Years of austerity and the resulting sense that our society is falling apart, coupled with the experience of Coronavirus and Lockdown, have thrown into relief the pain caused by the lost opportunities to mourn lives that have been lost, our fear and impotence in the face of climate change, the plight of so many refugees and the terrible war in Ukraine, as well as grinding poverty and the loss of faith in the future. In this context, the challenge is to find transformative ways of working that can move us from impotence to collaborative action and from despair to hope. This is where the creation of new and appropriate ceremonies and rites of passage, both public and domestic, involving not just family and friends but the wider community, can help us to make sense of the world.
Dead Good Guides
Rites of Passage Autumn Schools 2023
In September, there is a rare opportunity to explore creative approaches to ritual and shared art-making with Sue Gill and Gilly Adams, formerly of Welfare State International and now Dead Good Guides. They are offering two four day courses, one in Somerset (8-11 September), the other in Cumbria (14-17 September). There are 12 places on each course and the cost is £550, plus accommodation. For more information visit the Dead Good Guides website.
François Matarasso 