What becomes available to us if we release the belief that grief is a problem to overcome… and instead choose to cultivate a respectful, courageous relationship with our own innate, essential capacity to grieve?

Most of us carry a belief that our grief is a problematic emotion that we must control, carry alone, and move through as quickly as possible. In our capitalist, white supremacist culture, we have been trained to believe our value is determined in large part by what we do and our ability to produce. So our natural need for time, space and care in grief is often minimized or pathologized. Unmetabolized grief underlies much of our personal and collective suffering.

Now, we are being called to reclaim a more expansive, wise, and interactive relationship with our grieving selves. By consciously cultivating our resourcefulness with grief, we deepen our resilience and maturity in all aspects of our life.

ABOUT THE SERIES:

Befriending Grief is designed to cultivate one of the most important resources to our grief literacy; co-creating brave space with other grievers in which to share, witness, and honor our grief journeys. Our overarching goal is to deepen our “apprenticeship with sorrow” (Francis Weller), allowing grief to open us, to ripen us, and to allow for more authentic participation in our own lives.

Befriending Grief sessions will take place virtually on Sunday afternoons from 1 pm - 4pm ET.  Sessions will include short teachings on grief and guided activities to enhance our grief literacy.  Activities will be chosen from the modalities of circle sharing, writing, poetry, art, guided meditation, movement, and simple ritual.

Sessions are three hours with a break halfway through; participants are asked to commit to be in the session for the entire time. There is no requirement to attend every session; but for those who wish to deeply restore a connection to their natural capacity for grief, attending several sessions will be most beneficial.

COST:

The fee for an individual session is $30, or register for the entire series for $150.

If cost is a barrier, you are welcome to contact Mary at manerastudio@icloud.com to request reduced fee or complimentary registration.

The Facilitator:

Mary Manera, MA, (she/they) is a Sister & Singer, Aunt/ie & Partner, Death Worker & Priestess. Mary is seasoned in many facets of death care, as well as group facilitation and non-profit leadership. She curates her work within Manera Studio, weaving together her threads of death work, consultation, retreat facilitation, and voice acting.  Mary is lead facilitator of Enter the Quiet retreats, which have been co-created with Hope Springs Institute for more than twenty years. She offers Befriending Grief sessions in collaboration with HSI and other service organizations. Mary co-leads the Threshold Singers of Cincinnati, and sings with MUSE Cincinnati's Women's Choir.