Grief Composting Circles

22/02/2022

The sorrows of the world- gate #3 of Grief and Gratitude

Oh, the sorrows of the world, so close, alive and present.
As soon as you open your front door and take your step this gate swings open too.
It does for me, almost every day. I take my steps and dive into the vast ocean of grief that awaits me.
It’s an in your face kind of a grief that invites me to hold her hand so fast.
It might be the road kill that meets me when darkens hits dawn and I take the dogs for a walk.
The heart piercing noise of the chainsaw massacre of trees in my neighbourhood right now.
The witnessing of destruction, slavery and killing conducted by the corporate vampires feasting on all life. The news on the radio of a young refugee girl drowning on the border crossing river Dragonja. I don’t even know her name. The melting of the Triglav glacier.
The extinction of plants and animals around the planet.

Every day we are witnesses of the losses in the world and carry and share the sorrows of the world.
I feel them in my chest. This weight of grief and anxiety in my lungs, coughing and spitting out fire while my tears cry rivers and oceans. They call me to swim even deeper into the depths of listening to the whispers of the darkness in which I try to find ways to make amend.

The suffering is mutually entangled. As we lean into the alchemy of Grief within the deep ecology of the soul, a love song is composed and weaved by the thread of the immutable bond with all of creation. An intertwining Love dance of Grief and Death is birthed in the circle of all beings.
A healing journey opens up the windows for the Soul to hear the choir of Gratitude sang amongst the humans and other than humans that are separated no more.
And we continue to spin and mourn and sing and praise Life.
Our Heart becomes an altar on which we place the white spring blossom of compassion, honouring and gratitude.

A warm welcome to all of you who hear the call of the 6 GATES OF INICIATION – 8 MONTHS APPRENTICESHIP THROUGH GRATITUDE AND GRIEF WITH AZUL THOME
STARTING 3.APRIL 2022

FOR MORE INFO AND TO REGISTER YOU ARE INVITED TO FOLLOW THIS LINK: https://forms.gle/tFz7ZKAJLiwPaSoh8

IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS WE WILL OFFER a Q&A on SUNDAY 27th FEB: INFO, to REGISTER for ZOOM LINK: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/.../6-gates-of-initiation...

OFFERED IN FRENCH ALSO STARTING on 10th APRIL. See website
Azul Thomé
Founder of the course, the grief composting circles and of SOULand.org
www.souland.org

With Gratitude, Courage and Love
Azul Thome and Christina Jarc Stembal

04/10/2021

The 6 Gates of Initiations will be openned at our Regular Grief composting and Gratitude Circles on ZOOM

NEXT ONE THIS FRIDAY 8th OCT
We will sit around and feed the Children's Fire, with the Four Sisters: Grief, Love, Death and Rebirth.

"FOR A CROSSING TOGETHER"

We will hold a sacred space, to welcome our Gratitude and release our Grief. To honour Death and Welcome Rebirth.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Every other Fridays
DATES: 24/9 - 8/10 - 22/10 - 5/11 - 19/11 - 3/12

TIMES: 4pm to 6pm Uk time
(arrive 10 minutes earlier to settle, the door will close at 4pm to create a sense of sacred safety)

We will offer a simple and beautiful ritual with Water and Stones (inspired by the Dagara people) , Fire and Breath to lighten our frightened and broken hearts.

We will also have a moment to write. We will have time in small groups and in the larger group.

For the love of all beings, alive, dead and at the thresholds.

TO BOOK YOUR PLACE
https://www.souland.org/store/p66/Gratitude_and_Grief_composting_CIRCLES_on_ZOOM.html

Painting of 2007 - an extract of a scroll

01/09/2021

You are warmly invited to join us on the
Regular Grief composting and Gratitude Circles on ZOOM
First one on Friday 24th sept. Booking essential.
We will sit around and feed the Children's Fire, with the Four Sisters: Grief, Love, Death and Rebirth. (see book here)

"FOR THE LONG HAUL"

We will hold a sacred space, to welcome our Gratitude and release our Grief. To honour Death and Welcome Rebirth.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Grief in not a negotiation with Death.
It is a courageous and generous Love letter to Life."
Azul Thome

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Regular Grief composting and Gratitude Circles on ZOOM

Starts on 24th September 2021

Every other Fridays
DATES: 24/9 - 8/10 - 22/10 - 5/11 - 19/11 - 3/12

TIMES: 4pm to 6pm Uk time
�(arrive 10 minutes earlier to settle, the door will close at 4pm to create a sense of sacred safety)

More info and to book your place
My website (see bio) then go to events/shop
With
https://www.souland.org/store/p66/Gratitude_and_Grief_composting_CIRCLES_on_ZOOM.html

Grief Circle Azul Thome

18/08/2021

Dear budding or mature makers and everyone in between and beyond ...
Are you longing to make arts and crafts as active prayers. Arts infused with rituals and practices that are kind to Life?

