Frequently asked questions…
Q: What is This Mortal Life?
This Mortal Life is, in many ways, a gathering place for all that I’ve been cultivating in my own life over the past several years: community, authentic connection, joy in simple pleasures and practices that help us rise above the noise and despair of the wider world. At its heart, it is about remembering that we do not have to face the fractures of our society alone, by building community and living intentionally we can create pockets of resistance, hope and wholeness.
It’s my hope to connect with others who ‘get it,’ and together shape a space for exploring what it means to live well in light of our mortality. This site offers events, resources, and reflections to support deeper connection with ourselves, each other, and the natural cycles of birth, growth, rest and release.
Q: What events and gatherings does This Mortal Life host?
This Mortal Life creates opportunities to step away from isolation and into genuine connection. We gather eight times a year in rhythm with the Wheel of the Year, honouring the turning seasons through shared ritual, reflection, creativity and conversation. Each gathering is shaped by the season’s themes, but they all centre on one thing we know binds us together: a shared meal, offered “potluck” style, where good food and meaningful dialogue nourish both body and soul. We create these events together, collaboration is the key to community.
In addition to these seasonal gatherings, Esther runs a couple of book clubs and is launching a range of community events and workshops in 2026 in collaboration with other local creatives and community organisations. A range of inclusive community events and gatherings run throughout the year. Some spaces are intentionally smaller and more contained, while others are open to the wider community.
Upcoming offerings are always featured here.
Q: Who is This Mortal Life for?
This Mortal Life is for those who feel out of step with the pace and priorities of the modern world. Those seeking connection over consumption, meaning over metrics, and belonging over busyness.
It’s for people who sense that gathering in community is a radical act in a culture that profits from our disconnection. For the ones who are crafting gentler ways of living and dying.
Here, we make space for what is real: honest conversation, shared meals, creative expression and practices that root us back into the cycles of life, death and renewal. Together we remember that we are not alone, that community, care and connection are not luxuries, but necessities.
Ultimately, This Mortal Life is an open, kind and inclusive space for open, kind and inclusive people, from all walks of life. This Mortal Life is for anyone who wants to be here. And it’s especially for those who want to collaborate, connect and find joy wherever we can.
Q: Who can come to events and gatherings?
Ultimately, This Mortal Life is an open, kind and inclusive space for open, kind and inclusive people.
Everyone is welcome at This Mortal Life who share an interest in seasonal reflection and community building. Our events are hosted in North Somerset and Bristol areas of the UK and aim to create spaces for those interested in being in them with us. If events are ticketed, they will be offered with a tiered pricing structure designed to ensure that no one is excluded because of financial circumstance.
Our seasonal gatherings are ticketed at £5 for non-members and free for members. We do not want money to be a barrier to attending though, so if the £5 fee would be a burden, but you are intentional in your desire to attend, please simply reach out to Esther directly for a chat, email hello@thismortallife.co.uk.
Once a person attends a couple of our seasonal gatherings and has gotten a sense of the community we’re building here, if they are keen to join our community, they can join our membership WhatsApp group, and they are then officially a ‘member’ of This Mortal Life. This approach helps to reduce no-shows and keep our community focused on active, intentional participation.
Our commitment is to create spaces where people of all backgrounds can participate fully, share in community and feel a genuine sense of belonging. We also believe that collaboration is the answer to most problems, so if you have feedback or ideas about how we can collectively improve accessibility and inclusivity, your voice is not only welcome but encouraged.
Some seasonal gatherings may be kept closed to current members only for practical and community building reasons.
All spaces held by Esther and under the banner of This Mortal Life are explicitly queer-friendly.
If you have questions or concerns about what spaces you might feel comfortable in, please feel free to reach out for a chat in advance of attending. I am always happy to make time for this.
Q: Why are This Mortal Life gatherings sober events?
To put it simply, because centering alcohol at social gatherings isn’t the flex it once was. More and more people are choosing to drink less, or not at all, for all kinds of reasons. There’s nothing wrong with enjoying a drink, but it’s not a priority or a prerequisite for connection.
