The Morbid Anatomy Library houses an extensive collection of image-heavy books exploring  death in art and culture, anatomical art, Latin American art and culture, collectors and collecting, sexology, the uncanny, decadence, horror and atrocity, the gothic, circus and sideshow, and the occult. You will also find an idiosyncratic collection of art, artifacts and curiosities from around the world and a gift shop filled with strange, rare and wonderful objects including signed and vintage books, obscure tarot decks, antique Mexican retablos, and magical and devotional objects from around the world.

Join Dr. Paul Koudounaris and Death Doula Lauren Seeley as they discuss the history of pet loss grief, burial, and memorialization. They address the importance of grief validation and acknowledgment around pet loss, pet loss grief, and the need for pet parents to create monuments around the lives and legacy of their beloveds. Dr. Paul Koudounaris will discuss this history of pet mourning and his book on animal burials and memorials, Faithful Unto Death, sharing a wealth of fascinating, heartwarming, and often bizarre stories and images.

Join us at The Morbid Anatomy Library to read some or our many books, marvel at our collection of curiosities, and peruse our gift shop. Today, we also invite you to take part in an informal tarot salon during opening hours, in which we’ll share, enjoy, and discuss readings and interpretations in a friendly and non-competitive atmosphere. This free event is for curious fans, enthusiasts, dedicated scholars, and for those who just want to learn more about tarot from other tarot enthusiasts. Bring your own deck or use the display decks from our tarot shop.

Imbolc marks the quiet turning of the year—the moment when the first, fragile signs of return begin to stir beneath winter’s surface. This online lecture and guided ritual explores Imbolc through myth, seasonal symbolism, and embodied practice, drawing on archetypal figures of forge-fire, creativity, renewal, and healing waters. Participants will be guided through a simple, home-based ritual focused on renewal, intention-setting, and tending the “inner hearth” during the liminal passage from deep winter toward early spring.

Celebrate Valentine’s Day with the goddess of love herself—Aphrodite. Though famed in myth for her beauty, it wasn’t until the sculptor Praxiteles broke tradition that the female nude was fully embraced in Greek art. In this vividly illustrated talk, art historian Brenda Edgar explores the cultural, artistic, and gender revolutions sparked by the Aphrodite of Knidos—the first life-size nude of a woman in ancient Greece and the ancient world’s most famous divine sex symbol. Come for the art history, stay for the goddess’s legendary backside.

For centuries, artists and makers have sought to reach beyond the everyday in order to create in communion with the depths of the unconscious, the divine, and the dead. Join Tiffany Hopkins, author of Beyond: A Living Person’s Guide To The Dead, for a seasonal art-making circle that begins with meditation to shift us into a receptive state. We’ll then create in our chosen mediums, and close each session with the opportunity for participants to share outcomes, experiences, and observations.

The fear of our bodies as mutating, monstrous death traps is a cultural obsession with a lineage stretching back far further than Cronenberg. Plato called the body a tomb and a prison, Medieval Christians likened it to a sack of worms; while the Buddha is said to have urged his followers to scorn it as a diseased mass of wounds. Simultaneously, women have been categorized as the corporeal class, more fleshly – and more deathly – than the male. Why has the horrific body been women's burden to bear, and how has the charge of female bodiliness been used to justify social inequality, exploitation, and violence? This talk will offer a radical feminist dissection of the body horror that plagues manmade culture, of men's immortal dreams of disincarnation and their bloodyminded nightmares of carnal womanhood. 

At Death Cafe people gather to "eat cake, drink tea and discuss death." For this free online event, join death midwife Lisa Cox on Zoom with a snack and beverage in hand, along with questions or stories and a thoughtful ear. There is no agenda, except as arises among those in attendance. Death Cafe is a worldwide non-profit movement to allow non-judgmental space for people to talk about death, online or in person.

The alter ego is a gateway to the glittering, rebellious world of underground nightlife, where drag artists, club kids, and cabaret misfits transform the ordinary into the extraordinary. This tradition of radical self-invention—seen in icons like Klaus Nomi, Divine, and the Club Kids—celebrates the bizarre and the beautiful, turning nightlife into a stage for personal and artistic liberation. With wild costumes, bold personas, and a spirit of defiance, these scenes invite us to break free from convention and embrace our most creative selves. Join artist Le Pustra for a lively discussion on the transformative power of alter egos in nightlife and cabaret, and hear about his own evolution from outsider to living work of art.

