Tending the Waters of Collective Grief

As a Threshold Doula, I often work with people who are navigating the complex emotions and challenges of grief. One tool that I have found to be incredibly helpful in this process is the use of water rituals.

Water is one of the most important substances on earth, covering over 70% of the planet's surface and making up about 60% of the human body. It is a powerful symbol of purification, renewal, and healing. When we experience grief, we often have a lot of emotions and feelings that are difficult to express or even understand. Water can provide a safe space for us to release these emotions and connect with our inner selves.

One simple water ritual that I return to is to mindfully drink water and remember that it is a part of them that connects them with the web of life. This can be an incredibly grounding and centering experience, helping them to connect with their bodies and the natural world around them.

Another water ritual that I recommend is to write your feelings, memories, or prayers on paper and then release them into a body of water such as a river or ocean. Water can dissolve the paper and the ink, symbolizing the release of our emotions and letting go of what we are holding onto.

Taking a bath or swimming can also be a form of cleansing and renewal, helping to wash away the pain and sorrow of grief. Being held by water can remind the body of being held in the womb. Some cultures also have specific water rituals for mourning and honoring the dead, such as the Hindu practice of immersing ashes in the Ganges river.

Water has a unique ability to change its form depending on its surroundings. It can exist as a liquid, solid, or gas, making it a powerful symbol of transformation and change. Water can also be used as a symbol in grief rituals, representing the ebb and flow of emotions and the cycle of life and death.

In addition to personal healing, cultivating a relationship with grief can also move us to take action towards creating a more just & sustainable future. As author and activist Alexis Pauline Gumbs writes in her book Undrowned, "The more I grieve for what has been lost, the more I am willing to fight for what is left."

Climate change is one of the most pressing issues of our time, with devastating impacts on the planet's ecosystems and the communities that depend on them. By recognizing the value of water and the deep connections we have with it, we can also recognize the urgent need to protect it from the impacts of climate change. This means taking action to reduce our carbon footprint, supporting policy changes that prioritize environmental protection, and advocating for sustainable practices in our communities.

Cultivating a relationship with grief can also help us to navigate the feelings of overwhelm and hopelessness that can arise when facing the scale of the climate crisis. By acknowledging our grief and honoring the loss of what has already been lost, we can find the strength and motivation to take action towards a more sustainable future. As Gumbs writes, "I want to learn how to love and be with what is dying, because only then can I begin to imagine how to live in the midst of all this."

By incorporating water rituals into our grieving and healing practices, we can also connect with the larger environmental movement and find meaning in our efforts towards creating a better world. In doing so, we honor the power and sacredness of water and the deep connections we have with it, reminding ourselves of our responsibility to protect it for future generations.

The renewal and gratitude that water offers us can move us to act in ways that honor, celebrate, and uplift the power and preciousness of all living things - ourselves and each other included.