Grief as a Practice

In the writing "Grief as Practice", Larissa Kaul introduces the concept of a “backlog” or “unmetabolized emotional pain”, what a grief practice is and why it may be needed in an individual's life. They define grief as “the act of allowing pleasure and pain to meet”, and the act of letting both “love and loss as teachers”. Kaul gives suggestions and helpful tips for people who are beginning a grief practice. She recommends structure/ dedicating an amount of time each day or week to the practice. Kaul also reflects on collective fears for “navigating these energies” saying most people are afraid to feel/ grieve because they do not want to be haunted/ stuck in the past or go into a “trauma spiral.” Throughout the document, Kaul gives helpful tips, suggestions, and new ideas when it comes to grief. She emphasizes the importance of slowing down; making the practice easy, pleasurable, sustainable; getting “out of head and into the body”; and staying connected to the lower body. Throughout the document, she also notes the importance of authenticity; finding what “feels” right not what the practice “should” look/ feel like. She writes in a creative, intuitive way that honors the practice.

Audio of my experience with the grief practice

Technical issue p.s You have to click on it once then click on it again - you have to work for it :)

Notes from ysa:

(This practice was introduced to me by Somatic Practioner Esi Wildcat. She gave me the document from Larissa Kaul on Grief As A Practice.)

I do not know much about Larissa Kaul but she seems very creative and her expressions open up space in my body, mind (if that makes any sense.)

For me, if I have stuck emotions, my creativity, imagination, and art do not flow as well. 

This is a grief practice and I would go at it gently and lightly (and slowly) if you do decide to try this out. 

I first heard about a grief practice from a somatic practitioner named Esi Wildcat. At first, I was very oppositional to it but then did it routinely for a year on my own accord. (And I've been feeling that I want to get back into it).

I started with the intention of honoring my grief (in ways I felt it never had been). I wore dark colors, like a funeral, bought a nice slice of chocolate cake, and carried these dried rose petals I had been collecting. I went to a big lake and with each clump of petals I dropped into the lake, I spoke outloud the things that had been hurting for a while. (This was not the intention but afterwards I did feel very positive, hopeful, happy in my body) And I felt more open too.

I share this with you because it may give you healing, more intimacy with yourself, unlock creativity (or ideas of what art and creativity should be). It may give you a sense of openness in your body or a lightening of weight. 

This is for you, but I think all of your art is, in a way, for yourself. 

Your grief practice/ ritual is anything that feels honoring to you but with intention. (I might bake a blue cake next time). Esi told me she always creates a soup when she is in grief. 

There is no wrong way here...

Feel free to share your thoughts/ experience with this in the comments (or talk/ email me or Professor Falck privately if you feel more comfortable with that)

Blessings, 

Ysabel

There are 5 more pages in this document but I am only including the one page because it is not mine to give. You are interested in recieving the full document, I recommend contacting Larissa Kaul at the link provided below.

Deeper Work:

Kaul, Larissa. "Grief As A Practice: Suggestions for Navigating Backlog." from Embodied Dreaming. Accessed 3 Nov 2024

https://www.larissakaul.com/.

(this document was emailed to me by Esi Wildcat https://wildholyhuman.com/)

1st Picture is a human tear under a microscope.

Artist: https://rose-lynnfisher.com/tears.html

Conversation: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/the-microscopic-structures-of-dried-human-tears-180947766/