"Wild Grief"

[markie]

when my husband died, I discovered the only way I could cope was to be in the woods... I am hiking the AT and call it my 'Grief Walk'

I recently discovered this program offered in Washington State (also offering virtual hikes)


https://wildgrief.org/

YOUR GRIEF IS WILD & WELCOME.
We believe in the healing power of both nature and peer support. At Wild Grief, we combine the two. We provide guided hikes at all levels, hour-long, day-long, and multi-day all focused on supporting each other while on our grief journeys. Grief is what we feel after the death of someone close in our lives and then the grief journey begins – we have to go through it and it is disorienting and often deeply painful.

Change of address

You didn't die, you just changed shape

Became invisible to the naked eye

Became this grief

It's sharpness more real

Than your presence was

Before you were separate to me entire to yourself

Now you are a part of me

You are inside my self

And I call you by your new name

'Grief.....Grief!'

Although I still call you 'Love'

-Donall Dempsey

[alittlelark]

1. Beautiful expression of the tragedy of deep loss.

Acknowledging that u know it is but a temporary separation.

[Farmer-Rick]

2. I live on a farm with about 5 acres of woods

And 9 acres in fields.

When I'm feeling the loss of my spouse really bad, I take a walk.

I once heard this young woman say that you should touch the earth, the ground, every day with nothing between you and the earth. No shoes, no floors, no concrete, nothing but direct contact with the planet for about 20 minutes a day. I do this by farming and gardening. In winter when I can't garden, it can get rough.

Gardening and walking in undeveloped land does make me feel better. Like I'm connected to something bigger than me. We evolved to suit this planet. We need to keep in touch with it.

[calimary]

5. Seems like no matter how I work in my garden, or haul, or dig, or pull...

I always wind up feeling renewed and refreshed, not to mention - exercised!

Gardening is good therapy. I won't do it barefoot, but when you're down on hands 'n' knees, you've still got some pretty good contact with Mother Earth.

[markie]

9. many years ago

I studied with the herbalist Dr. Christopher and he stressed the importance of contact with the Earth everyday

It will be 3 months tomorrow, and the first month I drank excessively to survive, the second month I planned my hike in order to fill my days and now I spend most of my days walking that path of white blazes that gives me a purpose... and then... I don't know? I have a few acres in Northern Vermont, but needed something bigger... I have gotten through Georgia, into North Carolina and will be entering the Smokies in the next day or so...

yes, we are better, healthier when we stay in touch

[Jack-o-Lantern]

3. Love is eternal.

[PuraVidaDreamin]

4. It will be two years in April.

For me it is mountain biking in the woods that helps me.
Or being on the edge of the ocean with my golden retriever Lula.

Two weeks before turning 60 I went to a jumping clinic.
I can now confidently launch myself off a rock or bump on
my badass Santa Cruz.

I still slip into moments of drinking too much
or not eating enough.

My canna co-op is nearly ready to launch and
wow has that been a trip and definitely helps to keep
me occupied.

[markie]

7. I spent the first month

drinking excessively... it gave me the freedom to just scream or cry or do whatever I needed at the time. It sounds like you've got it right; finding those things that allow you to let go and release the emotions...

I grow both hemp and cannabis but only use it for infusions for salves and soaps... although I imagine a coop would be interesting

[PuraVidaDreamin]

10. Love making salves and other goodies

Got a sweet gummy and chocolate recipe. In the cooperative we can cultivate, produce, manufacture, and soon we may be able to do delivery. Small batch craft cannabis products with flower that is , sun grown, living soil grown using regenerative practices.

[MontanaMama]

6. This is so wonderful and welcome.

I haven’t lost a spouse….but grief hits most of us at one time or another. After my dog Tag died in August, I took to the trails that he and I explored together for 14 years. At first it was almost as painful as his actual loss…running the trails and creeks that he and I learned together…but after a while it was the only way I could feel close to him. I shed lots of tears on those hikes. It was the only way I could come home and function normally with my family. Those trails were healing to be sure.

[markie]

8. "grief hits most of us"

yes, the pain is real when the loss is big, no matter who or the connection... I too have the freedom to cry and sometimes rail at the world while out on the trail, but mostly it provides me peace... a path I must follow so I don't get lost and then someday like you, hopefully be able to function normally