Join Morbid Anatomy and the New York City chapter of the Silent Book Club of Death for an afternoon of reading and contemplating mortality in the galleries of The Met Cloisters facilitated by death care worker and death literacy advocate Lauren Seeley. The program will begin with silent reading followed by a game of The Death Deck and open discussion among participants. Books will be provided, but you are welcome to bring your own.

Free with Museum admission. Please note: Space is limited; advance registration is required. Registration closes Saturday, February 21, 2026, or when registration is full. 

When most people think of Transylvania, they imagine Dracula — a gloomy castle, a pale count, and a story of terror that has haunted Western culture for over a century. But what if this famous myth was never just about vampires? What if it was a clever disguise that helped erase an entire civilization’s sacred heritage? Join medical art psychotherapist & artist Isabelle Rizo to hear about her investigation into how the legend of Dracula became intertwined with Transylvania’s identity — and how this association has obscured a much older and far more astonishing truth. Her research traces the region’s cultural roots back to the Neolithic era, when Transylvania was home to some of Europe’s earliest matriarchal societies.

As we cross the threshold from the Year of the Wood Snake into the Year of the Fire Horse, we move from subtle shedding into visible momentum, from quiet wisdom into embodied force. This one-night lecture and ritual workshop with mythologist Selena Madden explores the mythic, elemental, and psychological symbolism of this rare transition through Chinese cosmology, comparative mythology, and archetypal psychology. This gathering blends scholarly context, guided reflection, and gentle ritual practice—offering participants a grounded, meaningful way to mark the Lunar New Year as a true threshold of transformation.

Reiki is most often translated as universal energy, the essential quality that makes something alive. When this vital energy is amplified, it creates conditions for healing and nourishment, and allows us to engage with questions surrounding life, death, and what lies beyond. This online monthly group provides a therapeutic application of Reiki for moving through grief and loss. Mikella draws upon her 15+ years of grief counseling experience to introduce a theme for each group related to various tasks or stages of the grieving process.

The Book of Revelation—St. John’s mystic vision from the island of Patmos—has inspired some of the most awe-inspiring and terrifying works in European Medieval and Renaissance art. From jewel-studded visions of the Heavenly Jerusalem to the monstrous maws of Hell, artists brought the Apocalypse to life with astonishing detail. Join art historian Brenda Edgar for a lavishly illustrated talk exploring how painters and sculptors visualized divine judgment, celestial glory, and demonic chaos. You’ll never see locusts the same way again.

Hauntings don’t always involve rattling chains or Victorian attics. The ghosts that follow us are often quieter—and far more intimate. For those of us in our 40s, 50s, and 60s, they tend to show up as regrets, old identities we’ve outgrown, versions of ourselves we never inhabited, and the unresolved stories we inherited from the families who shaped us. Join Scott Bryson, PhD for a lecture that reframes ghosts as psychological companions—messengers from the margins of the self.

Losing a beloved pet or person is incredibly difficult. We can keep them close through veneration, in which we tell their stories, listen to their favorite songs, or create art in their honor. We can also create memorial dioramas—small altars or shrines to memorialize our beloveds and their lives, so that they can be gone but not forgotten. In this daylong workshop, we will—with guidance and support from death doula Lauren Seeley—create our own memorial dioramas for a dead loved one. We will also learn about the importance of memorializing, honoring those who have gone, and creating in our grief, as well as the history of altars, shrines, and preservation both in public and private spaces.

At Death Cafe people gather to "eat cake, drink tea and discuss death." For this free online event, join death midwife Lisa Cox on Zoom with a snack and beverage in hand, along with questions or stories and a thoughtful ear. There is no agenda, except as arises among those in attendance. Death Cafe is a worldwide non-profit movement to allow non-judgmental space for people to talk about death, online or in person.

Why so serious? From gallows humor to the joy of celebrating a life well-lived, Becky Robison—author of the new book My Parents Are Dead: What Now? A Panic-Free Guide to the Practicalities of Death—will offer fun, silly, and passionate pathways into the inevitability of death and dying to make necessary preparations less intimidating.

