The Luddenden Shroud: Film and Talk by Rachel Hawthorn
Tuesday August 20, 6.30 pm
Natural Endings Funeral Services, Former Mail Sorting Office, Rise Lane, Todmorden, OL147AA
Rachel Hawthorn is an Artist, Death Doula, and Shroud Maker. She has made a shroud for, and with, her friend Janet, as a soft, enfolding, earthy alternative to a traditional coffin. Janet was born in the Luddenden Valley and she intends to be buried there, in the small council-run natural burial ground. All the materials used in the making have been sourced from the valley itself, the place that has cradled Janet throughout her life. The Luddenden Shroud is a hand-felted woollen shroud along with a woven cradle crafted from foraged ivy, bramble, holly and willow. It is both a functional object and an art work about life and death.
Come and see The Luddenden Shroud which will be on display in the beautiful space at Natural Endings for one evening only. There will be time to get up close to touch shroud and see the materials used to make it. Rachel will introduce the film (approx 28 mins running time) and there will be time for questions and discussion afterwards. The film tells the story of the making of the shroud, and documents the journeys Janet and Rachel went on through the making process, reflecting on experiences of loss, times of sorrow and hardship. The result is a death-postive meditation on friendship and the healing powers of nature and creativity.
Join us to learn all about this fascinating project and ask your questions and share your thoughts. This event is free but space is limited. Please reserve your ticket here.
The Fiery Farewell A ceremony of performance and fire for those things left unsaid
Friday September 13, 6.30 pm Join us for a stirring evening of sensational song and ceremony. With music, songs, dance and performance, the evening will end with the Burning of the Letters Ceremony. More information to follow on the multitude of performers we can expect. Bar & snacks. tea & coffee.
Do you have things left unsaid?
Didn’t get the chance to say anything?
Wanted to say something but didn’t know how?
Many of us have Things Left Unsaid to loved (and sometimes not so loved) departed ones.
Here are two ways Pushing Up Daisies can help you unburden your heart: -
Say it now!...
Write a letter to your person or pet or whatever you have lost, send it to us and choose if you would like us to save it for the archive for posterity or send it skywards in our special First Class Smokey Fiery Mail....
Send us your letters to the dead and we will forward them into the ether on Friday 13th September at the Unitarian Church, Todmorden, at our “Fiery Farewell”.
You can post your letters via Royal Mail to:-
Things Left Unsaid 29 Rochdale Road, Todmorden , OL14 7LA
OR Pop it in to the post box at Todmorden Library, 8, Rochdale Road, Todmorden , OL14 5AA
PUD Visit to Leeds City Museum for the Living With Death Exhibition Date to be decided
Some of you will have joined us back in March when we had a visit from Adam Jaffer, Curator, World Cultures at Leeds Museums and Galleries. He came to tell us all about a new exhibition that launched in May at Leeds City Museum entitled Living with Death: an exhibition exploring death, dying and bereavement.
This exhibition invites visitors to discover how people experience death, grief and dying in different ways. Living with Death looks at how humans have developed knowledge and skills in response to life ending. The exhibition hopes to gently encourage conversation through personal stories, and objects from across the world and throughout history. A series of talks, workshops, and family-friendly events will complement the exhibition throughout the year. The exhibition runs until to January 2025.
We thought it might be nice for a Pushing Up Daisies visit to the exhibition where we can have a guided tour and a discussion afterwards. If we can find a date that a number of us can do we will get this arranged. We are not able to provide transport but will share details if any volunteers can offer transport.
Please complete ALL of your availability on this simple form. We will be in touch with the outcome soon.