The Great Simplification with Nate Hagens The Lost Art of Grieving: Grief as Ritual, Resistance, and Resilience with Francis Weller
Energy Surplus and Grief
- Western culture's energy surplus insulates us from frequent tragedies, hindering our grief response.
- This "ascension trail" necessitates a "descent" to reconnect with essential emotions.
Physiology of Grief
- Suppressing grief can lead to physiological issues, as tears release stress hormones like cortisol.
- Grief is meant to be in motion, like a current, rather than a stagnant burden.
Grief as Oppression
- Unexpressed grief can manifest as a sense of oppression, weighing down our vitality.
- Releasing grief requires both containment (a supportive environment) and release.
Western culture, particularly in the United States, is often characterized by a profound discomfort and suppression of grief. Without healthy outlets to process loss and pain – especially in communal settings – many of us end up caught in cycles of loneliness and emotional distress. How might incorporating intentional spaces and rituals to process our grief regularly help us navigate the more systemic challenges we face?
In this conversation, Nate is joined by psychotherapist Francis Weller to discuss the essential human need for grief. Among many poignant topics, they delve into how modern individualism impacts our ability to grieve and form deep connections with others, and how that can keep us feeling stuck individually and as whole societies. Francis also explains his concept of 'the five gates of grief' and explores the cultural variations in grieving practices, physiological aspects of loss, and the vital role of community in healing.
How can intentional rituals help us process grief – including for the loss and destruction of biodiversity and healthy ecosystems? In what way could expanding the role of grief in our life paradoxically lead to greater room for love and joy? Ultimately, how can facilitating rituals and deeper social connections strengthen the bonds of community, leading to more emotionally resilient people and societies?
(Conversation recorded on January 24th, 2025)
About Francis Weller:
Francis Weller, MFT, is a psychotherapist, writer, and soul activist. For over forty years, he has worked as a psychotherapist and developed a style he calls soul-centered psychotherapy, synthesizing diverse streams of thought from psychology, anthropology, mythology, alchemy, indigenous cultures and poetic traditions.
Francis is the author of the bestselling, 'The Wild Edge of Sorrow: Rituals of Renewal and the Sacred Work of Grief,' 'The Threshold Between Loss and Revelation' (with Rashani Réa), and 'In the Absence of the Ordinary: Soul Work for Times of Uncertainty.' He founded and directs WisdomBridge, an organization that offers educational programs that seek to integrate the wisdom from indigenous cultures with the insights and knowledge gathered from western poetic, psychological, and spiritual traditions.
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