Free to members of the Morbid Anatomy Patreon at Joanna’s Psychopomp level, Oracle Level and above. Become a member here.

For centuries, artists and makers have sought to reach beyond the everyday in order to create in communion with the depths of the unconscious, the divine, and the dead. Join Tiffany Hopkins, author of Beyond: A Living Person’s Guide To The Dead, for a seasonal art-making circle that begins with meditation to shift us into a receptive state. We’ll then create in our chosen mediums, and close each session with the opportunity for participants to share outcomes, experiences, and observations.

This Spring Equinox, join us for a special event designed to cultivate community and plant the seeds of intention through meditations, poetry, and a creative project. Using the myth of Persephone and her return from the underworld as our guide, we will begin with a grounding meditation exploring the relationship between death and new growth. We will meet Hecate—the goddess of magic, witchcraft, and crossroads—who guides Persephone between the realms of the dead and the living. We will be introduced to Persephone’s mother Demeter and her jovial guest Baubo, whose jokes will usher in the springtime’s flowering. Finally, we will learn along with Triptolemus—patron of agriculture—to plant seeds and prepare for the seasons.  

Author Andrea Janes joins us at the library for a reading from her book A Haunted History of Invisible Women. From the notorious Lizzie Borden to the innumerable, haunted rooms of Sarah Winchester's mysterious mansion this offbeat, insightful book explores the history behind America's female ghosts, the stereotypes, myths, and paranormal tales that swirl around them, what their stories reveal about us—and why they haunt us .

FREE to Morbid Anatomy Patreon members at Oracle & Joanna’s Psychopomp Salon ($15/mo) and above levels. Eligible members will receive a viewing link in their Patreon inbox on the day of the event. Become a member here.

Hope to see you at this free, informal, online monthly meetup devoted to open and non-judgemental conversations about death with likeminded people from around the world. Any related topic is welcome.

Author and photographer Bryan Sansivero invites audiences into the rarely seen interiors of forgotten places—and into the myths, risks, and ethical complexities surrounding urban exploration (urbex). Drawing directly from his new book, America the Abandoned, Sansivero shares stories about his travels, how he obtained the pictures of abandoned sites, and the history behind the homes.

Join Lauren Seeley—death care worker and death literacy advocate, as well as the facilitator for the Silent Book Club Of Death NYC Chapter—at Brooklyn’s Morbid Anatomy Library for a night in which we read silently about death/grief/mortality followed by a game of The Death Deck. Following, there will be an open discussion and reflection where guests will have the opportunity to share their findings and feelings about mortality. Refreshments will be included.

FREE to Morbid Anatomy Patreon members at Oracle & Joanna’s Psychopomp Salon ($15/mo) and above levels. Eligible members will receive a viewing link in their Patreon inbox on the day of the event. Become a member here.

The Psychopomp Salon is a thematic presentation/meetup that will explore—via images, words, and group discussion—areas of our founder Joanna Ebenstein's research and travels. This month, we’ll focus on El Tío, a folk deity found in the mines of Bolivia who can either grant you unimaginable wealth or destroy you. Ebenstein will share never before shown photos form her travels, and introduce you to the rich and violent history behind these figure, revolving around a mountain that produced enough silver to form a bridge between Bolivia and Seville, and killed enough men to to create the same bridge in bones.

Before the printing press, every book was made by hand—often on parchment crafted from animal skin. In this richly illustrated talk with art historian Brenda Edgar, we’ll explore medieval illuminated manuscripts as both sacred texts and physical objects, tracing how quirks of flesh, hair, and even belly buttons shaped the page itself. From shimmering decoration to theological meaning, join us for a journey into the luminous, otherworldly beauty of the handmade book.

FREE to Morbid Anatomy Patreon Members at the Danse Macabre ($10/mo) and above levels. Eligible members will get an invitation in their Patreon inbox. Become a member here.

We hope you’ll join us for a Morbid Anatomy Show and Tell cocktail party! Get a rare peek at the private collections of Founder and Creative Director Joanna Ebenstein. We also invite you to share an object or artifact of your own, while meeting and enjoying a virtual cocktail with others in the Morbid Anatomy Community.