Are you longing to keep creating sweet mischief and wild beauty, together, through the troubles ...

~ art as prayers... ~ craft inspired by Earth, for Life... ~ that kind of making with hands and hearts... it can bring us to deep time imagination

« « « For more info, testimonies and how to book » » »

https://www.souland.org/store/p68/eARTh_art_~_Creative_online_course_with_Azul_Thomé.html

Or website in bio and go to E.ART.H

I look forward to making beauty with you!

16/08/2021

Dear all I have not been checking in much on FB. My life has moved me to the mountains and vultures, delicous food and a pear tree... I wanted to let you know that we are preparing regular spaces in english and french to feel and cross the storms together. Every Fridays from Equinox. Here is for more details and to book your place.
With wild love, faithfull endurance.
I will be supported by wonderful humans, Christina and Linda.
More here
https://www.souland.org/store/c9/eARTh-ART-AzulThome:

04/08/2021

NEW PAGE! Hello, after a long pause, this is Azul's new page starting 1st Aug 2021. Like a reset button.

https://www.facebook.com/Azul-Thomé-117342187201059

NEW PAGE! Hello, after a long pause, this is my new page . Like a reset button.

I will keep feedi

29/07/2021

A warm welcome and invitation to our regular Grief and Gratitude tending offered and held to guide us through these times of uncertanty and change.

Grief composting and Gratitude Circles on ZOOM
Starts on 24th September 2021
Every other Fridays

4pm to 6pm Uk time

We would like to offer to hold a sacred space to welcome our Gratitude and release our Grief. Grief for our world, for our losses, for our heart breaks...

We will offer a simple and beautiful ritual with Water and Stones (inspired by the Dagara people) , Fire and Breath to lighten our frightened and broken hearts.

We will also have a moment to write. We will have time in small groups and in the larger group.

For the love of all beings, alive, dead and at the thresholds.

Held by Azul Thome (founder of SOULand, Soul activist and initiator of the Grief Composting Circles) and Christina Jarc Stembal (Part of SOULand's Council from Slovenia and an apprentice to Soul and Grief )

You are welcome and legitimate in your grief, pain, sadness, fear, anger, stupor and shock. We are all in this together.

For more information and how to book your circle please visit

We are here for the long haul...with love and endurance.
Azul and Christina

www.souland.org

https://www.souland.org/store/p66/Grief_composting_and_Gratitude_Circles_on_ZOOM.html

07/04/2021

the FOUR SISTERS of the LAST FOREST on EARTH, the book read here tonight, in English and French by Azul Thomé and Stu McLellan with a few surprises and invitations. Our gift to you ❤

the FOUR SISTERS of the LAST FOREST on EARTHReading in English and French with Azul Thome and Stu McLellan~~~~~~~~“We are in need of a particular form of med...

23/03/2021

This article touches some deep truths and offers intelligent guidance. IMO
"The white response to climate change is literally suffocating to people of color. Climate anxiety can operate like white fragility, sucking up all the oxygen in the room and devoting resources toward appeasing the dominant group. As climate refugees are framed as a climate security threat, will the climate-anxious recognize their role in displacing people from around the globe? Will they be able to see their own fates tied to the fates of the dispossessed? Or will they hoard resources, limit the rights of the most affected and seek to save only their own, deluded that this xenophobic strategy will save them? How can we make sure that climate anxiety is harnessed for climate justice?"..
"Instead of asking “What can I do to stop feeling so anxious?”, “What can I do to save the planet?” and “What hope is there?”, people with privilege can be asking “Who am I?” and “How am I connected to all of this?” The answers reveal that we are deeply interconnected with the well-being of others on this planet, and that there are traditions of environmental stewardship that can be guides for where we need to go from here."

Is it really just code for white people wishing to hold onto their way of life or to get “back to normal?”

18/02/2021

Greetings from Devon dear adapting kins

I wonder if you would give me a moment of your wild and precious life ?

I am writing a slow book about and of
« Pathosophy: a living Art.
Wisdom born of suffering and grief «

I am now seeking short stories and poems to weave into the book .

Current ones, born of our times and adaptation . Would you like to share some with me?

