas funeral directors to testify in Austin on Monday morning, so if you’re interested lmk!

Our next Mortal Media Club is coming up next week 3/26! We’ll be discussing reproductive justice & the important role the death positive movement has to play with @sarahcalavera.bsky.social & the Abortion Conversation Project www.orderofthegooddeath.com/membership

The neighborhood children are outside playing and the eldest (8 years old) is leading them in an “Elon Musk Sucks!” chant while my dog barks along. This is powerful magic

For Pi Day here’s a bit about the history of funeral pie, served at funeral meals among Old Order Mennonite and Amish communities whatscookingamerica.net/history/pieh... 📷: @thepieous

If you want to join any of my spring cemetery happenings, in person in Brooklyn and Buffalo to talk trees and grave history, and online to talk symbolism, I have a new newsletter for you mailchi.mp/ab8d89c57e2d...

someone just asked me about my weekend plans and i

In today’s research find of the day—when a female embalmer is asked if she’s afraid of the dead, she says no, just snakes and drunk men. (From the Birmingham Post, 1932)

TOMORROW come learn about the important work of Finding Ceremony with @intersectionist.bsky.social —a descendent-led reparationist process for restoring the lineages of care, reverence, & spiritual memory to the work of caring for their dead. Register: us06web.zoom.us/meeting/regi...

Where can you find the most viral food trend in China? At a funeral home www.bbc.com/news/article...

Jewish Burial Society pitcher from Mikulov, Moravia, 1836. Note the beautiful use of negative space. I also love the way these figures are painted, and how the Hebrew letters kind of echo their silhouettes

🤍 edit of my annual Valentine’s Day watch, Picnic at Hanging Rock (1975)

Every year I do a Goth Love Stories series for Valentine’s Day, but with everything going on I only have the capacity for a single post—but it’s a good one 💖 This artist created a monument to her & her wife’s marriage for their future burial site in Woodlawn Cemetery www.pride.com/lifestyle/20...

1/3 CALL TO ACTION What: Help protect Moses Macedonia African Cemetery in Bethesda, Maryland

I recently went to a lecture by Vikram Tamboli who founded the Healing & Harming Garden at UCLA, & remembered the Sinister Garden, created by a Kaiser pediatrician in the 70s to educate the public about common household & garden plants that were poisonous & even fatal

just saw a Tesla truck AND Jojo Siwa so, things are not looking good for me today #LAOmens

As the Eaton fire raged, employees at Mountain View Cemetery in Altadena & neighboring funeral homes banded together, using shovels & drums of water to extinguish hot embers, while others moved quickly to place bodies in vans & move them to safety www.nytimes.com/2025/01/18/u...

Reminded of and crying about the fact that Rev. Budde is also the person who provided Matthew Shepard's family with a safe haven for their son's remains. This is the person these fascists trying to brand themselves as Christians are targeting with hate, right now. www.npr.org/2018/10/26/6....

What happened when an impromptu band of all-female funeral arrangers went against a tyrannical government that did not represent them, their dead, or their traditions? www.orderofthegooddeath.com/article/how-...

Everything that was dear to Adrián Luna was in a small town in Idaho, and when he was deported, he died trying to find it again www.nytimes.com/2018/10/14/u...

LA FIRE VICTIMS—Cremated remains recovery assistance. If you or anyone you know had to evacuate & leave behind the cremated remains/ashes of someone—this team of volunteer archaeologists can help! Please help spread the word. Info & intake form to request help here: altahf.org

1/3 CALL TO ACTION What: Help protect Moses Macedonia African Cemetery in Bethesda, Maryland

As the Eaton fire raged, employees at Mountain View Cemetery in Altadena & neighboring funeral homes banded together, using shovels & drums of water to extinguish hot embers, while others moved quickly to place bodies in vans & move them to safety www.nytimes.com/2025/01/18/u...

1/2 Located in Orkney, an archipelago off the North coast of Scotland, this remarkable yet unusual memorial was created by a couple as a fitting tribute for Betty, a friend who died unexpectedly #BookWormSat

LA FIRE VICTIMS—Cremated remains recovery assistance. If you or anyone you know had to evacuate & leave behind the cremated remains/ashes of someone—this team of volunteer archaeologists can help! Please help spread the word. Info & intake form to request help here: altahf.org

Ways to help people displaced by LA wildfires (from someone displaced by the LA wildfires) First, some thoughts. I know from working in death + grief how hard it can be when you feel you can’t help someone who is experiencing a loss.

Ways to help people displaced by LA wildfires (from someone displaced by the LA wildfires) First, some thoughts. I know from working in death + grief how hard it can be when you feel you can’t help someone who is experiencing a loss.

Had to evacuate quickly (we are safe) But heartbreaking to see people frantic and struggling to save things that they cherish . A box full of someone’s precious family photos had fallen out of a car and were scattered to the winds. Scared animals being coaxed into cars

We’ve got ‘life-threatening and destructive’ winds in LA today, which started me thinking about #folklore and fear of winds that resulted in death, illness, and even dismemberment daily.jstor.org/when-europea...

Wood was beloved by the Chicano community here in LA. Many lowrider clubs quickly organized to hold memorial cruises throughout the city in Wood’s honor this past weekend

January is the season of the witch. Prior to the Christian church taking over January 6th as Epiphany or 3 Kings night, this was the holy night of Berchta, goddess of winter, witchcraft, and animals.

January is the season of the witch. Prior to the Christian church taking over January 6th as Epiphany or 3 Kings night, this was the holy night of Berchta, goddess of winter, witchcraft, and animals.

First watch of the year was The White Reindeer (1952), a gorgeous film combining 2 of my favorite things (witches + deer). Film discussion club theme this month is Earthy Fairy Tales, so I’d love your recommendations for dark fairy tale films (shows, too!)

Wishing you peace & safety, good food to eat, some moments of joy, support when things are horrible & hopeless, a pet to pet, a favorite new show to watch, & something wondrous for you to discover in the moments you need it most

At midnight on Christmas and New Year’s Eve, windows and doors should be opened to allow the spirits of the dead to pass through. Close them again on the 12th strike of the clock.

From ‘Dojoji Temple’ (1976)