There’s so much power to shift what’s been stuck when we really feeling our grief, without pretense or distraction. Sobbing, keening, raging… Not to wallow in it, but to complete the process, so it’s not frozen inside of our bodies.
Grief rituals also serve as a way to honor the grief we carry, whatever it is. For example, a beloved person/dog/cat/horse/other being who has passed away, the ongoing harm to planet on which we live, losses you have experienced, love you did not receive, the multi-faceted harm of systemic oppression, or the harm you may have done to others as an individual or collectively, like the harms of colonialism and white supremacy.
Even changes that we welcome in our lives carry grief with them, such as become a parent or retiring. Transitions mean the loss of what came before. The work of grief is to allow your mind to fully accept what is, to span the gap between what is expected and what is actually happening, which then allows you to be present in your life.
The ritual portion is adapted from the tradition brought to the US by Sobonfu Somé and Malidoma Somé of the Dagara people in Burkina Faso, West Africa in an attempt to teach the West how to grieve. 20% of donations go to support the Dagara Empowerment Water Project.
It is our sacred duty to learn how to express our grief in healthy ways, for the good of the all beings, including other humans, non-human animals, the planet, our ancestors, and the future ones.
Grief is also a skill, so we're including lessons and resources online to help you process.
Note: This is not therapy and does not replace the need for professional or elder assistance. This is a community experience.
.jpg)