Tending Grief

*This class will default to be a FSOC II Fairhaven core attribute. If you wish for this course to count as your FHUM II attribute, please let the instructor now.

“I believe the future of our world depends greatly on the manner in which we handle our grief” - Sobonfu Some

Grief is an experience, an emotion, a practice and a terrain. It is a practice of honoring and remembering what matters deeply. Grief is often described as “a natural reaction to loss” and yet our current Western culture can seem fearful and averse to expressions of grief. As grief becomes an experience so often marked by isolation with expected timelines for resolution (i.e. 3 day bereavement policies, DSM ‘Prolonged Grief Disorder’ diagnosis), we are also witnessing a rise in the practice of community-held grief spaces. Vigil, memorialization, ritual and song space as communal acts centering grief are beginning to find their place at the intersection of healing, justice, futurity and collective belonging. In this liminal emergent place, we may be surprised to find the paradoxical presence of joy, gratitude, praise and aliveness.

In this course, we will explore the roots of grief traditions in various cultures across time and space. We will center in the theme of grief as a practice that bonds and strengthens community relationships. Touching into both traditional and modern emergent grief practices, we will ask ourselves “How might the re-emergence of collective grief spaces and ‘cultural grief literacy’ serve toward the movement of healing and liberation?”

This course is interactive and participatory. It involves praxis, including self-reflection and embodied learning. We will be writing, drawing, moving and singing. Most practices are invitational but do require presence.

Please note: The practice of researching and exploring grief can give rise to grief itself. This course is primarily a learning space and will not provide the proper container for deeply processing grief. Students are expected to actively seek and secure outside support if the course proves challenging. If students have recently encountered a significant loss (particularly within 6 months), this course may not be timely. Please see instructor with questions.