Death Cafe holds space for group-directed discussions that are free from agenda, dogma or motives and invites you into the present. The main objective is to increase awareness of death, with the goal of helping people make the most of their finite lives by an open and compassionate forum for discussing death and dying.
Participants are invited to share their thoughts and experiences surrounding death and dying in an accessible, respectful and confidential space. Death Cafe is not a grief support or counseling session. Rather, it is a group driven discussion that encourages participants to share their own experiences and perspectives, while also listening deeply to the perspectives of others.
Anastasia Baratta is a guide, advocate, and educator for the realms of healing, movement and mortality. With a personal understanding of these themes, they journeyed deeper into study and practice acquiring certifications and completed training courses including Death Midwifery with Olivia Bareham. Anastasia’s work has since expanded to include intensive study and advocacy of personal and cultural healing through death literacy and community connection. They initiated Sacred Undertaking, an education, resources, and support offering for individuals and communities to navigate end-of-life experiences with compassion, empowerment, and dignity. They currently facilitate The High Desert Death Cafe at the Joshua Tree Retreat Center every second Sunday of the month, providing a space for open discussion and exploration of death-related topics. Anastasia’s work extends to other areas of their expertise, such as embodied movement techniques taught at Pilates and Arts in Joshua Tree. Their work combines their vocations in movement, sexuality, and death education to promote a holistic approach to wellness.