Pathosophy came to me when I went on a journey seeking a world away from and beyond pathology .

After a while Sophia requested to be brought back to logos.

I now hang out with a triangle hand made of

Pathos :suffering -
logos : logic-
sophia: Devine feminine wisdom.

In the center of the triangle is the ‘field’ that Rumi mentions in :
« Out of ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing there is a field, I will meet you there... »

If you have stories and poems that you would like to be part of this book

please email me at soulandinfo@gmail.com

Peace be upon you!

السلام عليكم

Azul Thomé
Www.souland.org

18/02/2021

"you are the daughters of rebels
you are the sons of poets
remember who you are
your ancestors they dreamt it"

“I felt it was my duty as an Irish woman living in Australia to demand that no one uses their Irish identity as a way of perpetuating racism.” Áine Tyrrell

These words from Aine Tyrell are for all of us who claim to wish to decolonise and our hearts and souls... her fire of truth and remembering is strong medicine and not for the faint hearted. Here she speaks as an Irish woman in Australia weaving us all somehow what ever origin we are from ...

Best to dance and sing along to move the grief and awakening...and as always listening three times is good medicine ... awakening and remembering...for my son and my ancestors. I am not Irish and I am in solidarity.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-rVhzaPwbH4

19/01/2021

Pathosophy - a living Art
“Wisdom born of Grief & Suffering”
by Azul Thomé

Ready for PRE-ORDER :-D

The creation of this book on the Arts of Collective Grief Rituals is a living legacy. After years of apprenticing, teaching and experiencing the alchemy of Grief Composting I am wishing to propose the deep meaning of the word Pathosophy: Wisdom born of suffering.

It is my prayer and a deep longing to offer our world a renewed and empowering framing for the suffering we experience. We can see that suffering will keep increasing as we dive deeply into our collective Initiation through the pandemic, the death of our Earth living systems, millions losing their home, livelihood and lives.

What if we can experience the inevitable suffering as the raw material necessary for the alchemist in us- to transform the grief and suffering into wisdom? Is that preferable and possible?

It is my devoted intention to create a beautiful and honouring book, with soul feeding poetry, eARTh images, strengthening quotes and decolonising rituals - for all who are interested in the sacred work of grief and the wisdom born of suffering. Offering ways of inhabiting our lives more fully in these initiating times.

A book of the gathering of the last 5 years of ceremonial work with Grief Composting since my MA on Collective Grief in 2015 weaving the work of my three main mentors: Joanna Macy, Francis Weller and Sobonfy Some.

This book is intended to become good company for a homecoming to the Soul of our Earth. An honouring of our visible and invisible kins, alive and dead.

It is inspired by the words from the river Dart :

When you create containers of sacred beauty that opens your Heart to what Love truly is then you will realise with a massive sob that you were loved all along, always have and for ever by all of Us who you think You are Saving!

Thank you for pre ordering and for your ongoing support friends!
Azul Thomé

SOULand : Making the World of Soul's Longing

12/01/2021

"I am Death - The one who guides you through the cycles and seasons of the body and the Soul of your being.

I work on behalf of Initiations and of all Ensouling Passages ~ for individuals and for all other living systems. I transform Stagnation and I create Darkness. I Destroy and I Compost.

I am Decay and Leaf Mould. I am the most feared of us Four because I am uncontrollable and inevitable. I am fractal in the Life of all living beings. I am the Small Deaths of the seasonal Passages of one’s Life.

I am also the Great Death when Kairos says: It is time!

I am Winter"

This is the voice of the third Sister of my first printed tale and book: "THE FOUR SISTERS OF THE LAST FOREST ON EARTH"

Read a bit more about is and some lovely praises on the link below. The books are for sale and can be shipped all over our Earth.

With care
Azul

SOULand : Making the World of Soul's Longing

02/12/2020

..."When you create containers of sacred beauty that opens your Heart to what Love truly is, then you will realise with a massive sob that you were loved all along, always have and for ever by all of Us - who you think You are Saving!
​
You have five years​ as a species to Wake up, Mature and Remember in your bones that you
belong to Life ."

2nd December 2016
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
PLEASE SHARE WILD AND WIDE
www.souland.org/blog/water-said-4-years-ago-today-you-have-five-years-as-a-species-to-wake-up-mature-and-remember-in-your-bones-that-you-belong-to-life

TENDING TO OUR HEART AND SOUL when reading the MESSAGE ​ This message if of deep entangled Love. Perhaps it will bring up some deep emotions to your hearts and eyes. May it be so. I invite each one...

