After seeing the film Griefwalker on Saturday and hearing Stephen Jenkinson talk, I found his ideas so provocative, so profound and transformative, I went to his Sunday all-day session. It wasn’t a workshop, it wasn’t therapy, it wasn’t about developing the Self, or the spiritual quest. But what he said was so relevant to Druidry, the work of being in the world (if I can be that vague) that I found it quite mind-blowing. Because he talks about Grief it can seem a gloomy starting point, but in fact he talks about it in a way that makes it seem THE starting point! I guess the first idea in this other clip gives an insight into how this could be:
Posted by: Philip Carr-Gomm | February 12, 2013
How Grief can be a Starting Point – the Work of Stephen Jenkinson
Posted in Miscellaneous
Grief does seem like one of the great uncovered topics in Paganism, quite simply because there are no easy formulas to address it. I’m trying to remember if it was a post you made that mentioned the spiritual isolation that grief produces? After losing my father in 2009 I’ve been profoundly affected by grief and once again found that my own spiritual path needs some tools built to deal with the massive transformation that grieving can bring on, both in ambiguous and non-ambiguous loss.
By: Diana Rajchel on February 12, 2013
at 4:25 pm
I am not sure Diana, but do have a look at Stephen Jenkinson’s work. It feels incredibly deep and helpful in this regard.
By: Philip Carr-Gomm on February 12, 2013
at 4:31 pm
‘Don’t it always seem to go
!
That you don’t know what you got till it’s gone…’
It doesn’t always have to go that way
Thanks for sharing Philip.
By: ingridbertrand on February 12, 2013
at 6:35 pm
At a relatively old age (65), I had my first deep experience with grief, losing my dog & my mother two weeks apart. I can’t say exactly how the journey has been so far since it hasn’t been a whole year yet. But I do know that looking at grief as the beginning of something entirely different in my life feels definitely right. I plan to take a look at Stephen’s work. Thanks for the post, Philip.
By: Twig on February 13, 2013
at 1:46 am
[...] week, Philip Carr-Gomm’s blog pointed me to Griefwalker at Orphan Wisdom. I will be finding my starting point to work through [...]
By: Weatherwax Wednesday | Notes from the Underground on February 14, 2013
at 12:26 am
Thanks for posting about Stephen’s work. Last year, I lost my partner of 18 years, and although I was prepared for his death, I wasn’t prepared for what comes after. His passing and my grief have really thrown me for a loop, and everything has changed. Most difficult have been the spiritual changes. And as one other commenter mentioned, there is little written in the Pagan community about death or grief. It is very isolating, even when we make our best efforts to remain connected, at least that has been my experience so far. It’s good to read Jenkinson address the power of grief and the opportunity it presents rather than how others simply want to ignore it altogether.
By: Wes Isley on February 19, 2013
at 6:12 pm
Thanks for posting this, Wes. It’s from such deep places that kind of wisdom arises. Those of us who are physically nearer to you, please let us know how we can connect in a helpful way.
By: Stephanie on February 19, 2013
at 8:17 pm
I think Wes from what I’ve reading and hearing of Jenkinson’s work he really has some powerful and potentially life-changing insights to share around this. I think you’re right that the Pagan community has much to grow into here.
By: Philip Carr-Gomm on February 19, 2013
at 8:57 pm