This Mortal Life’s seasonal gatherings are alcohol-free because, for some, it’s a welcome pause from the pressure to drink, and for others, it’s a relief not to have that pressure at all. Creating spaces where everyone can be fully present, comfortable, and included feels far more meaningful than raising a glass ever could.
Q: Why are we asked to prepare something in advance to contribute towards the bring-and-share meals at Seasonal Gatherings?
One of the ways we cultivate community at our seasonal gatherings is through the shared meal we create together. We ask everyone to prepare something in advance, according to the seasonal theme of the gathering, rather than bringing shop-bought items on the day, because the act of making and offering food is part of the ritual itself. These gatherings are not designed as events to consume, but as spaces where we each contribute something of ourselves for the benefit of the whole group.
There is no expectation that what you bring should be elaborate; a simple salad, a bowl of washed and prepared tomatoes, or a loaf of bread served with care is every bit as welcome as a more complex dish. What matters is the intention behind it. Taking the time to wash, prepare and bring food for others invites us to pause and think about the people we will be sharing the meal with, fostering the spirit of generosity, reciprocity and care that sits at the heart of these gatherings.
There are also some practical considerations. As we gather outdoors, we don't have facilities for washing freshly purchased fruit and vegetables, and shop-bought foods often arrive with plastic packaging that can easily become waste we need to manage in a natural environment. Unfinished dips, salads and other packaged foods can also create difficulties at the end of the gathering, as they are rarely taken home and require someone else to transport, clean up and recycle the containers. By preparing and bringing a dish from home, you help us create a more intentional, sustainable and reciprocal experience for everyone.
Q: Is there photography and video taken at events? What if I don’t want to be in photographs?
Yes, events are always photographed, as I like to reflect and record reflections on events through the This Mortal Life blog. I also use photographs on the website and for social media purposes to promote This Mortal Life and the types of events we do. If you don’t want to be included in photographs, no problem, please make yourself known to me when you arrive. We will be sure to not include you in photos, and not use photos where you may be included.
Q: What is the Resource Library?
The Resource Library contains a growing collection of resources that I have found interesting and useful in my personal growth and through my journey with death literacy and community building work. When we ponder our mortality, it tends to lead us towards living more fully in the present and so the resources found here are often aimed at supporting learning and conversations around mortality, building community, seasonal celebrations and living and dying well. You can find a range of books, podcast episodes, film and tv recommendations, and other groups and networks to help you navigate what life throws at you. This is a queer-friendly space, so you will find some great queer-friendly resources in this library too.
Q: How do I join the This Mortal Life community?
Sign up for the This Mortal Life mailing list to stay informed about upcoming seasonal gatherings, book clubs, workshops and other events. You won’t be spammed, only one or two emails a month will land in your inbox to let you know what’s new and what’s happening in the North Somerset and Bristol areas, as well as online events that you may want to get involved in. Please also follow and engage with @thismortallife.uk on Instagram if you’re there!
Once you’ve attended a couple of our gatherings, if you plan to continue joining us and want to be included in our WhatsApp community, you will be welcome to do so, just ask Esther!
Q: What is the benefit of talking about mortality, death and endings?
The philosophy we uphold in this space is that endings are a natural part of the rhythm of life; they are not two separate events. By engaging with mortality with openness and curiosity, we are able to live more authentically, plan ahead, foster more meaningful relationships and reduce fear and anxiety so we can live more joyfully. Ultimately, I don’t want to sleepwalk through life, I want to engage with it…every single bit that comes my way. And I think having an awareness of my mortality allows me to do this, being more present and enjoying life’s small pleasures all the more for it.
Q: Are you practicing as a death doula?
I began my death doula foundation course training to further build on my skills and knowledge to support my community as an advance care planning advocate and facilitator of meaningful conversation. I run events such as death cafes, workshops and seasonal gatherings that encourage exploration of life, death and all that comes in between. I am happy to answer questions and signpost people to the support that best suits them, but my practice is currently centred on creative community education and facilitation. I am a member of End of Life Doula UK and benefit from the resources and peer support available through this membership, but I am not offering professional death doula services.