18/09/2020

Dear family and friends. The books have arrived after a 5 year gestation and a great collaboration!!
We are having a launch online of,
it would be a delight to have you there!
Azul and Stu
"Four Sisters of the Last Forest on Earth"
MONDAY 21st SEPTEMBER
8pm (uk time) to 9pm
door will open at 7:50pm
on ZOOM
Here are more info
https://www.souland.org/blog/book-launch-monday-21st-september-the-four-sisters-of-the-last-forest-on-earth

29/08/2020

hi friends I will soon move all activities to my PAGE. See you there if you wish.

Azul Thomé is a creative visionary, a soul activist and an eARTh artist and she is the founder of S

28/08/2020

DESPAIR
takes us in when we have nowhere else to go; when we feel the heart cannot break anymore, when our world or our loved ones disappear, when we feel we cannot be loved or do not deserve to be loved, when our God disappoints, or when our body is carrying profound pain in a way that does not seem to go away.

Despair is a haven with its own temporary form of beauty and of self compassion, it is the invitation we accept when we want to remove ourselves from hurt. Despair, is a last protection. To disappear through despair, is to seek a temporary but necessary illusion, a place where we hope nothing can ever find us in the same way again.

Despair is a necessary and seasonal state of repair, a temporary healing absence, an internal physiological and psychological winter when our previous forms of participation in the world take a rest; it is a loss of horizon, it is the place we go when we do not want to be found in the same way anymore.

We give up hope when certain particular wishes are no longer able to come true and despair is the time in which we both endure and heal, even when we have not yet found the new form of hope.

Despair is strangely, the last bastion of hope; the wish being, that if we cannot be found in the old way we cannot ever be touched or hurt in that way again.

Despair is the sweet but illusory abstraction of leaving the body while still inhabiting it, so we can stop the body from feeling anymore.
Despair is the place we go when we no longer want to make a home in the world and where we feel, with a beautifully cruel form of satisfaction, that we may never have deserved that home in the first place. Despair, strangely, has its own sense of achievement, and despair, even more strangely, needs despair to keep it alive.

Despair turns to depression and abstraction when we try to make it stay beyond its appointed season and start to shape our identity around its frozen disappointments. But despair can only stay beyond its appointed time through the forced artificiality of created distance, by abstracting ourselves from bodily feeling, by trapping ourselves in the disappointed mind, by convincing ourselves that the seasons have stopped and can never turn again, and perhaps, most simply and importantly, by refusing to let the body breathe by its self, fully and deeply.

Despair is kept alive by freezing our sense of time and the rhythms of time; but when we no longer feel imprisoned by time, and when the season is allowed to turn, despair cannot survive.
To keep despair alive we have to abstract and immobilize our bodies, our faculties of hearing, touch and smell, and keep the surrounding springtime of the world at a distance.

Despair needs a certain tending, a reinforcing, and isolation, but the body left to itself will breathe, the ears will hear the first birdsong of morning or catch the leaves being touched by the wind in the trees, and the wind will blow away even the grayest cloud; will move even the most immovable season; the heart will continue to beat and the world, we realize, will never stop or go away.

The antidote to despair is not to be found in the brave attempt to cheer ourselves up with happy abstracts, but in paying a profound and courageous attention to the body and the breath, independent of our imprisoning thoughts and stories, even strangely, in paying attention to despair itself, and the way we hold it, and which we realize, was never ours to own and to hold in the first place.

To see and experience despair fully in our body is to begin to see it as a necessary, seasonal visitation, and the first step in letting it have its own life, neither holding it nor moving it on before its time.

We take the first steps out of despair by taking on its full weight and coming fully to ground in our wish not to be here. We let our bodies and we let our world breathe again. In that place, strangely, despair cannot do anything but change into something else, into some other season, as it was meant to do, from the beginning.

Despair is a difficult, beautiful necessary, a binding understanding between human beings caught in a fierce and difficult world where half of our experience is mediated by loss, but it is a season, a wave form passing through the body, not a prison surrounding us. A season left to itself will always move, however slowly, under its own patience, power and volition.

Refusing to despair about despair itself, we can let despair have its own natural life and take a first step onto the foundational ground of human compassion, the ability to see and understand and touch and even speak, the heartfelt grief of another.
…
‘DESPAIR’ From CONSOLATIONS:
The Solace, Nourishment and Underlying Meaning of Everyday Words.
© David Whyte and Many Rivers Press 2015

photo: Azul Thomé in a Grief Composting Circles