Two squares from 'story quilts', made by Nicci Crowther and her family and friends Photo: Photos: Colin Luke
We need to talk about death
Guest editor Judith Moran introduces this special issue
A group of children were in a workshop in their primary school. ‘What is death?’ they were asked. Easy. The answers came out quickly. Lack of breathing. Lack of movement. Gone. Forever. ‘So, what is life?’ they were asked. Not so easy, of course. The children um-ed and ah-ed and stumbled over their answers. Don’t we all? The Natural Death Centre’s perspective is that: ‘A preparation for dying is a preparation for living’. Our life is finite and to reflect that it will one day end can lead to a greater appreciation of life, a spiritual journey, a desire to seize the day or to smell the roses. Yet, where to begin? There are many matters to consider: practical issues (cremation or burial?) financial matters (what about a will?), concerns about health and illness (do I want my life prolonged as long as possible, or not?), coping with a bereavement (how will I manage?). Big and painful questions. Maybe the greatest challenge is finding a way to talk about these issues openly in the first place?
