Grief Alchemy - Tending to our grief by sharing stories and song.

Held at the serene Zen space at Cocoon, Bondi.

“Grief offers a wild alchemy that transmutes suffering into fertile ground.”  Francis Weller

This three hour Grief Tending Ritual will include a deep ‘Pause’ with embodiment practices, a guided meditation with harp music and crystal bowl, a Grief and Gratitude sharing circle and a voice activation/song leading session.

Facilitated by Dave Calandra & supported by Elisha Xantaya.

(Please see the information on different ticket options at the bottom.)

Why Grief Tending is powerful together.

There is no right or wrong way to do grief, everyone’s journey is unique, but for many of us there is no safe place to turn when we need to share our feelings of loss.

In todays grief illiterate society we have lost touch with the ceremonies and rituals that once tended to our grief in a communal setting, and instead for the most part, our grieving is relegated to the solitude of our homes after a one day funeral and an acceptably brief period of mourning. There is an unwritten expectation that we will do the hard work of grieving alone and not burden others with our sadness, however, it is in fact the sharing of those feelings with others that can facilitate transformation in the grieving process.

The purpose of Grief Tending rituals

is to allow time and space for processing feelings of loss in a group setting. Telling the story of your loved ones death and having your loss supported and witnessed by a community of grievers can be a powerful tool for exploration. It can help to bring a sense of perspective and it can also reveal the size and weight of your grief or expose any disconnection and dissociation that may have occurred.

In this Grief Tending ritual we will be

Combining somatic practices with communal grief work, while also being supported by live performance and song, this event will be a three hour journey into the body, the heart and the mind. We will conclude the session with a gratitude practice to help integrate the experience and bring ourselves back to centre before leaving the space.

If this speaks to you and you feel called to join us, we would be honoured to have you in the circle, however if it feels too big at this time then we wish you all the love and support for your grief journey and we would be happy to see you at a later date.

What will take place?

~ A long deep pause for slowing down and feeling into your body, allowing time to experience the sensations as they arise.

~ A guided meditation supported by live harp music and crystal bowls for a gentle softening of the mind.

~ Communal grief work - sharing stories in circles and triangles.

~ A gratitude exercise for celebrating the love that existed before the loss - finding a new place in your life for your loved one to occupy.

~ A song leading session to release emotion and celebrate the joy of life.

How will I feel afterwards?

Although this retreat just a brief stopover on the grief journey you’re already undertaking, hopefully you will step back onto that path with a new sense of purpose and direction. The short timeframe only allows us a shallow dive into the realms of grieving, but you may feel a little lighter after sharing your story and you will leave the space in a peaceful state with a full heart.

How do I know if this event is right for me?

We welcome anyone who is actively grieving a loved one to join us for this grief tending, particularly if the speed of life did not afford you the time needed to adequately process the loss, or if you feel called to share the story of your grief journey while being witnessed by a community of other grievers.

How do I know if this is not right for me?

Although this space is available to everyone, if your loss is very fresh (within the last three months) we ask that you bring a friend along for additional support after the event. For safety reasons, if you are experiencing difficulties with mental health or have a history of mental illness we respectfully ask that you seek professional assistance before attending this circle.

In Australia Griefline offers free grief counselling over the phone 8am - 8pm, 7 days a week. Ph; 1300 845 745. If you or a loved one are experiencing a crisis please call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or call 000 for all emergencies. In Sydney other resources for support include the

National Centre for Childhood Grief

https://childhoodgrief.org.au/ and

Hammondcare’s bereavement support services.

https://www.hammond.com.au/hea...

About your Facilitators

Dave Calandra Bio

www.davecalandra.com

Dave Calandra is a musician and songwriter with a lifetimes experience of turning pain into purpose. After losing his father to Leukaemia at an early age he found solace in playing the guitar and has been channelling that energy into his songwriting and performing career for the last thirty years. Through his work as a Wedding Singer he has honed the skill of spontaneously creating soundscapes that facilitate ceremonies of transition

And, driven by his passion for helping others to process grief, and his training in bereavement support and Grief Education, he has learned how to hold a safe space for those who are integrating losses of their own.

Elisha Xantaya Bio

www.xantaya.com

Elisha Xantaya from Wild Song, is a Musician, Singing & Vocal Empowerment Coach and dedicated conduit of natures divine expression, educated in natural healing medicines. She is both mystic & scientist, teacher & student, using practical tools in sound, biofield science, song & vibrational medicine as a tool for deep healing, and a bridge for others to access their most empowered, creative & inspired self… to remember ourselves home to the truth of our divine nature.

Her work is inspired by the dialogue with our intelligent Planet and feels akin to Earth’s songlines, offering a map to guide individuals & communities home to the knowing of their wild, untamed soul song.

Ticket options

These circles are intended as an opportunity for everyone who needs this work to attend.

We value your time & we deeply respect this investment in yourself. We also value our time & hold a greater vision to offer these transformative spaces for the many who are in need of this work.

This is why we offer the workshop at $95, with an option to use the concession ticket at $65 should you need to.

And, most importantly, if you are in need of this work & are not in a position to exchange money please do get in touch with us.