In this special episode of Second Nature, Living with Ecological Grief, host Ashlee Cunsolo talks with internationally renowned psychotherapist Francis Weller. Weller explores the importance of recognizing grief as a communal experience, especially in the face of ecological devastation. He emphasizes that deep grief should be embraced and held collectively to foster aliveness and a deeper connection to the world. 

Ashlee shares how Weller's works have personally guided her journey through ecological grief. They delve into the concept of "the third gate," the sorrow for the world's fading natural beauty, and the profound need for ritual in processing grief. Weller stresses that, while there are no answers to ecological collapse, there is a powerful response: embracing sorrow as love and care. This episode encourages listeners to participate in grief communally, transforming sorrow into a force for connection and advocacy in the face of global crises.

Francis Weller's books:

The Wild Edge of Sorrow: Rituals of Renewal and the Sacred Work of Grief - https://www.amazon.com/Wild-Edge-Sorrow-Rituals-Renewal/dp/1583949763 

The Threshold Between Loss and Revelation Paperback - https://www.amazon.com/Threshold-Between-Loss-Revelation/dp/1548743089 

In the Absence of the Ordinary: Essays in a Time of Uncertainty - https://herosjourneyfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/In-the-Absence-of-the-Ordinary-essays-.pdf 

Watch on Youtube: https://youtu.be/5bfnmFFRr5w 

Interview recorded on: 07/08/2024
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Welcome to Second Nature, a podcast about living with ecological grief. In each episode, Dr. Ashlee Cunsolo takes us on a deeply personal journey about planetary loss, and what we love, what we have lost, and how we move forward. Through a series of engaging, thought-provoking, and moving conversations with incredible guests from around the world, Second Nature is an invitation to come together to share stories of loss, love, despair, and joy, as we learn how to live with – and embrace – ecological grief and mourning.