April 26 2-4 pm | Free

Golden Hill Park (28th & Ash South Park)

Join The Death Network for Grief in Public Day - a gentle invitation to bring grief out of the shadows and into shared space.

This annual day of awareness exists to name something many of us already feel: grief is everywhere, yet we’re often left to carry it quietly. By creating space for grief in public, we begin to shift the narrative around where—and how—it’s allowed to be expressed.

Grief isn’t meant to be a solo journey, even though so many of us end up carrying it that way. This is an invitation to step out of isolation and into community - gently, and on your own terms.
Bring a photo or keepsake of someone you’ve lost, share a story if you feel called, or simply sit in the presence of others who understand without needing explanation. You’re invited to leave a note on our grief tree as a small act of remembrance—something tangible to honor what’s been lost and what still matters.

For those wanting a deeper conversation, our grief coaches will be holding an open discussion circle. You’re welcome to listen, to share, or just to be in the room. No fixing, no pressure—just space to acknowledge what’s real.

This isn’t therapy. It’s something simpler, and arguably more needed—a space to be human, together, and to acknowledge that whether we name it or not, we are all carrying some form of grief.

Pop over between 2-4 pm - we hope to see you there!

May 3 1:30 - 3:00 pm | Donation/Free

Sweetwater Zen Center

2727 Highland Ave. National City

Grief touches every part of us, yet no two experiences of it are the same. Like a fingerprint, it is entirely our own. Finding ways to move with grief, rather than against it, often means exploring what helps us express, process, and integrate loss into our lives.

Join us for an intimate and interactive workshop with author Laing Rikkers, whose own grief journey began with the death of her sister. In the aftermath, she found an unexpected companion in creative writing, eventually leading to her book Morning Leaves. Through her story, Laing will share how poetry and time in nature became a pathwayfor navigating life after loss, offering moments of clarity, connection, and even beauty.

Together, we’ll explore how creativity can serve as a gentle outlet for grief. This experience includes guided discussion, quiet time in nature to reflect and notice what arises, and an opportunity to engage in your own writing or creative expression. We’ll close by gathering in community to share reflections on the experience of slowing down, turning inward, and tapping into creativity as a tool for grief. Sharing is always optional.

Suggested donation $15

Online Every 2nd Monday

6:00 - 7:00 pm pst. | $5

Are you curious about becoming a death doula - or navigating the early stages of building your practice? Whether you’re just starting out or looking for guidance as you grow, this monthly gathering is for you.

The Death Network Collective invites you to join us for an open, supportive conversation about the realities of death doula work: the highs, the lows, and everything in between.
Each month we’ll dive into common questions like:

How do I connect with my community as a new death doula?

Do I need a website or social media presence?

Who/what/where/why and how do I network?

How do I set pricing and talk about money with potential clients?

This is not a class or a lecture - it’s a casual space for doulas, by doulas, where you can ask questions, share experiences, and learn from each other.

Every 3rd Saturday

4-5:30 pm | $10

South Park Yoga & Wellness

2985 Beech St. San Diego

We invite you to join us for a monthly gathering dedicated to exploring grief in all its complexity - gently, honestly, and in community.

This 90-minute session with Grief Coaches Wendy & Claudia offers a space for grief education, guided sharing, and meaningful connection. Together, we’ll explore a wide range of topics - from understanding the emotional and physical impact of grief, to navigating anxiety, redefining acceptance, building rituals, and even making space for hope, gratitude, and moments of joy along the way.

Grief is not linear, and neither are these conversations. Each gathering stands on its own while contributing to a larger, evolving understanding of what it means to live well while carrying loss, and how we can better care for ourselves and each other in the process.

Hosted by Grief Counselor Wendy Kessler and Grief Coach Claudia Faerber. All are welcome, wherever you are in your grief.n goes here

Every 4th Saturday

10:00 - 11:30 am pst | Free

Seaside Center for Spiritual Living

1613 Lake Dr · Encinitas, CA

At a Death Cafe, people, often strangers, gather to eat treats, drink tea and discuss death. Our objective is to increase awareness of death with a view to helping people make the most of their (finite) lives.

Our discussion groups are hosted by volunteer facilitators and the intention is to foster positive conversation within a like-minded community. Please be mindful and respectful of others. Remember, this is a discussion led by you. We want to hear as many voices as possible.

