There is constant change around us - natural devastation and destruction of Helene, political turmoil and unrest following an election, and a dark winter looming that will be unlike any other. We’ll gather to explore different models of grief work in order to find a pathway through. The ripple effects of grief poke holes in all our beliefs about who/what is fair, blessed, and deserving. There is a horrifying invitation to dive down a rabbit hole that take use down to the unrecognizable studies of our very identify… questioning, unraveling, and eventually lost. I’m not advocating for blocking, dissociating, and suppression, or denial.

It’s helpful to walk down the path with a map, perhaps even a guide, and some supportive friends to share the journey with. On the other side of the pain are promises that call to our deepest human longing. Grief reveals clarify of what really matters - time is precious, divisions are pointless, we are here to love and be loved. Grief tenderizes our hears and stretch our skin to hold so much more compassion for ourselves, for others, for our planet, and all the paradoxes and complexities that this world has to offer. Grief will transform us if we dare to learn how to do it well, and grieve WITH one another, the change can be powerful. Join us as we hold out a lantern for this dark and sacred journey of being a human together.

Exposure to risk and potential death is a part of our passionate engagement with whitewater kayaking. We do our best to control our exposure through safety skills and technique. But what about our mental-emotional responses after something “bad” happens. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is associated with avoidance behavior, which can be adaptive in some cases. However, our rivers, paddling communities, and connection with nature afford us with so much. Avoidance of these situations and places is not always the answer and can lead to feeling isolated and despondent.

This workshop is designed to share models of trauma therapy that assist us in working through the emotionally charged images and memories