Grief Ritual
“There is some strange intimacy between grief and aliveness, some sacred exchange between what seems unbearable and what is most exquisitely alive.” - Francis Weller
Grief is amongst us, always. Loss is more and more strikingly ever-present in our world. Too often, therapy seeks to heal individually. Ritual, instead, seeks to return to the older, wiser, communal ways of healing - where together, more of our grief can be expressed, witnessed, held, and moved.
We warmly invite you to join us as we begin to stir in our winter cocoons on Saturday, February 1st from 3:00 to 6:00 pm. We will gather together to embrace the often-shunned Grief, to witness Grief’s unfolding in our neighbors, and to be seen and held for an experience we all too often are left to hold alone. Much of this event is based on the work and generous teachings of Francis Weller, and it will be co-facilitated by Alison Rae Clark, Lauren Faulk, Melanie Storrusten, and Sascha Demerjian. You can find more details and register for this event here.
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“The work of the mature person is to carry grief in one hand and gratitude in the other and to be stretched large by them. ”
What is a grief ritual?
A grief ritual is a set apart, special time where we come together as a group and invite a larger power (Grief, in this case) to come and move through and among us.
While every event is somewhat different, and depends on what each participant brings and adds to the experience, you can reasonably expect:
practices to establish feelings of safety and connection
gentle and accessible movement
times of sharing
times of quiet introspection and writing
embodied practices, ritual actions (for example, lighting a candle, vocalizing, standing, pouring water, ripping paper, etc.)
an invocation (invitation and welcoming) of Grief, of ancestors, guides, or any of your personally supportive deities
sequential practices that are intended to safely intensify the presence of Grief in our ritual space
My intention as a ritual facilitator is to maintain the magic of ritual, while also making it feel more accessible, and less “weird” to those who are unfamiliar with it. To maintain that ritual is a “set apart” and sacred space, while emphasizing that it is a normal (though maybe forgotten) part of life and daily activities. We ask that you come open to new experiences and be prepared to feel or witness strong emotions.
What grief ritual is not:
Your facilitators are therapists and yoga teachers, but this grief ritual is not group therapy and does not constitute a therapeutic relationship with any of the facilitators, and while it will involve some yoga and guided meditation, it is not a yoga class and does not require any previous yoga experience.
Who is grief ritual for?
The short answer is that grief ritual is for everyone. We recognize that there are many forms of grief, and not just the loss of a loved one.
Grief ritual is for you if you have lost someone or something that you loved.
Grief ritual is for you if you have parts of yourself that have not known love.
Grief ritual is for you if you expected something that you didn’t receive.
Grief ritual is for you if you’ve longed for community, for mentors, or for traditions that you haven’t found.
Grief ritual is for you if you are moved by the sorrows of the world and want to be a channel for the Earth to grieve.
Grief ritual is for you if you are feeling the sorrows of your ancestors.
Grief ritual is for you if you have never allowed yourself to sit with Grief.
Grief ritual is for you if you’re tired of sitting with Grief alone.
Who grief ritual is not for right now:
Because of the potentially intense nature of grief ritual, it is not for folks who are feeling unstable or currently experiencing severe mental health symptoms. Reach out if you have questions or want to talk through your particular situation.
Grief ritual is for people who may be experiencing conflicting griefs - there may be someone grieving their infertility, and also someone grieving their loss of identity in becoming a mother. All griefs are welcome. If you would rather not witness a conflicting grief, you may want to wait for a more specific grief ritual offering.
Why grief ritual?
Because the deepest and most lasting healing happens with other people, not alone.
To bring into the light the most universal of human experiences that often gets pushed into the darkness.
To facilitate wholeness by welcoming home parts of ourselves that have been shunned or exiled.
To feel more connected to and supported by other humans, our ancestors, the earth - of which we are a part, and our own spiritual beliefs and practices.
If we go back far enough, each of us comes from lineages of people who practiced ritual, gatherings, or earth-honoring practices on a regular basis to ensure good spiritual and community health. It is a large piece of what is missing in our world today. We gather to recover some of that for our own lives.