Somatic Grief Ritual

A gentle, brave container to meet and move the heartbreak of these times. In this collective Grief Ritual, we use somatic awareness, movement, vocalization, and music to carry us through an encounter with the sorrow, pain, weight, rage, and love that is Grief. Nessa Norich guides the attention and intention of the group through a series of embodied practices designed to locate the heaviness and heartbreak we carry in our bodies, listen to it, and move through it, while supported by the collective. Whatever your particular experience of grief or struggle is, whether personal or collective, this container is meant to support you. We are not meant to hold it alone. “We grieve so we can imagine” - Danielle Sered We grieve so we can forgive. We grieve to stop numbing ourselves. We grieve to create more space for joy and peace. Please RSVP in advance. Cost of the event is $20-$30. 40% of ticket sales will be donated to HEAL PALESTINE. No one will be turned away for lack of funds (pay what you can). The ritual will be supported by somatic therapist, Jaye Fishel, SEP - https://jayefishel.world/. How to arrive: Please rsvp before 6:00pm Sunday. Arrive at 6:30. Doors close at 6:45 - no entry will be permitted after. Wear clothes you can comfortably stretch and move in. Bring a water bottle (there are refill stations). Please make sure you are not hungover or dehydrated on Sunday. Recommend eating in the late afternoon, so you are not hungry, or full. What to expect: 6:30pm Silent Entry - Let the day go. Stretch. Be still. It's your time. 6:45 Doors Close - Introduction and outline of the evening ahead. 6:50 - 8:45 - Ritual comprised of movement, vocalization, and visualization with musical accompaniment. Ending with free movement to integrate. 8:45 - Closing of the Ritual 8:45-9:15 Optional verbal integration 9:15-ish Event Closing About Somatic Grief Rituals The Somatic Grief Ritual was co-created by Nessa Norich and Omar Aena (www.omaraena.com), longtime friends and collaborators who create spaces for transformation through embodiment. Last January, Norich, an Ashkenazi Jew, and Aena, an Iraqi Muslim, both children of refugees, came together to create a space to gather and collectively process the catastrophe unfolding in The Land, from October 7th to today. Since then, they have shared this brave container with groups of 30-250 people. With a genocide unfolding in Gaza before our eyes, we feel an overwhelming need to take our grief out of isolation, to be held and hold one another. "To open our hearts to the sad history of humanity and the devastated state of the Earth is the next step in our reclamation of our bodies, the body of our human community, and the body of Earth." -Francis Weller, Wild Edge of Sorrow If you would like more information please get in touch with Nessa directly by filling out the form at the bottom of this page: https://www.nessanorich.com/collaborate-2 About Nessa Norich: Nessa Norich (they/she) is an interdisciplinary artist, coach, and facilitator from Lenapehoking or the Tri-State area. Nessa applies their lifelong study in performance and movement to their practice as a trauma-informed facilitator. Since graduating from the Jacques Lecoq School for Physical Theater, Nessa has shared expressive arts as a tool for empowerment and liberation with folks aged 8-80. The communities Nessa has worked with include: The Generations Project, an intergenerational LGBTQ+ community; Crossing Point Arts, an organization serving survivors of Human Trafficking; Shine On in Schools, a program they created to promote mental and physical well-being in NYC Public Schools through joyful improvisational movement; and their Jewish feminist artist collective, Well of Wills. www.NessaNorich.com If you cannot attend, you can still donate to Gaza by writing "donation". This will be a monthly event, so please be in touch if you would like to know about future dates. Event Graphic: "Two Saints" by Meirav Ong www.meiravong.com Covid Protocols: If you are not feeling well or have been exposed to Covid 5 days before the event, please do not attend. Masks are not required but are welcomed. The location has an HVAC system and air conditioning will be turned on.