The five gates of grief & national grief-in-public day

Yes, yes, I know that I just wrote about another national XYZ day — but these are both very very good.

National Grief-In-Public Day 4/28

On this day of communal mourning, we acknowledge the global crisis of grief, magnified by atrocities such as genocide, environmental degradation, and the dismantling of oppressive systems like colonialism and capitalism. Despite these profound losses, there exists a pervasive denial of our collective sorrow. It is time to offer our communities an alternative path.

As a coalition of those who work with death, we cultivate transformative movements that challenge this denial. Through creating spaces of sanctuary and validation, we provide avenues for shared mourning. By joining our efforts, we have the potential to ignite a profound awakening to the reality of grief.

Here are some suggestions for activities on Annual Grief-in-Public Day:

Establish a station where individuals can pen their grief and attach their notes to a tree branch, allowing them to flutter in the breeze as symbols of remembrance.
Arrange a table adorned with tea light candles, inviting participants to light a candle in honor of their sorrow.
Place a bell on display with a sign prompting individuals to ring it upon recognizing our collective grief.

For those unable to gather in person, consider hosting a virtual "Grief-in-Public Day" event, extending an invitation to your community to join in an online space.

You can see a video from the originator of this idea, my friend and colleague, Narinder Bazen: https://www.instagram.com/reel/C5yJqBpOqwX/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

The official website is here: https://annualgriefinpublicday.my.canva.site/

The Five Gates of Grief | Event 4/28-4/30

“So much in this world needs our attention. So much is threatened and clinging perilously close to the edge of existence. We know this is true. Grief is our witness to these painful realities. Grief is also our response that confirms our intimate bond with all creation.” ~ Francis Weller

Last year we of Salt Trails Collective reclaimed Love Park as a space not only for love but for grief with Revolutionary Grief, Revolutionary Love.

In 2022, we sat on a bench in the Wissahickon inviting passersby to share their grief with us.

This year, in collaboration with @thresholdcollective_ and funded by a @leewayfound grant, we are presenting the Five Gates of Grief, inspired by the work of psychotherapist and soul activist Francis Weller.

On April 28th, 2024 at 4pm, Threshold Collective and Salt Trails with The Maas Building will be hosting a free and public arts event based on The Five Gates of Grief - access points to grief that all humans experience throughout our lives as described by author Francis Weller. This event was made possible by a grant from The Leeway Foundation to whom we are immensely grateful.

On 4/28/24 at 4 pm there will be a live activation of the three day installation, and the artists below will be doing live performance at each gate. Please join us!

Remember that there are many ways to show up for this day even if your work is not rooted in death and grief. To be alive on this planet at this time is to be a grief pilgrim, and this is an open call to anyone who’d like to be part of weaving a collective container to help hold the griefs in their community.