Grief Tending with Laurence Cole

Somebody said: "Make a face" so we did...full of love and tribal warmth and playfulness

"CSAs are vital, and so are CSGs: Community Supported Grieving," says Laurence Cole, a large doundoun between his knees. I hear the call of the drum. I hear the cry of hearts frozen in anger and fear, hearts longing to burn freely with passion for life. Longing to appropriately channel our ferocity for honoring Mother Earth, longing to be fed by the wisdom that arises and thrives only in  community.

In my query of how we can learn new and wonderful ways to support each other in grieving, I have been part of Frances Weller's grief weekend in Point Reyes, California. I was privileged to be part of Sobonfu Some's African grief-tending ritual weekend in Asheville in November, 2015.. Now she is on the other side, and I feel her spiritual intelligence informing me now. But I am a white woman and although I can borrow from the wisdom of African ritual, I have to weave together the blanket of care that is most authentic for me, that allows me and those around me to best give our gifts.

There are not words for what we "did" this past weekend in Grief Tending with Laurence Cole at the Eco-Institute in Chapel Hill (what an amazing placed!! I encourage you to check out their beautiful vision and offerings, in the spirit of John Muir and Wendell Berry.

What we did this weekend will be evidenced in the fruits to follow. I call on those in the Asheville area to join me in supporting the May 5-7 weekend I am envisioning: The Transformative Power of Community-Supported Grieving. Together, we will create many opportunities for healing. And so it is.
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