The Importance of Grief Rituals

This weekend, I attended my first-ever community grief ritual.

I had the opportunity to witness (and participate in) a powerful grief discussion and ritual hosted by Anderson Cooper and Francis Weller.

It was the first time I had engaged in a grief ritual, and I was struck by how simple — yet deeply moving — it was. We were asked to speak our grief to a stone, then place the stone in water. It was emotionally overwhelming at times, and I’m still processing what I want to do with the experience.

To start, I thought I’d digest what I am taking away:

• A reminder that we are not alone in our grief — whether it’s the loss of a loved one, grief for the state of the world, the loss of a future we imagined, or grief for our planet. I was moved by how many people showed up in pain and still held space for others.

• Community matters in times of darkness. What if we shifted our focus from individual needs to the needs of our communities? What might become possible if we prioritized connection and care over isolation and self-reliance?

• A lesson I seem to keep relearning: you can hold conflicting emotions at the same time. You can carry deep sadness, fear, and loss — and still make room for beauty, optimism, and light.

• And finally, I’m proud of myself for doing this. A year ago, I don’t think I could have touched my grief this deeply. This experience reminded me that grief evolves. It never goes away, but it can change.

  
  

Where do I go next with all of this? I’m not sure yet. As a first step, I’ll be taking my grief stones to the ocean — for her to hold and honour.

Next, I plan on finding ways to deepen my community relationships and I hope to one day host some of you in my own version of a grief ritual.

To close, please be gentle with yourself as you navigate grief.