Sweetwater Zen Center

2727 Highland Ave. · National City, CA

Free

The Death Network Discussion Group is a guided (but not rigid) space for deeper, topic-driven conversations around death, dying, and the many ways we relate to them.
Each month, our host team of experienced death workers bring thought-provoking prompts to help spark meaningful discussion. We’re here to explore real talk, in real time, with curious and open-hearted people.

2026 dates:

Feb 8, May 3, July 19, Oct 18

Please check Meet Up for additional details and discussion topics.

Om Center for Spiritual Living

7951 University Ave · La Mesa, CA

Free

At a Death Cafe, people - often strangers - come together to enjoy treats, sip tea, and openly discuss death. Our goal is to encourage greater awareness of death, helping us all to live more fully in the time we have.

Our gatherings are led by volunteer facilitators, with the aim of fostering positive, thoughtful dialogue within a supportive community. By coming together as a community, we forge meaningful connections that honor our shared curiosity about death.

2026 dates:

May 31, Aug 30, Nov 29

Please check Meet Up for additional information.

Thursdays 5:45 - 7:00 pm

South Park Yoga & Wellness

2985 Beech St. San Diego

Free for members / $25 drop in

Grief is a universal experience - one that touches every life, yet is so often pushed aside in our fast-moving world. Whether you're grieving a person, a place, a version of yourself, or something else entirely, you are not alone. This gathering - hosted by Penny Waugh, a death doula, and Cass Lampe, a certified yoga instructor - is an invitation to come together in community and acknowledge that we’re all carrying something. In this space, we normalize grief and gently explore creative ways to weave it into our lives, rather than hide it away. Let’s face it, none of us can avoid grief, but we can choose how we meet it.

Each week, we’ll begin by gently grounding and arriving in the space, allowing the mind and body to settle. From there, we’ll move through gentle, restorative yoga postures designed to support the release of grief held in the body. We’ll close in a restful shavasana, where a guided meditation offers space for quiet reflection and integration.

This class is open to all, regardless of yoga or meditation experience.

Every 2nd & 4th Thursday

Online 5:30 pm PST | Free

Thoughtful Thursdays is a peer-led grief circle held on the 2nd and 4th Thursday of each month, co-facilitated by End of Life Coach Rhonda LoPresti and Grief Coach Lori Krause.

This is a gentle, welcoming space where each experience is honored. There is no fixing, no advice-giving, and no pressure to explain or prove anything - just human beings meeting with care.

This gathering exists because sharing can be healing. Grief touches every life - through death, change, endings, and the quiet heartbreaks that don’t always have names. When it is spoken aloud, or simply witnessed, something softens. It becomes easier to breathe. We remember this was never meant to be carried alone.

You are welcome here, whether your grief is fresh or old, loud or quiet, known or unnamed. There is a seat for you.

March 15 4-5 pm pst. $25

Singing Hills Memorial Park El Cajon

The Death Network invites you to join us as we gather as simple humans in a sacred, natural setting to pause and listen. Nestled in the foothills of El Cajon, Singing Hills Memorial Park is a cemetery surrounded by rolling hills, quiet paths, and wide skies - an ideal place to reflect on life, death, and everything in between.

As the day begins to soften toward evening, we’ll come together in community for a sound healing with Brent Honnerlaw, honoring sound as an ancient, grounding practice that helps us settle into our bodies and the present moment. This is not therapy or a support group - just people gathering with curiosity, reverence, and appreciation for the full cycle of being alive.

April 8 5-7 pm | Free

Poseidon Project

4126 Napier St. San Diego (Bay Park)

At The Death Network, you know we’re passionate about lifting the taboo around talking about death. Over the past year, we’ve loved connecting with so many of you at our Death Cafes and discussion groups across San Diego. This time, we’re excited to switch things up with a more casual gathering - an evening to mix, mingle, and share a drink with folks who appreciate some good, honest conversation about death and dying. Grab a drink, and come hang out with us for an evening of community, curiosity, and conversation - served with a side of good beer.

Death Over Drafts is a laid-back night out where good drinks meet real talk. It’s a chance to connect with like-minded folks who aren’t afraid to go deep - chatting about life, loss, and everything in between.

This month, we’re teaming up with our friends at Autonomy Health, they'll be on hand to chat about medical aid in dying (MAiD) and how this legal option is allowing folks to make end of life decisions with knowledge and agency.