A Grief Circle with the Redwoods
Curious Little Seabird: “Hey! Where are those MBMS Community Cats going now, and what are they doing there?”’
Wise Big Pelican: “I hear they’re heading over to the Redwood Grove in Mission Trails for a Grief Circle.”
Curious Little Seabird: “Wha-a-a-t! Don’t they know how to play Ignore-It-and-Maybe-It-Will-Go-Away?”
Wise Big Pelican: “Hmmm, I don’t think that’s their style. They say it helps to have a real conversation about what’s really happening … It has to do with something about mutual support being good for the human heart, mind, and spirit.”
Sensing Belonging in the best of times and the worst of times … Now, that’s what Community is all about.
“One of the marvelous things about community is that it enables us to welcome and help people in a way we couldn’t as individuals. When we pool our strength and share the work and responsibility, we can welcome many people, even those in deep distress, and perhaps help them find self-confidence and inner healing.”
– Jean Vanier
Uncertainty … Change … Loss … and more … When we face these aspects-of-living together, we are stronger, more creative, and have more perspective than when we go-it- alone. Coming together and realizing our shared realities moves us out of the myth of separation/individualism and into the truth of connection/belonging.
Experiencing grief is a natural part of human being and living … It is sourced in our capacity to care, to love, to value beings, circumstances, and aspects of Life that are important to us. Throughout time, humans (as well as dogs, elephants and other more-than-human beings) have come together in times of loss to honor who or what has gone and to give and receive the support and comfort of being together.
In 2019, Terry LePage developed Grief Circles as a way of sharing and processing, as we meet the circumstances of global collapse and transformation.
Now, more than ever before, we need to sense ourselves as Community, coming together to support, assist, and inspire each other as we (along with every living being on Earth) face and meet the change, uncertainty, loss, and growth of being alive. Holding paradox, not knowing, letting go, experiencing miracles, sensing deeper values, appreciating beauty, being with heartbreak … are all part of our daily lives. This is what it is to be living in a time of global transformation.
For those of us who live near-enough to Monterey, let’s get together.
For those who are geographically too far to come-over, just send your name and where-you-are to Marianne (marianne@montereybaymeditation.com), and we’ll welcome you into our circle with the redwoods.
“We need to recover our right to ask for help in grief, otherwise it will continue to recycle perpetually. Grief has never been private; it has always been communal. Subconsciously, we are awaiting the presence of others, before we can feel safe enough to drop to our knees on the holy ground of sorrow.” – Francis Weller
Facilitator: Marianne Rowe
Sunday, July 27
1:00 - 3:00 PM Pacific
Mission Trails Park, Carmel
Donation
Registration closes 2 hours before the event begins, or when the class is full.
As a humane being, co-founding teacher of Monterey Bay Meditation Studio, and licensed marriage and family therapist, Marianne is dedicated to cultivating eco-systemic consciousness and living in-cahoots with Earth, Cosmos, and Life in all forms. Marianne’s insatiable love of learning has led her into certifications as a nature & forest therapy guide, eco-therapist, California naturalist, and Authentic Relating facilitator, along with certifications in eco-psychology, climate stewardship and climate psychology. She has been practicing meditation since the last century and teaching mindfulness meditation to children and adults since 2006.
Her sense of belonging and aliveness is sourced and deepened through walks, sits, and gazing with the Pacific Ocean, forest, night skies, along with evolutionary, envisioning conversations with beloved friends and colleagues. Read more.
This course is part of the Outdoors, Relationships, and Evolution of Consciousness Currents.
Registration Policies (please read)
By registering for this course, you agree to receive notifications from Monterey Bay Meditation Studio.