The Wild Edge of Sorrow - A Grief Ritual

Grief can feel overwhelming at times and all encompassing.

At times i know i have felt like it would swallow me if i let it myself feel it. And for a long time i tried to avoid it at all cost only to realise it wasn’t going to go away despite all the distractions i could find that would momentarily make me feel better. The reality is that the only way out is through. And in saying that, i’m not going to lie, throughout the journey sometimes, it hurts, it sucks, it’s uncomfortable, sometimes feels unbearable but in this journey there’s also wisdom, opportunities for growth, better self understanding, compassion and dare i say joy on the other side but also within the journey itself. Like Francis Weller says “Grief and love are sisters, woven together from the beginning. Their kinship reminds us that there is no love that does not contain loss and no loss that is not a reminder of the love we carry for what we once held close.”

Grief can feel isolating because in our culture, it is commonly feared and hidden. Some people feel uncomfortable or unequipped and do not know how to best support grievers. Sometimes as grievers, it can feel like our grief is too much for our friends and families. And so some of us isolate ourselves thinking we have to do it on our own. Ah that old hero’s journey… But actually we don’t have to do it on our own, we’re a tribal specie and need our community more than ever when facing such challenges. As one of my teachers Uma Neave said one time ‘Healing happens in dialogue, not in monologue’.

Ancient cultures used to create space for grievers to fully grieve, allowing them time out of their usual commitments and when the community would gather to support them. They had rich rituals for grief which differ from a culture to another.

Inspired by the book The Wild Edge of Sorrow by Francis Weller, this ritual is a space where everyone experiencing grief is welcome to come and be held, be heard, be seen or just sit with their grief in community.

So dear one, whatever it is you are grieving: a deceased love one, a lover, a marriage, a project, a part of yourself…. you are welcome in this space. You are welcome to share or sit in silence in a space where your grief is welcome and held. Like most rituals i share, this space is not prescriptive but rather inviting participants to receive what they need at that time.

More information about this ritual:

When: May 11th - 7:30pm - 10:15pm

Where: Aka Studio Yoga - 130C Nicholson street Brunswick East

About your facilitator:

My name is Marania. I'm a holistic health practitioner who is passionate about supporting people to come home to their bodies and embrace all parts of themselves.

My work incorporates diverse, complementary modalities from various traditions ranging from Yoga, Pranayama to Bodywork, Energywork, Sacred spaces, Womb Health and Sensual Embodied Dance.