Grief Circle Basics

I realized," he said, picking up a small amethyst from the table in front of him, "the last time I was feeling the grief, that I needed to stay with the heavy feeling. That if I tried to distract myself by staying busy, or any of my other favorite distractions, it would be worse later. So I stayed with it. And afterwards, I was certain that it helped speed things along."

At the Grief and Praise Circle, all feelings are welcome and tears are celebrated. We often share ideas, vulnerabilities, and hopes as we navigate the uncharted territory of grief. We light a candle and set an intention for our hour together, and when we look at each other, it is through the eyes of compassion. We are also learning how to view our own lives and histories with compassionate hearts.

We speak of wanting to let loose of some of the fear around grief, wanting to relax around the whole idea of it, wanting to stop ignoring what needs to be grieved, in our own bodies and in the world. We give thanks for being in the circle and sing a simple song.

There is a NEW MONTHLY DATE for our Grief and Praise Circle. I have been appointed to the Town of Black Mountain Urban Forestry Committee, which meets on the first Tuesday of each month. So, the Grief and Praise Circle will now meet on the SECOND TUESDAY of each month, same location and time.

However, I have a lot of travel in August, so our AUGUST MEETING will be an anomaly, the only date I've got open, Thursday, August 10, 6 pm. Please join us for the mystery of opening to the transformative path of grief and praise. Feel free to bring a poem or a song or a piece of art or anything that represents your grief process, or your lack of ability to grieve.

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