Savoring September
Whether you’re new to my Grounds (welcome!) or have been moving with for a while (hip bump)—thank you for showing up! As you and I know, we need each other in these spaces where grief, joy, and change are not things to escape, but things to tend. 💚
Savor studies and seasonal tings
February brought another round of Savor Studies, where we slowed down together and practiced the art of presence.
Akilah S Richards
From April through June, many of you walked with me inside a five-week deepening of what it means to co-witness grief and to trust its lessons.
Akilah S Richards
More Public Grief Support
Early in May, I talked grief and loss with folks at Kripalu's How We Heal Summit and really appreciated being able to name and witness and co-hold the realities and lessons of grief into the closing of the such a powerful summit.
I also continue to faciliate a monthly Grief Affinity Circle at Kripalu and I am so grateful for the people in that space, and for the chance to co-witness grief there. If you ever want or need to join us, here are the details.
During all of that, I was all up in the molasses of my public grief literacy project, What I Let Die podcast.
SLOWIN MY ROLL
June was my pause month, easing out of production mode (a mix of deep fulfillment and deep tired). In that space, I drafted the first version of a workplace-facing extension of the ILID Grieftender’s Course. A dear friend gave me some feedback, and I'm all over it...but slowly.🐢
Collaborations on Grief + Joy
In July, Thea Monyeé and I held our first in-person Grief + Joy event at Octavia’s Bookshelf in Pasadena. It was a beautiful gathering inside a Black-owned, Octavia Butler-inspired space.
August brought another highlight: Thea and I joined Dem Black Mamas Podcast to talk about grief, joy, creativity, and Black motherhood.
Watch the clip
Practices & Inspirations
Alongside all of this, I’ve been deepening my Tai Chi practice for aging bodies, finding new ways to bring slowness, balance, and breath into my grief literacy work.
I’ve also been listening to and learning from artists like Mick Jenkins and Annahstasia, letting their lyricism and courage inspire me to start sketching songs, poems, and something-between-things of my own. These new writings feel like seedlings of another body of work still taking root and I'm so here for this!
Shout out to my coaching circle because the creativity and musicality is obviously influencin' a sistah!!
What’s Coming
This year (especially that Cali trip!!) reminded me how much I love being on the ground, not just on screens. I’m envisioning more in-person time for 2026, alongside a few digital offerings.
Thea and I feel such a strong connection to our respective Joy and Grief work, and are cooking up some goodness for the year ahead. Sign up for our occasional messages to learn about our in-person events!
Chemay has big plans and I am cheerleading and passenger-seat supporting as she grounds My Reflection Matters Village in Borike (Puerto Rico) on her people's land. Join the Village (HERE) for updates and for details on cool shit to do in Borike (and fun ways to get the funds to do it).
Lastly, I’m continuing to work with a handful of Savor Coaching and grieftending clients, and I’m open to a few more right now. These are intimate spaces for tending, noticing, releasing, and remembering.
Akilah S Richards
My work has been steady, layered, and deepening. This year in particualar, each project feeds the other, and I feel like I'm weaving into a living practice of grieftending, joy witnessing, and intergenerational healing. Feels right. Feels solid and porous at the same time.
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