Mother’s day grief alchemy
a transformative community ritual
Mother’s Day can be a difficult day. Sometimes it’s a painful reminder of what is, or what isn’t. If Mother’s Day brings up feelings of grief, dread, anger or other strong emotions, you’re not alone. Come, be held in a community of care.
Who is this for?
If you are grieving the death of your mother and/or dealing with any mother wounds like those listed here, you are welcome to join me for a transformative grief-tending ritual:
Death of your mother
Lack of relationship with your mother due to issues like addiction, mental illness, abuse or other challenges
Anticipatory grief due to illness/incapacity
Unresolved trauma involving your mother
Ancestral wounds from the mother line
Transitioning from child to caregiver as a mother becomes ill or incapacitated
Boundary issues (from no relationship to codependency)
Masking pain and “going through the motions” on days like Mother’s Day
Fertility challenges
Parenting challenges and heartache
I’ve walked a complex grief with respect to my relationship to “mothering,” as a daughter and a mother. At times, it’s been so hard to navigate, confusing and emotional. I’ve witnessed and supported many clients as they come to terms with their mothering relationships. It’s such an impactful relationship that can have a strong effect on our self-perception, worldview and sense of safety, belonging and dignity.
Grief brings about more emotions than just sadness. Grief connects us to a web of emotions that include anger, regret, despair, loneliness, hope and love. Grief is important because it connects us to what we hold dear. Grief is worthy of acknowledgement, care and expression.
MOTHER’S DAY GRIEF ALCHEMY 2025:
Sunday, May 4, 2024
In North Vancouver
Past participants have described Grief Alchemy as "powerful, transformative, and healing." They’ve experienced “a sense of lightness" afterward. While the specific benefits of this practice vary from person to person, here are a few you might experience:
increased vitality by not using energy to avoid or mask your feelings
deeper self connection and compassion
feeling stronger and more capable of managing your emotions
tools to support your well-being in times of stress
a sense of belonging and connection to community
feeling less burdened by sadness, guilt or regret
increased clarity about your feelings and needs
Our ceremony will include:
Somatic tools to regulate the nervous system, soothe the body, heart and soul
Altar building
Story-telling
Ritual practices to honour, contain and express grief, including a modern adaptation of keening (an ancient Celtic practice to express the complexity of grief)
Soulful connection
Light refreshments
Our ceremony will include:
Somatic tools to regulate the nervous system, soothe the body, heart and soul
Altar building
Story-telling
Ritual practices to honour, contain and express grief, including a modern adaptation of keening (an ancient Celtic practice to express the complexity of grief)
Soulful connection
Light refreshments
“Grief tending is sacred work. While we can, at times, feel so alone in our grief, grief binds us together in ways no other experience can. Grief strips us to our core, takes us deep into what makes us human, to what matters to us most. It’s rocky, wild terrain. You don’t have to travel it alone.”
— Wendy