Acceptance: What Happened, Really Happened (or if it’s ongoing, what is happening is really happening) I deliberately left the F word out of the title of this page (forgiveness) because it’s misunderstood. Some people think that forgiveness means to say it was okay that the person did whatever they did. That isn’t actually what real forgiveness is, …
Read more “Grief Resources # 5. Acceptance and Joy in the Midst of Loss”
You may revisit the material in this free series as many times as you want. I’ve found that my life lessons often spiral around, and I imagine they do for you, too: even when I think I really understand something, when I encounter it again, I still learn more, at a completely different level. You might want …
Read more “Grief Resources # 4. Helpful Ways to See This Precious Life”
“Grieving is a way to say yes to life. When we grieve, we let out the toxins, so that we can embrace life again. When we don’t grieve, our creativity becomes dim or almost nonexistent. But when we grieve, especially when we grieve together as a community, there’s almost a like magic that happens in …
Read more “Grief Resources # 3. Benefits of a Practice of Grief Work and Obstacles to Doing It”
There really is no such thing as closure, like you’re just closing up shop and done with ever thinking about the person, dog, or other beloved. And at the same time, it does change – not just through time, but through mourning. There is a sense of peace that comes from fully accepting that the past …
Read more “Grief Resources # 2. Loss of a Loved One: The Relationship isn’t Gone, It’s Different”
Transitions include any kind of change in our life, including loss through death, change in relationship status, moving, switching jobs, graduating, a diagnosis, or any kind of change in identity, to name a few. All transitions bring with them the possibility of experiencing grief, so please read this section even if you haven’t experienced any giant …
Do you rent your land for campouts, festivals, weddings, or other events? Here are some long-term practices to help your place feel more welcoming, usable, and safe for a wider range of people, across ability, age, class, culture, and body. Thank you for reading this. Your consideration helps everyone know they belong! Best Practices & What’s the …
Read more “How to Make Land More Accessible for Gatherings (as a Land Steward)”
Feeding a large group at an outdoor camp or any kind of gathering is a big task. It’s also a beautiful opportunity to create a sense of cultural inclusion and care. Food is one of the most powerful ways we can help people feel seen, nourished, and welcomed. In my interviews with folks about belonging, …
Read more “Food! Easy Ways to Diversify Meals at Camps and Events”
At any gathering, whether a festival, retreat, or community event, kids aren’t just tagging along. They’re part of the village. How we welcome children shapes the whole culture of the event. We all carry belonging wounds and many of those are rooted in childhood experiences. So let’s use our gatherings to create wonderful memories and …
Read more “Children Are Part of the Village: Creating a Thoughtful Kids Area at Your Gathering”
A Resilience Space Created by and for BIPOC Gatherings with mostly folks of European descent can be stressful. If we care about belonging, it’s essential for Black and Brown folks to have a place to land, connect with another, and ease one another’s nervous systems. Having a space like this enables us to show up …
Every gathering, whether a festival, retreat, wedding, party, or conference, needs spaces where people can ease their nervous systems, reconnect with themselves, and build belonging in a way that feels gentle and real. The information below is what we’ve learned by having a Rest and Rejuvenation Station at Cascadia Song Rise, an annual gathering of …
Read more “Making a Rest & Rejuvenation Station: A Soft Place to Land at Your Gathering”