A new kind of Nest takes wing...
For two years, art + soul enjoyed having a physical home base called The Nest in Northampton, Massachusetts. It was indeed a magical place, a wild apothecary of materials inviting unending soulful creativity. For many it was their sanctuary, a refuge, a safe place to explore, discover and receive inner hospitality. And, it had its share of issues that were often challenging to day-to-day functioning. Then, the pandemic arrived.
art + soul continues to actively explore new potential Nest spaces for collaborative and in-person groups and events. However, the current wave of COVID, and the uncertainty of when we can gather freely limitations, makes it challenging to know when another physical Nest space makes sense. I have identified some local spaces and retreat centers in which art + soul can hold an event or two, which it will over the course of the next year. I continue to offer one-on-one individual time in my home studio for spiritual direction and creative expression for those who are vaccinated.
Still, offering things virtually seems the wisest course of action right now until we all know more. I know this is frustrating and disappointing for those whom ZOOM does not cut it.
In the meantime, welcome to The Essential Nest, an mostly on-line series of conversations and events that start from a place of our deepest curiosity as we continue to navigate shifting ground:
What does it mean to live fully within the truth of impermanence?
What does it mean to be well in spirit?
What is healing?
What is wholeness?
What is Love?
What are my sacred stories?
What will my legacy be?
The Nest is a collaboration of wise ones who will create gentle, thoughtful, spaces integrating the practical and the spiritual to engage the questions of living fully within the truth of impermanence.
We share the conviction that we can’t be fully alive if we can’t or won’t integrate the facts of vulnerability, loss, and transitions, as a natural part of our human process.
We see these explorations as a long-term conversation, essential to what it means to be fully alive and well. Over time, we anticipate The Nest will be:
1) a practical resource for information, guidance and education about the logistical processes of preparing for dying and death
2) accompaniment through the spiritual questions of loss, impermanence, and dyings
-a place of giving voice and expression to the many forms and layers of loss and grief
) inner and outer space for acts of remembrance
3) unpacking your legacy
4) assistance with rituals of loss and transition, including
creating a meaningful funeral, memorial service or life ritual
officiating a funeral, memorial service or life ritual
Collaborators:
Susannah Crolius
Theresa Bessette
Vanessa Serrotta
Lynn Simonds
Ashley Hodson
If you have an idea for a workshop or event, please send us an email with a brief proposal
The arts and vulnerability/dying/grief/death/remembrance—the center for the arts and loss/death lament, sorrow, restoration, rising, release,
The Village is a “ministry” of art +soul. Its particular purview is to create space for /to are the soul conversations that are hardest to most challenging to give voice to/ talk about: loss, grief, endings, dying, the fact of death. Living well in the truth of death.
The Village is an educational resource, a place to ask practical questions. It is also space to engage the deepest questions.
The Village invites exploration –through personal reflection, shared conversation, through creative expression, including but expanding beyond a medical framework to invite the fullness of who we are
The Village engages the deepest questions--spiritual issues
[The Village is a support network] grief tenders, forgiveness work
A period and an ellipse
endings. Flow, seasons, cycles. Loss is The Village as a resource and support net in which to have challenging conversations.
Beginnings/endings—the timeless circle dance between the two
An invitation to see these experiences through a lens different from the dominant one that names vulnerability and death as things to be avoided at all cost, to have life at all costs.
What is living? You can be alive and be dead. Zombies: alive and yet dead. Straddling the two worlds
Mission/Purpose:
[The Village] purpose is to invite thoughtful reflection on and engagement with the soulful cycles of one’s life.
Naming the many forms of loss and grief in one’s life
Expression of one’s fullness of feelings around loss
Witnessing to another’s expressions of loss
Questions/exploration about dying and death: logistical, spiritual, emotional
Clarifying and Educating Logistics
Preparation for dying and death
Remembrance/memory
Legacy
Services/Conversations:
Questions-resources-education-support-clarity
Navigating the medical terrain of language, forms and choices through informed personal consultation with an End-of-Life Doula
Provide Area and National Resources—on website and blog
Companioning/Accompanying Through the Spiritual Questions
Legacy Work
Assistance with creating a meaningful funeral, memorial service or life ritual
Officiating a funeral, memorial service or ritual
Rituals of Loss and Transition
[witnessing team]
The Village is an integration of practical and spiritual, decisions informed by a grasp of our most real values.
What is healing?
What is cure?
What is wholeness?
What is authenticity?
What is Love?
Naming
Embodying
(Beliefs) are informed by
What about vulnerability scares you?
What about dying scares you?
Regrets—the things I didn’t do and should/could have—the things I did and shouldn’t have--
What does it mean to live fully?
