Women, Girls & the Feminine

When Love Itself Seems to Die

by Sheila Collins | Oct 6, 2022 | Dances, Duality, Family, Grieving, social justice, Women, Girls & the Feminine

This month is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. National efforts to raise awareness of spousal, domestic, and dating violence began in 1987, though my awareness of this issue began in the early 80s. A woman professor, a mentor of mine, and a woman I very much admired...

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...

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....

Rituals to Celebrate Birth Days

by Sheila Collins | Jul 14, 2022 | Celebrations, Duality, Family, Gatherings, Our Children, Personal Stories, Self-Care, The Art of Grieving, Women, Girls & the Feminine

Today’s the day I’m supposed to celebrate my birth. This practice, this ritual, is not universal in all cultures, but in mine, it’s consistent from the first icing-covered baby face toddler sitting in a highchair, to the swimming pool and bounce room back yard...

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...

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Learn the Many, Magical Ways Art Transforms Grieving!

(No art skills required.)

Loss is inevitable, yet too often we bury our grief, pretending we're OK when we're not.

In my new book (COMING SOON), I'll share some uncommon notions about grief and how the arts, and art-making, have transformative powers that take us to the heart of the matter.

The Arts and the Queen’s Funeral – Part Two

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

Anticipatory Grief and the need for Sanctuary and Belonging

Rituals to Celebrate Birth Days

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