Category: grief

Trauma is everywhere, and it’s getting talked about..

Grief tending and trauma.. what are the connections? Is all old grief a form of trauma, an injury or hurt that is waiting for healing? Can we heal trauma without support from outside, from humans or non-humans?

There seems to be widening recognition of how widespread trauma is in modern culture – from the Wisdom of Trauma film and on line events to trauma-informed approaches to mindfulness to an increasing understanding of historic and ancestral trauma related to colonisation, gender violence and more. In this post I share some of the insights I’ve come to about trauma, and offer some links to useful resources and places to continue learning.

Continue reading “Trauma is everywhere, and it’s getting talked about..”

Tending Grief, in a room with other people

I felt trepidation as well as relief as a group gathered for the first in person Grief tending indoors since before COVID dramatically changed how we meet, more than a year ago.

In the correspondence before the workshop I felt a new part of my role, to help figure out how to meet possibly different needs about COVID precautions, behaviours, proximity and contact in a grief tending space.

Grief is not a tidy and controlled process by its nature. Involving body liquids, loud noises, and often, the longing for touch.

Kind touch is one of the few ways we generate oxytocin – as well as singing together, giving birth and breastfeeding. Oxytocin helps us to feel a sense of bonding with others, of deep connection

Continue reading “Tending Grief, in a room with other people”

May update

At last.. The first in-person Grief tending in Devon for more than a year will be on June 12th at Eden Rise, near Totnes..

Book now for May 13th on line workshop, Writing out Grief, 3 – 7pm.

Booking form is here for all workshops

More on workshops, reflections on keening and sounding, and news about Sophy’s other work, Healthy Human Culture, in case you’re interested..

Read the full update here