INVITATION: Please participate in a circle of Portlanders, for an in-depth grief ritual on the second weekend in March. All grieving is welcome. The gathering is non-residential: a short evening on Friday, a long day on Saturday, and a short day on Sunday. Attendance will be capped at 35 people.

LOCATION: We have exclusive use of the lovely & ADA-accessible 'Regents Center' in an inner northeast Portland neighborhood (friendly for parking, for bus & for biking).

WHY A GRIEF RITUAL? Life has inevitable sorrow, losses, and struggles, named and unnamed, for individuals and for communities. In many traditional cultures throughout the world, communal settings support the full and wholesome expression of grief. Unexpressed grief may become toxic, leading to illness, depression, addiction, even damaging and violent behavior towards oneself or others. Let us support one another in presence and compassionate witnessing. When we welcome the many faces and forms of grieving, we reweave our belonging. The sacred ritual container allows our mutual flourishing and interdependence.

FEE: Sliding scale from $175 - $375. Scholarships available.
Sliding scale guidelines here: https://docs.google.com/docume...

NOURISHMENT: One meal and hot drinks will be provided. Two meals will be DIY 'brown bag'. Let's do snacks on a potluck basis.

SCHEDULE: March 8th - Friday 7pm - 9pm
March 9th - Saturday 9am - 9pm
March 10th - Sunday 9:30am - 3pm

MAILING LIST - If you won't be able to attend, please JOIN THE MAILING LIST - Scroll way down this page and 'contact host' then 'other'.

FACILITATORS -

Laurence Cole (he/him), a song elder and ritualist from Port Townsend, Washington, has been helping groups of people rediscover the healing power of grieving communally for over fifteen years. Guided and inspired by the teachings of Malidoma Somé, Sobonfu Somé, Angeles Arrien, Michael Meade, James Hillman, Francis Weller, Joanna Macy and many others, Laurence creates a safe and brave, non-judgmental space for folks to rediscover their natural human capacity for healing together. Blending song, poetry, easy grounding movement, small and large group sharing, humor, silent reflective solitude, and the co-creation of a beautiful ritual setting, Laurence provides a journey through the depths and heights of our aliveness, often leading to a sense of renewal, connection and even an awakened capacity for radiant joy.

Shireen Amini (non-binary human using she/her) will be assisting Laurence with this ritual. Shireen is a queer Puerto Rican-Iranian American, Earth-loving song creator, rhythm-maker, and community facilitator based on unceded indigenous land* also known as Portland, Oregon. She has had the honor of participating in several grief and prosperity rituals with her primary grief teacher Sobonfu Somé, among also undergoing her own initiatory processes through deep recovery work and allyship with nature. She brings her profound sensitivity and care for the human experience into her facilitation work, whether or not she is weaving music, but her special joy and gift is lending song and rhythm to transformative processes such as grieving. She believes that the reclamation of these soulful and communal technologies is at the core of healing justice and liberation work, and the thriving of all life.

*the original territory of the Multnomah, Wasco, Cowlitz, Kathlamet, Clackamas, bands of Chinook, Tualatin, Kalapuya, Molalla, and Grande Ronde peoples

STATEMENT OF INCLUSION

No matter your gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or abilities, you are welcome here.
There will be tickets available specifically for BIPOC participants, through early March and possibly right up until the event dates. BIPOC refers to Black, Indigenous, and People of Color.

COVID precautions:

We ask everyone to test shortly before first arriving on the first day.
If you've been exposed to the public, any level of symptoms should keep you home (with refund).
If you're an isolated homebody with mild symptoms, at a minimum please test daily and also mask.

FACEBOOK LINK: The event is here: https://www.facebook.com/event...

SEE ALSO: Public song circle w/ Laurence Cole on Thurs 3/7/24 at 6:30pm at Taborspace. https://events.humanitix.com/c...
The above link works best if you "open in new tab" or . . . copy & paste it into your url.

https://www.facebook.com/events/1559173561533123