Guide to Death Literacy
From The Observatory
Editor:
Source: The Observatory
As people live longer and face increasingly complex end-of-life decisions, understanding death and dying has never been more important. This guide explores the emerging movement of death literacy, offering practical tools, knowledge, and community resources to help individuals navigate mortality with clarity and confidence. From fostering open conversations about death to exploring near-death experiences and preparing for end-of-life care, these articles provide insights into how we can approach death as a natural, supported, and meaningful part of life.
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By Caren Martineau | From The Observatory
As people live longer, understanding and preparing for death has become increasingly important. The death literacy movement equips individuals with knowledge, skills, experience, and community resources to navigate end-of-life care, grief, and planning. Originating in Australia and spreading internationally, it fosters open conversations about dying, reduces fear and denial, and supports both caregivers and communities. By providing practical tools and guidance, death literacy helps make death a more natural, supported, and understood part of life.
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Facing mortality can be difficult, yet understanding and preparing for the end of life can improve both personal well-being and the experience of those around us. This article explores the cultural, psychological, and practical reasons people avoid thinking about death, from societal taboos to death denial and the search for symbolic or literal immortality. It also highlights strategies for building death literacy, including self-reflection, open conversations, and advance planning, empowering individuals to approach death with clarity, confidence, and emotional resilience.
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By Leslie Alan Horvitz | From The Observatory
Near-death experiences (NDEs) occur when people come close to dying or face life-threatening situations, often reporting feelings of peace, moving through tunnels of light, encounters with spiritual beings, or out-of-body sensations. While details vary across cultures and religions, the core experiences are remarkably similar. Scientists propose biological, psychological, and neurochemical explanations, though some survivors interpret NDEs as evidence of life beyond death. These experiences can profoundly impact those who have them, often reducing fear of death, shifting priorities, or inspiring meaningful life changes. Despite ongoing research, NDEs remain mysterious, highlighting the limits of our understanding and the powerful insights that firsthand accounts provide.
