Conversations

29 Jan

Posted at 16:04h in Conversations by

The speakers who feature in the interview described here are shown. 'Embracing Grief' Team.

Watch ‘Embracing Grief: The Power of Witnessed Grieving’ on the Dandelion podcast.

Stephen Reid interviews Bilal Nasim, Sarah and Tony Pletts about their Grief Tending events. Here’s what he says about our conversation:

“Drawing on the work of people including Malidoma Somé, Francis Weller and Joanna Macy, Embracing Grief offers group ceremonies and workshops that create brave spaces for people to explore personal, collective and ancestral grief. The facilitators emphasize that grief work isn’t about “fixing” anything, but rather about creating welcoming containers where all emotions – from numbness to anger to joy – can be safely expressed and witnessed.

One of the most surprising aspects of grief work, according to the facilitators, is just how much joy, connection and even playfulness can emerge when grief is given space to move. They offer various formats from 4-hour online circles to full weekend in-person workshops, making this vital work accessible to different needs and comfort levels. The team is gradually expanding their capacity by bringing on new facilitators, helping to meet the growing need for collective grief practices in these times.”

Look out for the moment when Bilal mysteriously changes his environment…

You can see more details and book Embracing Grief events on Dandelion.

Sarah Pletts is a Grief Tender and Artist who offers workshops in London and online, sharing rituals where grief on all themes is welcome.  For more information about Grief Tending events see here. 

24 Oct

Posted at 10:36h in Conversations by

Image showing cartoon versions of the interviewer and interviewees of the podcast series described.

‘Rainbow Mums – Stories of Gay and Bisexual Parents’ is a podcast. In the series I interview some amazing LGBTQ+ people, who have found ways to be themselves in the world; and who have become parents along the way. How does life work in a LGBTQ+ family?

Each person brings their unique history into the recording studio, along with their different journeys into parenthood. Each Rainbow Mum gave me reasons to celebrate, with a series of vivid impressions, of the chosen families that surround each of them, and the different routes they took to become parents.

Different themes emerge in each conversation, but include navigating homophobia, shame, coming out as a lesbian, the complexity of life as a bisexual or polyamorous person. We also explore some of the joys of LGBTQ+ families such as the advantages of chosen family, acceptance, lesbian marriage, and being proud of our diversity. As well as sexual identity, there are also many different routes into parenthood, and we hear from Rainbow Mums who may or may not also be biological parents.

After the award-winning success of Rainbow Dads, being invited by Executive Producers Richard Shannon and Nicholas McInerny, to host Rainbow Mums, was an honour. The brave folk who came to share their stories were all fascinating; I just had to be curious. This feels particularly powerful in world whether because of fear, shame, political or religious pressures, people are unable to express themselves openly.

Through becoming visible as queer parents, we represent some possibilities of the choices and serendipities, as well as the challenges and triumphs in our lives. Thanks so much to all those LGBTQ families who have helped to make Rainbow Mums, and to those who choose to hear our voices.

Listen to Rainbow Mums here.

Rainbow Mums graphic by Ben Poultney.

Sarah Pletts is a Grief Tender and Artist who offers workshops in London and online, sharing rituals where grief on all themes is welcome.  For more information about Grief Tending events see here. 

28 Sep

Posted at 08:16h in Conversations, Sarah's Journal by

Cat who appears in the You Tube video described in the text.

In this video, Max Mora, a bodyworker from Integrated Somatics talks with me – Sarah Pletts, a Grief Tender, about working with grief through the body. Our conversation explores similarities in our understanding of the impact of grief, and our approaches to working with the body.

We tease out the supportive synergy that may happen for someone who has access to both a Grief Tending group process, and more focussed time with a one-to-one bodyworker. Max describes how we both aim to encourage people “at the pace of their nervous system”, when we are working with grief.

As we speak about learning to sit, at ease with emotional discomfort (ours or another’s), Ginger Girl – the cat,  makes a guest appearance. She demonstrates the appeal of sitting with two regulated nervous systems. Pets know instinctively how to sit alongside us, to find pleasure when we are calm, and to offer supportive presence when we hurt.

Working with grief in a group, we may discover that “it’s not just me…there’s a magic that happens when we come together.” Max talks of “kind touch”, and how to “meet each other kindly,” as we come into contact with someone who is grieving, and how different that is from the urge to rescue.

We share a similar perspective on creating permission for people to open up and allow whatever is present, without any expectations. Our intention, whether working with grief through Grief Tending or therapeutic touch, is to give space to the whole spectrum of feelings. Working with grief, as Max says, can allow us to “be more fully alive, and able to access joy, to access pleasure and deep belly laughs.” Max goes on to remind us of a very common aversion to the challenge of experiencing grief.

“I want the full technicolour experience of the lovely things, and I’ll have a small version of grieving, because it’s unpleasant.” But we both know, life doesn’t work that way.

You can listen to our conversation here. And find Grief Tending workshops here.

Sarah Pletts is a Grief Tender and Artist who offers workshops in London and online, sharing rituals where grief on all themes is welcome.  For more information about Grief Tending events see here.