The fear of disappointing or making angry
For two years, art + soul enjoyed having a physical home base called The Nest in Northampton, Massachusetts. It was indeed a magical place, a wild apothecary of materials inviting unending soulful creativity. For many it was their sanctuary, a refuge, a safe place to explore, discover and receive inner hospitality. And, it had its share of issues that were often challenging to day-to-day functioning. Then, the pandemic arrived.
art + soul continues to actively explore new potential Nest spaces for collaborative and in-person groups and events. However, the current wave of COVID, and the uncertainty of when we can gather freely limitations, makes it challenging to know when another physical Nest space makes sense. I have identified some local spaces and retreat centers in which art + soul can hold an event or two, which it will over the course of the next year. I continue to offer one-on-one individual time in my home studio for spiritual direction and creative expression for those who are vaccinated.
Still, offering things virtually seems the wisest course of action right now until we all know more. I know this is frustrating and disappointing for those whom ZOOM does not cut it.
In the meantime, welcome to The Essential Nest, an mostly on-line series of conversations and events that start from a place of our deepest curiosity as we continue to navigate shifting ground:
What does it mean to live fully within the truth of impermanence?
What does it mean to be well in spirit?
What is healing?
What is wholeness?
What is Love?
What are my sacred stories?
What will my legacy be?
The Nest is a collaboration of wise ones who will create gentle, thoughtful, spaces integrating the practical and the spiritual to engage the questions of living fully within the truth of impermanence.
We share the conviction that we can’t be fully alive if we can’t or won’t integrate the facts of vulnerability, loss, and transitions, as a natural part of our human process.
We see these explorations as a long-term conversation, essential to what it means to be fully alive and well. Over time, we anticipate The Nest will be:
1) a practical resource for information, guidance and education about the logistical processes of preparing for dying and death
2) accompaniment through the spiritual questions of loss, impermanence, and dyings
-a place of giving voice and expression to the many forms and layers of loss and grief
) inner and outer space for acts of remembrance
3) unpacking your legacy
4) assistance with rituals of loss and transition, including
creating a meaningful funeral, memorial service or life ritual
officiating a funeral, memorial service or life ritual
Collaborators:
Susannah Crolius
Theresa Bessette
Vanessa Serrotta
Lynn Simonds
Ashley Hodson
If you have an idea for a workshop or event, please send us an email with a brief proposal
The arts and vulnerability/dying/grief/death/remembrance—the center for the arts and loss/death lament, sorrow, restoration, rising, release,
The Village is a “ministry” of art +soul. Its particular purview is to create space for /to are the soul conversations that are hardest to most challenging to give voice to/ talk about: loss, grief, endings, dying, the fact of death. Living well in the truth of death.
The Village is an educational resource, a place to ask practical questions. It is also space to engage the deepest questions.
The Village invites exploration –through personal reflection, shared conversation, through creative expression, including but expanding beyond a medical framework to invite the fullness of who we are
The Village engages the deepest questions--spiritual issues
[The Village is a support network] grief tenders, forgiveness work
A period and an ellipse
endings. Flow, seasons, cycles. Loss is The Village as a resource and support net in which to have challenging conversations.
Beginnings/endings—the timeless circle dance between the two
An invitation to see these experiences through a lens different from the dominant one that names vulnerability and death as things to be avoided at all cost, to have life at all costs.
What is living? You can be alive and be dead. Zombies: alive and yet dead. Straddling the two worlds
Mission/Purpose:
[The Village] purpose is to invite thoughtful reflection on and engagement with the soulful cycles of one’s life.
Naming the many forms of loss and grief in one’s life
Expression of one’s fullness of feelings around loss
Witnessing to another’s expressions of loss
Questions/exploration about dying and death: logistical, spiritual, emotional
Clarifying and Educating Logistics
Preparation for dying and death
Remembrance/memory
Legacy
Services/Conversations:
Questions-resources-education-support-clarity
Navigating the medical terrain of language, forms and choices through informed personal consultation with an End-of-Life Doula
Provide Area and National Resources—on website and blog
Companioning/Accompanying Through the Spiritual Questions
Legacy Work
Assistance with creating a meaningful funeral, memorial service or life ritual
Officiating a funeral, memorial service or ritual
Rituals of Loss and Transition
[witnessing team]
The Village is an integration of practical and spiritual, decisions informed by a grasp of our most real values.
What is healing?
What is cure?
What is wholeness?
What is authenticity?
What is Love?
Naming
Embodying
(Beliefs) are informed by
What about vulnerability scares you?
What about dying scares you?
Regrets—the things I didn’t do and should/could have—the things I did and shouldn’t have--
What does it mean to live fully?
The fear of disappointing or making angry