Zine Spotlight: Ashley Coleman’s Five Day Death Workbook
Content Note: This post discusses the topic of death.
This week we'll be taking a closer look at the Five Day Death Workbook: Inviting Thoughts on Death and Mortality Into Your Daily Life by Ashley Coleman.
Ashley sent me a Five Day Death Workbook for consideration to thankubody's collection, and I was delighted to receive it. It was one of our first official submissions, which is an exciting milestone for thankubody.
I wasn't sure what to think when first reading the zine title as this addresses one of the most difficult and confronting topics that touch us all as humans.
Ashley was inspired to create this workbook from experience working and training as a death doula and end-of-life planner. It aims to reduce death anxiety which I can imagine is very common understandably.
"This might feel uncomfortable or overwhelming and I encourage you to take small steps and be kind to yourself as you complete these activities" Ashley Coleman
The workbook is set out as a 5-day workshop where you look at one activity and work through it each day. There is a lot of opportunity to reflect throughout the workbook. The exercises are really gentle and aim to ease you into taking small steps on this heavy topic.
Ashley suggests reading an activity the morning, taking the day to reflect and think about each exercise as you go about your usual day-to-day activities. Then completing the activity at the end of the day if that works okay. But, if you prefer to do an exercise in one sitting, that's okay too.
This terrific and sensitive workbook is a perfect example of how powerful zines can be as accessible support resources in times of need.
I'm really proud to have it as part of our collection.
The Five Day Death Workbook is $12.00 and available here.
*There is a content note with this zine. If you struggle with suicidal ideation or feel like you might find this content triggering in any way, consider holding off until you can work through this with a support person.
