Grief Ritual
Grief Ritual will be held Saturday, June 22nd from 3:00 pm until 6:00 pm at Ashtanga Yoga Atlanta.
What is a grief ritual?
A grief ritual is a set apart, special time where we come together as a group and invite a larger power (Grief, in this case) to come and move through and among us.
While every event is somewhat different, and depends on what each participant brings and adds to the experience, you can reasonably expect:
practices to establish feelings of safety and connection
gentle and accessible movement
times of sharing
times of quiet introspection and writing
embodied practices, ritual actions (for example, lighting a candle, vocalizing, standing, pouring water, ripping paper, etc.)
an invocation (invitation and welcoming) of Grief, of ancestors, guides, or any of your personally supportive dieties
sequential practices that are intended to safely intensify the presence of Grief in our ritual space
My intention as a ritual facilitator is to maintain the magic of ritual, while also making it feel more accessible, and less “weird” to those who are unfamiliar with it. To maintain that ritual is a “set apart” and sacred space, while emphasizing that it is a normal (though maybe forgotten) part of life and daily activities. We ask that you come open to new experiences and be prepared to feel or witness strong emotions.
What grief ritual is not:
Your facilitators are therapists and yoga teachers, but this grief ritual is not group therapy and does not constitute a therapeutic relationship with any of the facilitators, and while it will involve some yoga and guided meditation, it is not a yoga class and does not require any previous yoga experience.
Who is grief ritual for?
The short answer is that grief ritual is for everyone. We recognize that there are many forms of grief, and not just the loss of a loved one.
Grief ritual is for you if you have lost someone or something that you loved.
Grief ritual is for you if you have parts of yourself that have not known love.
Grief ritual is for you if you expected something that you didn’t receive.
Grief ritual is for you if you’ve longed for community, for mentors, or for traditions that you have not found.
Grief ritual is for you if you are moved by the sorrows of the world and want to be a channel for the Earth to grieve.
Grief ritual is for you if you are feeling the sorrows of your ancestors.
Grief ritual is for you if you have never allowed yourself to sit with Grief.
Grief ritual is for you if you’re tired of sitting with Grief alone.
Who grief ritual is not for right now:
Because of the potentially intense nature of grief ritual, it is not for folks who are feeling unstable or currently experiencing severe mental health symptoms. Reach out if you have questions or want to talk through your particular situation.
Grief ritual is for people who may be experiencing conflicting griefs - there may be someone grieving their infertility, and also someone grieving their loss of identity in becoming a mother. All griefs are welcome. If you would rather not witness a conflicting grief, you may want to wait for a more specific grief ritual offering.
Why grief ritual?
Because the deepest and most lasting healing happens with other people, not alone.
To bring into the light the most universal of human experiences that often gets pushed into the darkness.
To facilitate wholeness by welcoming home parts of ourselves that have been shunned or exiled.
To feel more connected to and supported by other humans, our ancestors, the earth - of which we are a part, and our own spiritual beliefs and practices.
If we go back far enough, each of us comes from lineages of people who practiced ritual, gatherings, or earth-honoring practices on a regular basis to ensure good spiritual and community health. It is a large piece of what is missing in our world today. We gather to recover some of that for our own lives.
Who are your facilitators?
Melanie Storrusten, LCSW is the lead facilitator for this grief ritual. She has recently completed a Grief Ritual Facilitator Training with Francis Weller, and has studied a variety of spiritual and ritual modalities.
This grief ritual will be supported by Laura Joplin, LMSW and Megan Nare.
Preparation and Accessibility
Please bring a yoga mat, blanket, meditation cushion, or anything you need to feel comfortable in the space seated on the floor. There are some yoga supplies in the studio for our use if you do not have your own. We do have some limited chairs that we can make available, so please reach out in advance if you will not be comfortable on the floor.
Accessibility: Please note that this space is up two flights of stairs with no elevator access. There is a ramp in the back, but it is challenging to access. If you have any mobility concerns, please reach out and let’s chat.
Refund Policy
Please contact us with any questions about the event. Due to the preparation involved for this event, there are no refunds available after June 8th. More details and directions to be sent upon purchase.
This event is not group therapy, and any information presented is done for educational purposes and is not meant to assess, diagnose, or treat any mental health condition and does not constitute a therapist-client relationship.