Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
We extend a deep welcome to people of all races, gender expressions, nationalities, sexual orientations, communities, physical ability, and faith traditions. This event is for people over 18 years of age.
This ritual is for those who have noticed grief that needs to be processed and transformed. It is for people who are ready for the embodied expression of these emotions.
Grief rituals are useful when we feel weighed down, stuck, despairing. They are useful when we feel numb, uneasy, anxious. They are useful when we have fresh hurt, or old sorrow. They are useful when we have a sneaking suspicion that there is something we haven’t yet resolved. They are also useful when we are feeling well, grounded, and clear—then they give us a chance to serve and support, to grow community.
The online version of the grief ritual is quite different from the in-person event. The Zoom call consists of a short welcome, a little information about grief, some ritual creation of the community in which we'll work, an exercise to help participants become more aware of their bodies and emotions, and then a "grief study hall" in which participants move through their grief as best suits their needs. Participants are not required to speak or be on camera at any time. The ritual closes with a grounding exercise, and some suggestions for self-care after the call.
Grief—particularly old grief—can feel many ways. It can feel like anger, anxiety, numbness, etc. We welcome all states of grief.
The community ritual is a chance to express and release grief. Moving through sadness, anger, numbness, elation, fear or any of the myriad emotions of grief helps us to release these emotions, and make way for more emotional vitality.
In Virtual Community of Care events, nobody is obliged to be on camera or speak. You are free to move through your grief as you see fit, with as much privacy as you might like.
People grieve in many ways; there is no right or wrong way to grieve. All expressions are welcome in the ritual space, none is required. If you are not accustomed to expressing emotion alone or in a group, please go slowly and be gentle with yourself. Take the time to feel the emotions in your body and express them in ways that feel helpful and healing to you.
Often the expression of grief finds a natural end. Experienced facilitators will walk the group through grounding and calming exercises at the end of the event.
After the event you may feel exhausted, sad, elated, clear, deeply calm… there are many responses to moving through grief. Experienced facilitators will walk the group through grounding and calming exercises at the end of the event.
The physical and emotional impact of the grief ritual may last for several days or weeks. Shedding light on grief can unearth deep emotions. To that end we will make recommendations for setting up support for yourself after the event. We will hold two group video calls to help participants integrate their experience.