Author Jamie L. Brummitt visits the library for a reading and discussion of her book Protestant Relics in Early America. From postmortem images to locks of hair, this book explores how Americans have inspected corpses for signs of the supernatural and collected relics to feel the souls of their dead loved ones in heaven.

In the 1920s, archaeologists uncovered over 1,000 ancient Sumerian graves in Ur, southern Iraq—including royal tombs filled with gold, musical instruments, and the remains of attendants who died in ritual sacrifice. In this richly illustrated lecture with art historian Brenda Edgar, we’ll explore what these grave goods and burial practices reveal about the beliefs of the world’s first civilizations. From the deadly rites of Sumer to the jewel-filled tombs of Assyrian queens, join us for a journey into the ancient rituals of death, royalty, and the afterlife.

For centuries, artists and makers have sought to reach beyond the everyday in order to create in communion with the depths of the unconscious, the divine, and the dead. Join Tiffany Hopkins, author of Beyond: A Living Person’s Guide To The Dead, for a seasonal art-making circle that begins with meditation to shift us into a receptive state. We’ll then create in our chosen mediums, and close each session with the opportunity for participants to share outcomes, experiences, and observations.

FREE to Morbid Anatomy Patreon members at Oracle & Joanna’s Psychopomp Salon ($15/mo) and above levels. Eligible members will receive a viewing link in their Patreon inbox on the day of the event. Become a member here.

The Psychopomp Salon is a thematic presentation/meetup that will explore—via images, words, and group discussion—areas of our founder Joanna Ebenstein's research and travels. This month, we’ll focus on Ebenstein and her husband Bryan Melillo’s recent trip to India, and especially her month spent in Varanasi—one of the oldest cities on earth and the center for death rituals in that country.

Only about 25 works survive by the late Flemish master Hieronymus Bosch, but their surreal visions have captivated viewers for centuries. In this enchantingly illustrated talk with art historian Brenda Edgar, we’ll explore Bosch’s fantastical depictions of Earth, Heaven, and Hell—where giant strawberries, pearl-laying bodies, and dreamlike landscapes collide. We’ll also trace his influence on later artists, from the Renaissance to the Surrealists, including Magritte and Dalí, who saw in Bosch a visionary ahead of his time.

Free to members of the Morbid Anatomy Patreon at Joanna’s Psychopomp level, Oracle Level and above. Become a member here.

For centuries, artists and makers have sought to reach beyond the everyday in order to create in communion with the depths of the unconscious, the divine, and the dead. Join Tiffany Hopkins, author of Beyond: A Living Person’s Guide To The Dead, for a seasonal art-making circle that begins with meditation to shift us into a receptive state. We’ll then create in our chosen mediums, and close each session with the opportunity for participants to share outcomes, experiences, and observations.

For centuries, artists and makers have sought to reach beyond the everyday in order to create in communion with the depths of the unconscious, the divine, and the dead. Join Tiffany Hopkins, author of Beyond: A Living Person’s Guide To The Dead, for a seasonal art-making circle that begins with meditation to shift us into a receptive state. We’ll then create in our chosen mediums, and close each session with the opportunity for participants to share outcomes, experiences, and observations.

Free to members of the Morbid Anatomy Patreon at Joanna’s Psychopomp level, Oracle Level and above. Become a member here.

For centuries, artists and makers have sought to reach beyond the everyday in order to create in communion with the depths of the unconscious, the divine, and the dead. Join Tiffany Hopkins, author of Beyond: A Living Person’s Guide To The Dead, for a seasonal art-making circle that begins with meditation to shift us into a receptive state. We’ll then create in our chosen mediums, and close each session with the opportunity for participants to share outcomes, experiences, and observations.

For centuries, artists and makers have sought to reach beyond the everyday in order to create in communion with the depths of the unconscious, the divine, and the dead. Join Tiffany Hopkins, author of Beyond: A Living Person’s Guide To The Dead, for a seasonal art-making circle that begins with meditation to shift us into a receptive state. We’ll then create in our chosen mediums, and close each session with the opportunity for participants to share outcomes, experiences, and observations.