Holding Practices of Grief Ritual Healing

About Facilitator

My name is Ibssa, which means Light and anything that is bright in Afaan Oromo. My teachers are Linda Thai and Ahlay Blakely and I’m of the Oromo people of the indigenous nation of Oromia. I’m currently learning the Grief Ritual practices of the Dagara people of Burkina Faso and the wisdoms of Linda Thai.

My name is Shwe Yin Aye, a traditional dessert that symbolizes coolness and peace. I was born and raised in Burma to Bama, Mon, and Shan ancestries, and now live, train, and work as a therapist on Lenape land. My work is guided by the nat worship of Mount Popa, decolonial healing, and community-rooted care shaped by my own migration and memory.

Objective

We’ll be learning to acquaint ourselves with grief in the ways it speaks to us through our bodies, through words we’ve longed to hear and ways we could be held (or supported by proximity). We’ll learn how to ask for support, receive support, and give support to others, through holding practices such as Shape and Countershape, offering words, and listening. Everything in this practice is invitational, and there is no right way to do it (knowing how to cry, feeling unsafe with touch, thinking that your feelings are too much: With this container: NO feelings are too much! Everything is invitational!) And: Be ready to yell! Be sad with a straight face! Cry your heart out! Everything is welcome and we got each other.

What’s Included

Our hearts. Our spirits. Our ancestors

What to Bring

• Anything you wish to physically resemble your grief (can be a picture of a person, and item, etc.)
• A plush to hug
• Your heart and your spirit
• Cushion
• Mug or Tea Cup
• Djembe Drums (if you have one on hand)

Disclaimer

This is not a full ritual for those who are familiar with the practice but instead these are some of the skills and practices we learn from Grief Ritual space and other somatic practices.

Accessibility