ongoing and upcoming events
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we all encounter grief and loss on a daily basis and it often piles up. a grief circle is a place to share and witness one anothers grief through simple ritual. gathering in this manner often eases the strain of carrying undigested grief all alone.
grief circles are held at the gatherings in surry each month on a saturday from 10:30-12pm.
grief circles facilitated by annick mcintosh and marianne reis
a grief and gratitude cafe is an opportunity for people to gather and eat, drink tea, and discuss their griefs and gratitudes. there is no agenda, no objectives. simply, we are exploring these two topics together, and witnessing each other as we discover what it means to be deeply held in both our grief and gratitude. please note that this cafe is a discussion group rather than a grief support or counseling session, but all emotions and stories are welcome.
the cafe will be held at the conscious cafe in ellsworth.
event facilitated by annick mcintosh
this death meditation is adapted from the nine contemplations by atisha, an eleventh-century buddhist scholar and saint. it was brought to the western world by larry rosenberg and joan halifax roshi. in this 45-minute sitting and/or supine meditation, we will explore the inevitability the death, as well as imagine what happens when our body shuts down and ultimately returns to earth. after meditation, we will join in a circle together to explore and hold each others experiences. your discomfort, your resistance, your fears - all is welcome here.
the meditation will be held at the steamy buddha in ellsworth. please pre-register on the steamy buddha events page.
event facilitated by annick mcintosh
life as paradox is an experimental dance, circle, song, and ritual space to celebrate life, death, grief, and gratitude. this will be a mostly non-verbal and somatic experience.
Note: you are encouraged to bring a photo or object that is meaningful to you in the context of life, death, grief, and gratitude. there will be an altar space for you to place your object.
the event will be held at the steamy buddha in ellsworth. please pre-register on the steamy buddha events page.
event facilitated by annick mcintosh and marianne reis
past events
in our journey through life, grief is an inevitable companion. it can arise from the profound sorrow of losing a loved one, from the quieter ache of unfulfilled dreams or unloved parts of ourselves. grief, too, can arise from the collective pain of witnessing the world's losses or grappling with our own sense of purpose. join us in soulful dialogue as we reimagine grief as not a problem to be solved, denied, endured, or overcome, but as a vital and necessary companion who can bring us into a deeper relationship with ourselves and the soul of the world. come away from the workshop with a broader understanding of grief and loss, along with some tools and practices to help sustain an ongoing conversation with grief.
this workshop will be held at the gatherings in surry.
the facilitators
a mother to three grown children, Marianne (she/her) is on the threshold of elderhood and exploring what it means to be a massage therapist on sabbatical; so far, that has led her to throwing clay, writing, and continuing the lifelong journey of soul-activism. all of these practices keep leading her into a deeper inquiry of self. marianne identifies as a white, able-bodied, introverted, neurotypical, cis-gendered woman who is enraptured by nature. If given a wide selection of string instruments, she is known to have a strong preference for cellos.
annick (they/she) has just entered motherhood and is raising her young child with her partner in lamoine. annick is an ordained interfaith chaplain and works at the intersection of psychedelics, grief, and death. annick identifies as a white, able-bodied, neurotypical, queer person who is enraptured by the tragically beautiful paradox of living as a human in this world. if given a wide selection of cult classics from the early 2000s, annick is known to have a strong preference for Donnie Darko.
both Annick and Marianne are trained leaders in grief ritual through the lineage of francis weller. they are both thrilled to offer grief workshops and rituals to their beloved community in downeast maine.