Grief and Celebration

In traditional cultures or in older times, tending to the collective grief and joy were woven into the fabric of society and life, so individuals could be held and supported by the community or the "village", as they sang their songs of sorrow and celebration. In modern times we must be more intentional, more purposeful in coming together as a community to engage in the ritual practice of grieving, letting go, celebrating and weaving our communities back to wholeness. Whether you are grieving personal, social, cultural or environmental losses, or are feeling the tender ache of being human in these unprecedented times, this is a place for your to bring your sorrow and to be collectively held in your grieving. In this 1.5 day meditation and community ritual we will explore our grief and celebration through poetry, meditation, song, music, dance, somatic practices, nature connection, group sharing and other traditional practices that support the expression of grief, anger, disconnection, sadness, rage, uncertainty, confusion, despair, or frustration so that we can open to magic, wonder, joy, gratitude, gladness and love.

THEMES WE WILL EXPLORE IN THIS COMMUNITY GRIEF RITUAL:

• Personal losses
• Community or social losses
• Loss of loved ones
• Upheaval in our times
• The loss of health issues and illness
• Environmental losses
• Being present for our own and others sorrows
• The holiness of grief and loss
• The difference between grieving ad dwelling
• Francis Weller’s Five Gates of Grief
• How to keep our hearts open in the face of sorrow
• Celebration and gratitude for what we have loved