the Big Body | Sheila Collins

Pre-Election Anticipatory Grief in the Big Social Body

by Sheila Collins | Oct 20, 2022 | Community, Duality, Environment, History, Our Children, the Big Body

My phone’s text messaging function has never been so busy. Some messages start with an apology– “I know we text you a LOT, but we wouldn’t if it wasn’t SO important.” The tone of others sound like the sky is falling–“the fate of our senate majority rests in PA” or”...

The Arts and the Queen’s Funeral – Part Two

by Sheila Collins | Sep 21, 2022 | Community, Family, Gatherings, Grieving, History, Rituals, Story-telling, The Art of Grieving, the Big Body, Uncategorized, Women, Girls & the Feminine

In honor of Queen Elizabeth II, the world experienced how the arts can be used to celebrate life, and in this case, perhaps unite the world — even for a moment. A funeral’s purpose is to create an experience for the participants and witnesses. The arts are...

Lessons for the Art of Grieving from a Queen’s Funeral

by Sheila Collins | Sep 15, 2022 | Art & Life, Celebrations, Community, Environment, Family, Gatherings, Grieving, Songs, The Art of Grieving, the Big Body, Women, Girls & the Feminine

Queen Elizabeth’s four adult children walk slowly behind her casket as it moves through the main street of Edinburgh Scotland. Throngs of British subjects and their guests stand in respectful silence. The only audible sound–the clomping horses’ hooves on the street’s...

The Art of Grieving for Children of any Age

by Sheila Collins | Sep 7, 2022 | Art & Life, Celebrations, Family, Gatherings, Grieving, Our Children, pets, Rituals, The Art of Grieving, the Big Body

As I was walking my dog Cody one morning this summer, he started to pay attention to something underneath one of the bushes that line a communal driveway in our neighborhood. Looking over at the spot I identified a small rock and a feather, and moving closer,...

Anticipatory Grief and the need for Sanctuary and Belonging

by Sheila Collins | Aug 17, 2022 | Family, Gatherings, Grieving, Health and Wellness, History, Our Children, Past Events, Self-Care, The Art of Grieving, the Big Body, Women, Girls & the Feminine

There is advice we give one another, in InterPlay classes and practices – “Never underestimate the body’s need for reassurance.” When I’m directing the physical warmup, I like to time this comment to accompany a movement we’re doing which I’d describe as a self-hug....

Grieving Personal Losses and Those in our Cultural Body

by Sheila Collins | Jun 30, 2022 | Community, Duality, Environment, Grieving, Health, Health and Wellness, History, Personal Stories, social justice, The Art of Grieving, the Big Body, Women, Girls & the Feminine

The 8 x 8 ft POD was dropped off in my Pittsburgh driveway early Friday morning. Filled to the brim with what I had deemed essential “treasures,” from the California house we were selling, I knew the drill. We had till Monday to empty the container and find a place...