Workshops around planning your end of life celebration. Knowing that your last wishes are in place frees you to up to enjoy life to the full. Taking this thoughtful action will also ease the way for those left behind.

In a workshop Jean would guide you through the many options available and answers any questions that may arise while planning your final farewell.

Discuss your choices; create a theme, being especially conscious of cost, practicalities and environmental issues

Deciding on a venue for the service/ceremony; choose music, poetry, readings and what to take with you. These are the memories that will linger on in the hearts of those left behind

Finalise the contents of the ceremony/service; do you wish to have a gathering afterwards? How would you like to be remembered?

Tuesday April 25th – Pretty things tea rooms, Park Place, Horsham, RH12 1DG – 10.am – 4.pm. Delicious refreshments available to purchase all day.

Friday May 12^th – Congleton, Cheshire.

Or at a venue and date of your choice.

Booking essential: 01403 273754.

TALK – PLAN – LIVE – – –
The last Tuesday in every month
Please arrive promptly: 6.15 pm. – 8pm.
At: Pretty Things, 4 Park Place, Horsham, RH12 1DG
Choose from the delicious selection of cakes, teas
and coffees available during the evening
There is no charge to attend a Death Café but donations are welcomed to help cover Continue reading →

Horsham Festival – Celebrating the Wheel of Life: Sat. May 23rd 11.00am – 12.00pm. Starting at the Human Nature Garden in Horsham Park, this unique event features a walk and ceremony led by Mindfulness Coach, Dorothy Larios, & ceremony by Trish Norman. Those with unwell or distantly located friends or relatives may find this earth based ceremony particularly comforting.

Dorothy Larios Says: ‘If you have someone dear to you who is ill or suffering, a friend that lives far from you on the other side of the country or Continue reading →

**NEW 2016 EVENT – Horsham Circle of Life Festival**  – Saturday May 28th – Saturday June 4th – See our Programme of Events here. Many free events.

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PAST EVENTS 2015

May 16th – 24th 2015
Sunday 17th May, 10.30am – approx. 12.30pm
Celebrating the Animals in Our Lives – The exact duration of this walk depends on the number of people taking part but walkers can leave or extend their walk at any time. An easy family and dog friendly walk through lovely woodland on firm surfaces. Those who wish to are invited to bring their pet’s cremated remains, which will be scattered as we walk, or simply just bring your memories. Ceremonial pauses will punctuate our amble as we remember our loyal friends. Special bags will be provided so if you would like help transferring the ashes, please arrive 30 minutes before the walk is due to begin. During the walk we will collect a treasure from nature; such as a special leaf, a feather, a flower… with which we will create a sacred space as we honour and remember our beloved friends. The walk will take place whatever the weather, so please dress accordingly.
Ceremonies will be led by Jean Francis and Trish Norman
Meet at Roosthole Car Park, Hammerpond Road, Horsham, RH13 6PG, directions are available on request: lifeandmemorialcelebrations@gmail.com
This walk is wheelchair, pushchair and dog friendly – all welcome

Monday May 18th 2.30 – 4.00 pm
A Water Ceremony – Celebrating the importance of water in our lives….
We will stroll for half hour around Chesworth, making our way to a viewing platform that overlooks the river. On this walk, we will use water as an opportunity to connect to ourselves, nature and to let go of unfinished business, giving it to the waters to enable ourselves to freely move on. Join us to celebrate and reflect on how water nourishes us and is a vital part of the natural process of dying, birth and life. The walk will be led by Horsham’s Healthy walk Co-ordinator Jill Shuker with Paula Altar leading the ceremony. Walkers will then make their way to Pretty Things, 4 Park Place where they will be assured of a warm welcome and a delicious afternoon tea can be purchased. This is also the perfect opportunity to chat with Jill and Paula about the work they do.
Meet at in Queensway at the junction with Chesworth Lane, Horsham, RH13 0AA. Free parking is available after mid-day.
This walk is wheelchair, pushchair and dog friendly – all welcome.
This walk will take place regardless of weather, so please dress accordingly.

