The invitation
Human life inevitably comes with experiences of loss in its many forms. The most obvious one is the death of a dear one. As we grow older we lose health and dreams. When we look around we might feel overwhelmed with a grief for the state of the world with an increasing loss of peace and biodiversity. And the list goes on.
Culturally grief is not a welcome guest at the table. Already as kids most of us learn not to express it but rather to be strong and continue business as usual. As adults numbing and disengaging might seem like the proper thing to do whenever we encounter loss, though this attitude can make us ill in body, heart, mind and soul.
In Norse mythology, when the goddess Freya is crying her tears turn into gold when they touch the ground and into amber when they touch the water. This image suggests that there is something precious about grieving, that our tears might hold a gift.
Indeed, when grieving we set free life energy. People attending grief rituals report experiencing more vitality and aliveness, connectedness with other people and the more-than-human world, a capacity to be more present and engage, a sensation of being more at peace with their inner world and the world around.
For a lot of us grieving is rather unknown and often scary territory. During a grief ritual we set off into this landscape together and remember how to navigate it. While a lot of us have grown used to carrying our grief alone, we now gather as a community. The more we hear others share about their grief, and share our own, the more it gets clear that grief is something that is ‘ours’ instead of ‘mine’.
What to expect
The first part of our days together will focus on getting to know each other and on teachings about grief. We will explore what grief is, which different forms of grief there are, how to relate to grief and how to approach grieving. There will also be time to exchange in smaller groups about the particular grief that you are holding. The second part we will open the actual grief ritual with the element of water in the centre. There will be several grief sessions during which we will both grieve in silence and with song and voice as a support. This will be a step-by-step process during which we keep on taking the time to share and check in with each other. The last part will be for integration of the grieving experience and celebration of life.
For whom
The grief ritual is a space for you when you have recently been confronted with a loss in your life, when you carry grief for passed losses which you have never been able to grieve deeply, or when you are in a period of your life where grief is present even though you can’t put your finger on it. Also when you don’t know what you might want to grieve for or if you are simply curious you are welcome.
This space is also fitting when you want to explore your inner emotional world, and especially your relationship with grief, more or when you are working with people, for example as a coach, social worker or when you are active in the field of education or care.
Some examples of reasons you might want to grieve are:
loss of a dear one
separation
loss of health
loss of dreams
losses suffered by passed generations
exile, war
climate change, loss of species
By whom
Zaia Hoffmann, Lien De Coster & team
More info & registration:
https://www.leavesoflien.com/grief
***EARLY BIRD AVAILABLE TILL NOVEMBER 1ST***
Also check out other Health & Wellness events in Lysekil, Kids events & activities in Lysekil.
