Community Grief Circle

Grief is an integral part of life that requires our attention if we want to be fully available for life. In our culture, however, we have forgotten how to share our grief with one another. When we add to our personal losses the experience of economic instability, ecological degradation, the extinction of species, individual and collective health crises, and the unrest and turmoil within human societies, the burden of grief that we are carrying as individuals can begin to feel unbearable. There are very few spaces where we are invited to experience and express this complex grief in community. In this series of events we will utilize Francis Weller’s “Five Gates of Grief” to connect participants to their distinct and multifaceted experiences of grief in the context of a co-created "village."

These events will be facilitated by grief mentors who have been shaped by the grief ritual tradition of the Dagara tribe as brought to the U.S. and shared by Malidoma and Sobonfu Somé. We have been oriented to this tradition through the writing of Francis Weller and others. Participants will be guided through a selected set of practices at each gathering of the circle. These may include: chanting, poetry, teaching, writing exercises, and small group sharing.

All participation is invitational; nothing is "required" beyond being present with and sharing the griefs you are carrying, to the best of your ability. You are invited to bring the following if you wish: a yoga mat, a pillow, a blanket, a journal or notepad, and/or an object or two that connect you to or symbolize your grief.

The Community Grief Circle will be held on Wednesday March 25th from 7:00pm to 9:00pm in the Sanctuary of San Gabriel UU Fellowship at 1322 E University Ave. in Georgetown, TX. The Circle is open to the people of Georgetown and the surrounding community. Circle leaders are June Williams, Ashley Blackwell, and Eric Hepburn.

Inquiries may be submitted via email to Eric at pulpiteer@sangabrieluu.org.

Childcare requests* may be submitted via email to Candice at dre@sangabrieluu.org.

*Childcare will not be provided by default, but can be upon request. Please make requests at least one week in advance of the event.

EVENT DETAILS:

What: Community Grief Circle

When: Wednesday March 25th from 7:00pm to 9:00pm

Where: Sanctuary of San Gabriel UU Fellowship at 1322 E University Ave. Georgetown

Who Can Attend: Open to the people of Georgetown and the surrounding community.

Who Is Organizing: Circle leaders are June Williams, Ashley Blackwell, and Eric Hepburn.