Tuesday May 19th 2.00pm – 3.30pm
Celebrating the Abundance of Nature – We will gather newly sprouted oak leaves as we walk through beautiful woodland surroundings, concluding with a ceremony led by Lyn Baylis and Sadie Turner who will greet us in a woodland glade where they will bless the leaves in an earth based ceremony and offer a tasting of last year’s brew. Much of the walk will be on easy, firm paths but there will be an opportunity to walk to the river but paths could be slippery in parts. The walk will be led by Horsham’s Healthy Walk Co-ordinator Jill Shuker and will take place whatever the weather so please dress accordingly. The exact length of the walk can be decided on the day.
Meet at Leechpool car park, RH13 6SG
This walk is wheelchair, pushchair and dog friendly – all welcome.
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Friday May 22nd 10.00 – 11.00am
Walk for Wellbeing – This is a short, easy and thoughtful walk using the Downs Link path, led by Horsham’s Healthy Walk co-ordinator Jill Shuker. The walk will be followed by an optional invitation to discuss the similarities between the circle of life and the varying seasons, in the Lakeside Café where coffee or lunch can be purchased.
With the understanding that birth, life’s journey, death and beyond are all interwoven and that we can’t have one without the other, this is an ideal opportunity for people to come together to discuss such issues. Talking openly about our hopes, our fears and realisations can enrich our daily lives and help us to recognise and acknowledge the wonderment that surrounds us.
Meet in the Car Park of Country Park Southwater, off Cripplegate Lane, RH13 7UN
All welcome, wheelchair, pushchair and dog friendly.
This walk will take place regardless of weather, so please dress accordingly

Sunday May 24th 11.00am – 2.30 pm
A Celebratory Walk, Picnic and Closing Peace Ceremony – This occasion has been organised to mark the 15th Anniversary of Healthy Walks in Horsham with Jill Shuker. Led by Jill and drummers, a noisy procession will move around the park, finally gathering in the Human Nature Garden for a picnic. The pace will then quieten with music and circle dancing; the theme being Peace. A short time of reflection will take place, followed by a ceremony that celebrates the continuation of Horsham’s Healthy Walks and marks the end of Horsham Festival Week.
Meet at the Conservatory Café at 11.00 am or join at any time. Please bring your own picnic, drums, whistles and saucepan lids. Should the weather be wet, the walk will still take place so please dress accordingly. The picnic and proceedings that follow will take place in Park Barn.
Wheelchair and pushchair friendly, all welcome, sorry, no dogs allowed inside the Human Nature Garden or Park Barn.

Drop in for an evening of life, death, contemplation and of course delicious cake!

We meet on the last Tuesday of each month with the exception of December.

Please arrive at 5.45 for a prompt 6.00 pm start – 8 pm

Venue: Pretty Things, 4 Park Place Horsham, RH12 1DG

We ask that you choose from the delicious selection of cakes, teas and coffees available during the evening

The café is hosted by – Jean Francis, One Spirit Interfaith Minister, pre-need funeral planner and author

This is the perfect opportunity for people to come together tp talk about the end of life issues and death but is not a bereavement group

tThere is no charge to attend a death café but donations are appreciated to cover expenses so that we can offer more death cafes.

Drop in for an evening of life, death, cake and contemplation

Date: August 28^th 2014 then every last Thursday of each month

Time: Please arrive no later than 5.45 for 6.00 pm. – 8pm.

Venue: Pretty Things, 4 Park Place, Horsham, RH12 1DG

We ask that you choose from the delicious selection of cakes, teas and coffees available during the evening

Places are limited, so please book early – 01403 273754

The café is hosted by – Jean Francis – One Spirit Interfaith Minister, pre-need funeral arranger and author

This is a perfect opportunity for people to come together to talk about death but it is not a bereavement group

There is no charge made to attend a Death Café but donations are requested to cover expenses so that we can offer more cafes.

Having recently taken part in this workshop I can thoroughly recommend it, the next one takes place in Dorset in November 2014. Having lived with the experience for a week I felt drawn to write the following:

‘Having well and truly faced my own mortality it feels like I have been given a second chance. Each day feels so sweet, like a new beginning. Bird song seems louder and clearer than usual, the colour of the flowers more vibrant – I have found a deeper meaning to life. I am living in the moment, enjoying and cherishing all that surrounds me and of course – laughing a lot!’ Jean Francis – One Spirit Interfaith Minister, pre-need funeral arranger and author.

The following was written by a previous ‘Dying to Live’ workshop participant:

A Cure for Constipation

I came to the workshop with bad constipation

And such a fierce pain in my head,

But I didn’t expect to attend my cremation —

I didn’t expect to be dead !

 But death has assisted my recuperation

And now I’m beginning to thrive –

For the poems, the photos, the fun meditations,

The obits, the songs, the artistic creations,

The gibberish, hugging and visualisations,

The teachings of Osho, the carers-and-patients,

The dancing, the laughter, the tears, the elation

Have wakened in me joyous anticipation –

I want to jump into a wild celebration –

I’m dying to feel so alive !

http://livinganddying.co.uk/nextwshp.htm

find meaning in mortality 5-7 September – Bournville, UK

Nominations are now open

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