Festival 2024
The To Absent Friends festival took place across Scotland from 1-7 November 2024.
It was an opportunity to remember, to tell stories, to celebrate and to reminisce about people we love who have died. To Absent Friends, a People’s Festival of Storytelling and Remembrance is an opportunity to revive lost traditions and create new ones.
Below is a list of the events that took place.
To Absent Friends at HMP Edinburgh
Organised by Marie Curie Edinburgh in collaboration with HMP Edinburgh
Tuesday 5th & Thursday 7th November
HMP Edinburgh
These events are not open to the public.
Marie Curie Edinburgh will be hosting two sessions to give prisoners an opportunity to share stories, remember and talk about people who have died.
A team of staff and volunteers from within and outside the prison community will deliver the sessions, taking on various roles including musicians and calligraphers. They will share refreshments and support participants in facilitated discussions and in creating leaves for a memory tree.
This event is supported by a To Absent Friends small grant.
Image credit: Marie Curie Edinburgh
Having Conversation That Matter
Organised by NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde Planning Your Care
5th November 2024, 2-3.30pm
Online (MS Teams)
This event is open to the public.
This is an experiential workshop to give participants an easy way to start thinking about what’s important to them and those around them. This event is open to anyone – a very gentle approach to having those sensitive conversations.
Please note this is an online session via Ms Teams. It is important you have access to a microphone and camera and that you are somewhere you feel safe to contribute to discussions.
Photo credit: Priscilla Du Preez on Unsplash
Musical Memories
Organised by Sacred Sanctuary
5th November 2024
Dysart Community Hall, Kinghorn, KY1 2JD
This event is open to the public.
This event will feature a karaoke of remembrance songs, tea/coffee/biscuits, chill out chat, reiki zone, postbox station for people to write letters, candle to light with a memory book, bee-saving seed packs for people to take away and plant in memory, and a tribute wall. We will be remembering teens Jon Leonard, Lisa Hutton, and Joseph Wilcox - their parents will share their stories and invite others to share as well.
Photo credit: William Fitzsimmons
North Berwick Sings
Organised by North Berwick Coastal Community Connections
5 November, 11:30am -12:00pm
Abbey Church, North Berwick
This event is open to the public. Please register in advance.
Listen to the choir, led by Anya Bisset, sing a range of uplifting songs celebrating life and remembrance of loved ones.
All of our events are free, but ticketed, and open to everyone. To book your place
please email: admin@nbc-communityconnections.org.
Photo credit: Michael Maasen via Unsplash
To Absent Friends Online Remembrance
Organised by Lesley MacCulloch, soul midwife and end-of-life companion
Two sessions on Monday 4 November. There will be one at 1.30pm and one at 6.30pm. They will go for one hour.
Online via Zoom
These sessions are open to the public. Please register in advance.
As part of this week-long Scottish festival I will be holding two online events. I invite you to join me to unite in sacred remembrance of friends, family, and anyone who has touched your heart who is no longer with us in physical body but whose spirits we remember and whose souls live on within us and around us.
The events will be held on Zoom. You need bring nothing other than yourself. You need say nothing, but I do ask that you come prepared to be present with your video on, to show transparency and respect for all who attend.
You may wish to bring a candle. Some writing or drawing tools. Some photos of absent loved ones. Some hankies and some water. There will be plenty of opportunity to speak or share for those who wish to. You may like to read a poem, share a short story, or simply speak the name of or bless your absent friend/s.
The space will be yours, to honour and dignify your loved ones, be they human or animal. Together we will acknowledge those absent friends you wish to grieve for, connect with, thank, smile about, or simply spend some sacred time being together with in divine grace.
Please contact me at hello@lesleymacculloch.com with your email address and the event you would like to attend. The events are free, but I do ask that if you register your interest and find you are unable to come nearer the time that you let me know.
I will send out Zoom links closer to the time to all who register.
Photo credit: Lesley MacCulloch
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