The Living Funeral Ceremony, hosted by instructor Alfine Nathalie, is a two-hour guided experience designed to invite participants to turn bravely and intentionally toward their own mortality. Through encountering your personal memorial, engaging in a reflective writing exercise, and being guided through a meditative death visualization, you are offered the opportunity to leave with a renewed sense of mindfulness, acceptance, and appreciation for the beauty and impermanence of your life.

Further developed by Emily Cross, a UK-based artist and death doula, this practice draws inspiration from “living funerals” in South Korea, where thousands have participated in similar ceremonies to confront mortality and gain clarity about their lives. At places such as the Hyowon Healing Center in Seoul, participants write eulogies, prepare mock wills, and meditate on their lives while lying in coffins — all with the aim of fostering a deeper appreciation for life, reconciling with loved ones, and living with greater intention. This tradition underscores the profound impact of reflecting on death as a way to more fully embrace life.

The ceremony has three key portions, and we ask participants to arrive between 4:00–4:15 PM to settle in and connect briefly before the experience begins promptly at 4:30 PM. To preserve the potency of the practice, we prefer minimal talking after the ceremony ends. Please come dressed in comfortable attire for sitting, writing, and lying down. You are welcome to bring water, tissues, or a handkerchief.

Pricing & Accessibility:

• Tiered Pricing (you choose): $45, $65, or $85

• 4 of 10 spots are reserved for by-donation attendance

• Payment accepted via CashApp, Venmo, PayPal, or exact cash

Whether you are seeking to overcome fears of death, navigate life’s transitions, or simply engage in a profound self-reflective practice, the Living Funeral Ceremony offers a rare opportunity to connect deeply with the mystery of mortality and to emerge with a renewed commitment to living fully.

The Living Funeral Ceremony, hosted by instructor Alfine Nathalie, is a two-hour guided experience designed to invite participants to turn bravely and intentionally toward their own mortality. Through encountering your personal memorial, engaging in a reflective writing exercise, and being guided through a meditative death visualization, you are offered the opportunity to leave with a renewed sense of mindfulness, acceptance, and appreciation for the beauty and impermanence of your life.

Further developed by Emily Cross, a UK-based artist and death doula, this practice draws inspiration from “living funerals” in South Korea, where thousands have participated in similar ceremonies to confront mortality and gain clarity about their lives. At places such as the Hyowon Healing Center in Seoul, participants write eulogies, prepare mock wills, and meditate on their lives while lying in coffins — all with the aim of fostering a deeper appreciation for life, reconciling with loved ones, and living with greater intention. This tradition underscores the profound impact of reflecting on death as a way to more fully embrace life.

The ceremony has three key portions, and we ask participants to arrive between 4:00–4:15 PM to settle in and connect briefly before the experience begins promptly at 4:30 PM. To preserve the potency of the practice, we prefer minimal talking after the ceremony ends. Please come dressed in comfortable attire for sitting, writing, and lying down. You are welcome to bring water, tissues, or a handkerchief.

Pricing & Accessibility:

• Tiered Pricing (you choose): $45, $65, or $85

• 4 of 10 spots are reserved for by-donation attendance

• Payment accepted via CashApp, Venmo, PayPal, or exact cash

Whether you are seeking to overcome fears of death, navigate life’s transitions, or simply engage in a profound self-reflective practice, the Living Funeral Ceremony offers a rare opportunity to connect deeply with the mystery of mortality and to emerge with a renewed commitment to living fully.

Our last circle of the year is a time to pause, breathe, and celebrate joy together. As the year closes, we gather to honor belonging in its many forms — family, friendship, culture, and the communities we create. Joy may show up in song, memory, ritual, or laughter; belonging may live in the people who hold us, or in the deep roots within ourselves.

Through guided writing prompts, participants will be invited to reflect on the moments of joy and belonging that sustained them this year. Together, we will also look ahead — setting intentions for what we want to carry into the new year. After quiet writing time, those who wish may share their words, weaving a collective vision of renewal, hope, and celebration.

Why It Matters
Ending the year in joy and community reminds us that our stories are not only about survival, but also about love, connection, and possibility. By naming what gives us belonging and setting intentions for the future, we step into the new year grounded, clear, and hopeful.

✨ Goal: To experience joy in community, honor belonging, and set intentions together for the year to come.