Many of us carry our grief privately, out of fear of being judged or overwhelmed by our emotions, or because of the harmful messaging we’ve received and internalized around grief. Yet grief is a natural human response to loss. And sharing our feelings, our thoughts, our stories not only honors our humanity, doing so helps us to see the humanity in others. Yet, how do we turn toward this difficult guest with compassion and care for ourselves, and each other? It helps to have a practice to engage our grief, to allow it to move through us. Writing is one of those practices.

In this careshop, led by grief coach Naila Francis, we'll turn to the page to express our grief through guided writing prompts. Our time together will include a grounding meditation, shared poems about grief that help us access our emotions around our own losses, and invitations to write and reflect. This class is for anyone experiencing a significant loss or change, not just the death of a loved one. Participants will have space to be with their grief in a culture that avoids and dismisses grief, while also finding comfort, support, insight and connection. Please bring a journal to write in.

About Naila Francis: Naila Francis is a certified grief coach and death midwife, an ordained interfaith minister and writer/poet. As the founder of This Hallowed Wilderness, she helps people transform their relationship to grief and loss through one-on-one coaching, workshops, rituals and ceremonies. Her work is often informed by her love of poetry, nature and community. She believes in exploring grief through a holistic lens that allows people to journey alongside their losses with compassion, authenticity and heart-centered care. Naila is also the founder of Salt Trails, a Philadelphia collective normalizing grief through community rituals. Learn more at www.thishallowedwilderness.com

This careshop is sponsored by The NSCDA/PA, the Veteran's Oral History Project, and Stenton Museum.