Can the old-world tradition of keening help us navigate the grief of our times? Keening is a Scots-Irish Gaelic tradition of lamentation for the Dead. More than merely expressing grief, keening was ritualistically performed by women to help ferry the soul of the recently deceased into the Otherworld. In modern times we know that vocalizing can diminish the pain response and boost mood based on the release of endorphins. Let’s explore a modern-day expression of keening by expressing our grief for the losses we are currently feeling in our world, and allowing the power of our raw voices to open a liminal space between what no longer works and what could come to be. Come prepared to wail and sing, to let sorrow and hopelessness pass though you and make room for new possibility.

Sharon Knight is the Event Space Coordinator here at BFUU, and is also a lifelong musician and creative. She is in love with this beautiful jewel of a planet, and spends much of her time pondering how we can re-enchant the world.

We meet in person at 1924 Cedar Street and on Zoom for Worship Services on Sundays at 10:30 AM. If you’d like to attend via Zoom, please email worshiponline@bfuu.org for the meeting ID and link. You can also stream the service live and catch the replay on BFUU’s Youtube channel.

Topics: Endings