Perhaps you've recently suffered a loss; a friendship, a partner, a home or a job. Or perhaps you're experiencing more than a little grief about the current state of affairs, the endless news cycle, or climate change. Whatever the root of your grief, outside of traditional talk therapy, what strategies can we reach for to uplift ourselves and our community during the darkest times? In what ways did our ancestors empower themselves against their oppressors, ill fortune and dark forces?
In November, as we enter the gateway to winter and the shadow side of the year, join death doula Abby Goelzer & folk healer Rachael Gonzalez for an evening of getting acquainted with our grief through healing exercises and prompts, recipes and traditions. The evening will culminate by crafting a spell through making a custom trollpåse, a magical folk talisman from the old ways of Scandinavia. You will leave this workshop empowered with self care tools for years to come, along with your own custom sewn trollpåse.
This class if for you if you have been struggling with finding ways to integrate grief and hardship in your life.
This class is not for you if you struggle with crafting, sewing, using scissors and needles, or generally get frustrated with making things. You may not be able to share space in a balanced way, or you may not be ready to face your grief quite yet, are easily triggered, or haven't used other tools (talk therapy, medication, or other marvels of modern medicine). This class is not intended to be a replacement for psychiatric tools, and is intended to be complimentary to them, in addition to other measures of self care.
About the Teachers:
Abby Goelzer (Garnet and the Moon) is a death doula, and grief worker, and writer living in the upper Midwest on the traditional homeland of the Potawatomi, Ho-Chunk, and Menominee peoples on the southwestern shores of Michigami. In her grief-tending, she helps people who have experienced a shift in their sense of self due to loss or life change and helps them move towards embracing the person they are becoming, while holding sacred all that has been lost or changed. She views grief work as liberation work essential to the endeavor of dreaming new futures.
Rachael Gonzalez (FAMILIAR) is an artist, bodyworker, northern folkways educator and trollkunnig living and working in Milwaukee, Wisc. She makes herbal medicines and brooms, writes zines, tends sauna, teaches workshops and facilitates healing experiences. Her witchcraft is rooted in social justice and her mission is connecting her clients with their bodies and the natural world. You can find a full list of her trainings and connect via her website at familiarmke.com.
Cost: $65
Location:
This 2-hour class will be held at Hedge Meadow located at 140 S Winsted St. in Spring Green, Wisconsin. There is limited parking in the small lot in front of the building and ample street parking within the surrounding neighborhood.
What to Expect/Bring:
Herbal tea will be provided but please bring whatever else you need to take care of yourself, including snacks. Please also bring a notebook and pen, and any comfort objects or small trinkets you may want to add to your trollbag- items related to grief, recovery, ancestors or lost ones.
Accessibility:
This class contains element of lecture, discussion, and hands-on crafting. We will be seated in chairs and using our hands to sew.
Covid/Illness Safety:
Masks are not required but always encouraged and appreciated. Please use common sense and do not attend class if you’re sick (day-of refunds available for illness only). You must wear a mask if someone in your household is sick, or if you know you’ve been exposed to an infectious pathogen. Thank you for your cooperation and understanding around this.
Cancellation/Refund Policy:
We reserve the right to cancel class at any point due to a lack of interest. If this is the case, anyone who has signed up will receive a full refund.
If you sign up for class but can no longer attend, please let us know at least 48 hours prior to class for a full refund. If you let us know the day prior to class, you will receive a 50% refund. Sorry, but if you cancel the day of class you will not receive a refund (unless you’re cancelling because of illness).