Last night, I spent time with a friend watching and discussing this gorgeous and tender documentary on grief rituals:

https://tricycle.org/filmclub/just-our-heart/

The photo I included from the film is in Cerro Rico in Potosi, Bolivia, and I was particularly touched by this scene in which these women sing, dance, and create an altar they burn to honor the pain that has come to the Earth and the mountain they stand upon. Historically, the estimated death toll due to the exploitative silver mining industry there is said to be 8-9 million.

There were so many moments I loved in this, but one I will note here is the sentiment that because it only took a minority of people in power to create the imbalances of colonialist, capitalist, patriarchal culture, that there is hope that those who are doing the deep work of soul activism may begin to shift humanity into a different direction. This is part of the concept of Refugia, the online depth immersion I am a part of: that we have the opportunity to practice becoming living sanctuaries and grief tenders through growing our capacity and maturing into initiated, ripe elders.

Between my viewing of this film and my studies, whose guest teacher this month was Francis Weller, I am growing a deeper appreciation for grief and our regular ritual of sharing concerns and sorrows at UUFM.

In a generally grief-averse society, I truly believe that invitations, time, attention, and care to be with the parts of us that are aching is necessary, foundational peace-making work. I am eager to weave this integrative wisdom into the theme of community building and its challenges in my upcoming Sunday service.