A Living Funeral Ceremony

A Living Funeral Ceremony is an immersive meditative experience that encourages participants to face their own mortality. Through engaging in ritual and guidance through a death visualization–contemplating your own memorial as you imagine letting go of your earthly self–participants are invited to “die before you die, to live while you’re alive.”

This ceremonial experience provides a safe and supportive space to confront fears around death and impermanence, while also fostering a deeper connection to life’s fragility and beauty. Often compared to the experience of ego death, this ritual leaves many with a renewed sense of purpose and a profound appreciation for the present moment.

In honor of the season, Rosemary will serve as a plant ally, offering its grounding and clarifying properties to support participants throughout this transformative experience.

Timing:
Please arrive on time by 7pm, as the doors will close once the ceremony begins to honor the sacred environment we are co-creating. The ritual portion takes up to 90 minutes. After the ceremony is complete, Kaitlyn will hold space for participants to reflect alone or in community, sip tea, and gently reintegrate until 10pm.

What to bring:
A yoga mat, or something to lay on
(optional) A blanket for covering during the meditation

What to wear:
Comfortable, breathable clothing is recommended.

This ceremony will be led by Kaitlyn Pietras (she/her), a queer Jewish grief worker, herbalist, and visual artist. Kaitlyn is passionate about tending to personal and communal grief, connecting with her ancestors, and serving the LGBTQIA+ community. She has a deep love for plant magic + Jewish mysticism. Kaitlyn trained directly with Emily Cross of Steady Waves Center who originally created this ceremony inspired by living funerals first conducted in South Korea in an effort to prevent suicides by helping people to see the value of their lives.