Befriending Grief in 2021 ~ Session 6

Drinking the Tears of the World

 

 

Welcome to Session 6 of Befriending Grief in 2021: Cultivating Our Resilience with Loss. What a gift to know that we will be gathering this weekend once again, to witness the grief we are experiencing in response to these extraordinary and turbulent times.

 

On this page you will find instructions and guidance for our session. If you have any questions once you have read through it, email me at marygrace372@me.com. 

 

 

How to prepare for the session

• Read Chapter 7 of The Wild Edge of Sorrow. This particular chapter speaks to a facet of Weller's third Gate of Grief ~ Sorrows of the World. You might find it helpful to review this Gate on pgs. 46-53.

• During the days leading up to Session 6, notice if there is a collective sorrow that is in the foreground for you. There may be more than one, for sure. For many of us, the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks is one such sorrow that is reigniting within each of us and in the wider world. Come to the session ready to share (if you are willing) about this sorrow that is alive in you, and if it interweaves with other grieving that is also present in your landscape. 

• Notice what comes into your awareness in response to the reading and to your noticing of the Sorrows of the World ~ memories, body sensations, images, feelings, sounds, etc. 

 

 

What to bring to the session

• Your journal or pad of paper, and pen

• The Wild Edge of Sorrow by Francis Weller

• An unlit candle, and a lighter or matches. Perhaps you have a candle you can dedicate to this process, and make use of between our sessions

• One or two symbols of what you discovered in your session preparation 

• Water to drink, and a warm beverage if you wish

 

 

Agreements

For our time together, I am asking us all to align with these agreements:

• I allow others their tears, their anger, and their complexity by offering them my respectful attention and witness.

• I offer myself and others deep compassion, even if I experience challenge or disagreement with another’s sharing.

• I hold what is shared in our sessions with confidentiality; what is said in the group stays in the group.

• I refrain from giving feedback or advice, unless it is requested from me specifically.

 

 

Logistics

Plan to arrive to the Zoom room 5-10 minutes ahead of time to settle in. This session will last three hours, with a 15 minute break in the middle. Commit yourself to being in the session for the entire time. It helps to build a strong container for our exploration if we start together and end together. 

 

This workshop is designed to be experiential & interactive, so plan to participate with video and audio on.

 

Set up in a quiet, private space with as little distraction & interruption as possible. Have a comfortable space nearby for a 20 minute guided meditation. You can sit or lie down, as long as you can hear my voice, and feel relaxed and supported during the meditation.

 

If you are not familiar with Zoom, I am available to support you in getting up to speed for the session. Contact me by Saturday morning to set up a quick orientation; I will not be available to provide Zoom support after that point.

 

 

One last note…

Our grieving selves are being asked to reveal themselves, and it is an act of courage & trust to step further into these waters. If you find you are feeling anxious about attending the session, wondering if you are up to it, constructing ways to cancel… know that this is all really common and very natural. If this is happening for you, see it as an opportunity to notice & name what is coming up for you, offer yourself gentleness and compassion, and invite yourself to stay in. Reach out to me if you would like support in navigating this part of the session experience.