Event One

I once met a client who came to address her grief after the death of a parent. Her friends had suggested she see a counselor. I asked her how long since the loss and she told me, two weeks. I was happy to work with her but something struck me quite deeply. Grief is not a mental health problem, especially not new grief. And newly experienced loss, whether through death or divorce or a transition to a new chapter of life, is ideally the most important province of close friends and family. It is in these times that we need our dearest people to be near, to circle the wagons around us so we can be held in our vulnerable time. All of us will go through loss. All of us will love people who will go through loss. It is part of our shared humanity. After seeing several clients to help them process grief, I began to wonder whether many of us, in this emotionally challenged culture, have lost the ability to hold that space for others; to participate in the healing of loved ones the way our ancestors always did.

This workshop will help participants find their inner resources to really be with our loved ones who are struggling. To listen with a steady, open heart and side-step the impulse to fix, explain or solve. To regain the innate capacity to hold sacred space for others so they may heal.

This offering will meet six consecutive Wednesdays for 1.5 hours each evening, 7-8:30pm, starting September 6. It will be a combination of learning and practice.

Real listening is centered in awareness of ourselves, body and mind, as well as compassion, for self and then, skillfully, for others. These are all capacities which can be grown and strengthened with practice. Find out what is the difference when we listen fully with only the desire to understand. This takes practice.

How to Listen is $100 total for the course. If you’re interested in this offering, but 100 isn’t in your budget, please email me. hhenryrawlins@gmail.com

max 15 particpants