Grief ritual in the Dagara lineage often includes at least one song during the day, during the drumming, where everyone has a chance to grieve at the altar as and when they feel like it. Grief rituals in other traditions also often include song. In the rituals at Village Rising, we also include several simple …
Here’s a small selection of the resources we recommend. This is just for your own reference, not required at all for you to do for the ritual. That said, you may get more out of the experience with these additional references. Books & Essays: Podcasts & Videos:
We have grief woven into song circles and other offerings, and we also have some specific meetups for communal grieving. If you’re a member, Check the Calendar on the Offerings page for the most up-to-date information. If you’re not a member yet, join here. Grief & Gratitude meets monthly in Zoom, on the fourth Saturday of each month …
Read more “Grief Resources # 12. Zoom Grieving – come grieve with us!”
Writing Prompts or Shuttles can be a powerful way to let your grief come through in a free and undiluted form. It can be a form of micro-ritual. Francis Weller highly recommends that you write for a set amount of time- 5, 7, or 10 minutes, for example. Using a shuttle gives you a way …
Read more “Grief Resources # 11. Writing Prompts for the Gates”
The six gates of grief can be thought of as areas that bring up grief or our pathway into the feelings of grief. This may or may not be gone over in more depth in your community grief ritual. As you read this list, feel into your body. Feel free to use these as journal, …
I read a book called “Happiness Is a Choice You Make: Lessons from a Year Among the Oldest Old” by Paul Leland. It’s not a wonderful book, I have to say, but it did have a few great ideas. In it, the interviewed centenarians’ words made it clear that they were most happy in their life …
Read more “Grief Resources # 9. Emotional Approach to Retirement Planning”
When you share your grief out in the default world, sometimes folks are not yet ready to face their own grief and will respond with toxic positivity, often meant to be helpful compassion: “It’s all going to be ok, think positively…here’s a tissue.” Here’s a video by Megan Devine with advice for how to help friends who …
Read more “Grief Resources # 8. How Do You Help a Grieving Friend?”
Paying Attention When we use mindfulness to listen, we are extremely present with the person. We’re not trying to fix them, to make suggestions, to have something witty to say in reply. The point is to listen to the main content, but also to allow all levels of communication to happen. In grief ritual, witnessing …
Grieving in community allows us to be seen, and we can release so much of what we have kept frozen inside, especially if there’s any shame woven into it. We all carry grief, and if you can boldly share yours, you may be surprised by who responds tenderly – and sharing your grief might give …
This is a good time to talk about the drawbacks of positivity. It’s popular to try to just think positive thoughts all the time, but this is a form of spiritual bypassing: ideologies that systematically avoid wrestling with and integrating dark emotions. Reframing self-destructive thoughts (like “I suck at dog training”) to something with a healthier perspective …
Read more “Grief Resources # 5. You Don’t Always Have to Be Positive! Be Authentic”