Stories of Sorrow, Rituals of Renewal
Traditional people understood that grief is both sacred and mighty. If refused, if kept private and muted, it seeps; the grief we deny can make us depressed, anxious, indifferent, or stiff. Indigenous societies make grief a community priority: there are frequent and
lush ceremonies intended to coax grief from its hiding places, to honor and release it. This weekend, we will hold a grief ritual appropriate for modern Americans, one that is exquisite, carefully structured, and restorative. This ritual will offer sanctuary for all grief - known or mysterious, great or small, personal or collective.
"It is our unexpressed sorrows, the congested stories of loss, when left unattended, that block our access to the soul. To be able to freely move in and out of the soul's inner chambers, we must first clear the way. This requires finding meaningful ways to speak of sorrow." ~Francis Weller, "Drinking the Tears of the World: Grief as Soul Activism"
Thus, we will learn a writing practice that can serve as a container for grief and a reliable support after the weekend is over. This practice combines Natalie Goldberg's work with Kim Scanlon's
understanding of the importance of rhythms in writing. Rhythm is the foundation of human eloquence. Our souls long to speak of our losses beautifully.
This year, we will focus on what Francis Weller calls the "5 Gates of Grief." This will give returning participants a chance to deepen their understanding of the territory.
Register for Stories of Sorrow, Rituals of Renewal
| Register | Ages Adult March 5-7, 2010. Friday: 7 pm - 9:30 pm; Sat. 10 am - 6 pm; Sun 10 am - 5 pm.; $250; camping is available, food is not included |
Instructor Biographies
Francis
Weller MA, has been working with the emotional,
creative and spiritual life of men and women for over twenty-five years.
He is a community builder, writer, teacher and psychotherapist in Sonoma
County. He draws from an extensive background in depth psychology, mythology,
group work and indigenous traditions. His work embodies his love of
soul, the arts, ritual and his devotion to bringing these into living
and sustainable community. He has taught at numerous colleges including
New College of California, Sonoma State University and the Sophia Center
in Oakland. He is the founder/director of WisdomBridge.
Read his essay, “Drinking
the Tears of the World, Grief as Deep Activism”.
Kim
Scanlon, Compass Records recording artist & WisdomBridge faculty member, is a singer and writer who lives in Seattle, Washington.
For twenty-five years she has taught writing, singing and performance
practices to adults. She writes poetry and essays and often combines
music and writing in performance. She has recorded and performed extensively
with several west coast bands and players including a long stint in
the house band on Sandy Bradley’s Potluck, an NPR radio
show. She currently works with blues artist Del Rey in a new ensemble, Kim Scanlon & Her Broadcasters .
