Grief Magic: Rituals, Stories & Gentle Conversations about Loss

I received a really good question about how creativity can heal or harm from a listener and am answering the best I can! I talk about how being creative makes me feel, key creative experiences and also ways in which structural problems show up in creative practice.  I would love to hear from you if you have a question for me too: https://www.speakpipe.com/YarrowM and you can join my Substack and S...

In this episode I am talking about craving even more simplicity in my life, decluttering really hard and planning for a low buy year. I pulled everything out of my wardrobe again, sold a whole bunch and made a few well considered purchases. I feel peaceful in my commitment to buy very little next year and really hopeful to grow as a maker and learn more about why I buy for comfort and how I might...

In this episode I am catching up with you, fellow grievers or curious podcast listeners, about entering a new phase of grief, preparing for the holidays and imagining a new kind of future. I hope that it makes you feel gotten, even if not everyone gets it. You're welcome to join our Spark sessions here: https://yarrow.substack.com/ Love, Yarrow

I'm so happy to bring you a new interview episode in amongst all these recent solo grief journals. My wonderful guest is Danette Relic, who was also on episodes 116 and 48 (back in 2018, the before times!). Danette is sadly a fellow griever who also lost a parent this year, so in this episode we're chatting about keeping our magic safe, what we learned from past heartbreaks and how we see the valu...

Thank you so much to Becky for asking about my quilting & making practice! In this grief journal episode I am talking you through what I love about making small improv quilts, what my practice looks like, how it helps with grief and what I am sewing next. I'd love it if you want to send me a question too: https://www.speakpipe.com/YarrowM Thanks for listening! Love, Yarrow

In this grief journal episode I am talking about yesterday's birthday, dealing with big and small anniversaries as well as my current daydreams.  You're also welcome to send me questions via Speakpipe here: https://www.speakpipe.com/YarrowM Love, Yarrow

Today I am talking about the value and magic of anger, about how I am trying to be intentional with where I am directing it and about how I am trying to get comfortable with this feeling.  Feel free to send me questions here: https://www.speakpipe.com/YarrowM Sending blessings and love to your day, Yarrow

Hello my fellow grievers and soft folks, here is another chapter for you - this one is about building your whole life around your nervous system and what that looks like for me at the moment.  Also, feel free to send me a little voice note if you want to say hi and/or wish to request a topic for the podcast: https://www.speakpipe.com/YarrowM Love, Yarrow

Welcome to a new format on here - little weekly check ins about grief, process and slow seasons. I promise it wont all be sad, it will also be weird, expansive and sometimes wonderful.  I know a lot of people who lost really significant loved ones this year and I know that we all need to feel less alone in that strange adventure. I hope these episodes can be with you and your sadness.  I will stil...

In this episode I am chatting about a few simple ways in which I am staying connected with creativity while my brain is adjusting to the loss of my mum. In short, it's about lowering the bar, being realistic and appreciating a wider net of expression. I hope it feels helpful! Love, Yarrow

This episode is dedicated to my mum Marina, who passed away suddenly at the end of July. She was incredible - resilient, creative, full of life and hands down the most loving person I know. She taught me how to live a good life full of pleasure and connection even in late stage capitalism. I had 38 years with her and am so proud to call her my mum.  The wonderful Narinder Bazen joined me for this...

The world is a lot, but then what's new? In this episode I wanted to share a few ways in which I am staying grounded this summer, including excellent book selection, gentle rituals and activism that is doable and kind on my nervous system. I hope it's a helpful space for you to think about your own summer and orient towards the pleasure & joy that is available to you. Here is info abou...

Patient and appreciated listeners, I am bring you another wonderful conversation with Lara Irene Vesta. I hope this find you well, with a bit of sunshine on your face and a quiet moment to dive in. Here is some of what we talked about: Writing beautiful books from bed Growing wild gardens that tend to themselves  Rites of passage and spiritual sinkholes  Finding ways to stay connected to enchantme...

This episode is such a heartfelt deep dive into grief, creativity & enchantment with the wonderful Narinder Bazen. Here is some of what we talked about:  The space that death awareness inhabits in our lives Making simplicity & minimalism our own Thresholds & finding a place in the world  Meaning making and ritual through hard times Narinder Bazen is an artist, death midwife, enchanted...

I've been such a fan of Christi's work and especially her book Mystical Stitches for ages and so it's a real joy to bring this beautiful interview to you! Here is what we talked about:  Finding one's own voice with shapes, colours and composition  Rituals and creative process Writing books and sharing skills The beauty, magic and resilience of textiles Christi Johnson's persona...

In this episode I am sharing five sweet & simple things I'll be doing to make the month ahead more beautiful. Think home spa, love letters, self-commitment and flowers. I hope you'll feel inspired!  You can join my monthly Spark Sessions for extra ritual support via my Substack here: https://yarrow.substack.com/ and here is more info about the upcoming donation based workshop on ethica...

This episode is a dream come true for my nerdy heart - I had a chance to talk to Dr. Isabella Rosner, whose podcast Sew What? I've been a fan of for years. We talked about how she got into textile histories, her PhD research and work at the Royal School of Needlework, about what textiles can teach us about what it means to be human and making time to create.  Dr Isabella Rosner is the Curator...

This episode is my first interview with a guest in about eight months and I could not feel more excited & honoured to speak to Chaney Williams. There was so much in this conversation that was a balm to my soul - we talked about life-changing moments and accidents, listening to the whispers of your ancestors and our bodies, quiet spaces to create and dreaming new dreams. I hope you love it as m...

In this episode I'm sharing more about an oral history project I'll be running this year - I want to find out how people with disabilities, like myself, used needlework to explore a sense of place and heritage during lockdown. I'm excited to explore topics like resilience in isolation, material and making vs consumption, connection with family stories and more.  This of course relates...

Happy new year! In this episode I'm talking about how I am centring mental health & wellbeing in my creative practice this year - removing barriers, creating space for accessible participation & dreams, finding the sweet spot of gentle accountability and indulging wildly in flow states!  More info about my web design work is here: https://pinkwellstudio.com/ and you can join Stitching...

Perhaps an odd day to publish a new episode, but I thought this might be nice to share today for anyone who also feels a little overwhelmed with the festivities at a time of so much uncertainty and upheaval. Finding and exploring one's creative voice is something I have been thinking about a lot this year - I explored stripping back the media overwhelm, identifying core messages and symbolism...

If you're like me, having gentle accountability to slow down & be creative makes it much more likely for you to do things that bring you joy. Maybe you too feel that you need it more than ever.  After a bit of a break I am bringing my Patreon back, because I miss our creative time together and also because I am excited to share my research on radical needlework with you. In this episode I...

In this episode I am talking about what slowness means to me in my practice right now and how I've learned to still appreciate the process when chronic illness and disabilities slow me down. I'm taking a longer view on things, thinking about how slowness makes space for observations and stories to be woven into my work and how stitching and carving supports my wellbeing in so many ways. I&...

In this episode I am talking about taking a specific question into the darker time of the year, thinking about what spiritual practices I want to commit to this season, trying something new & gathering tools that are meaningful to me. You can join my Substack here if you like: https://yarrow.substack.com/ Love, Yarrow

In the second instalment of my Getting Ready for Winter series I am sharing things that have helped me pay more attention to what I love - making, cooking, wandering and having conversations. As the days grow shorter many of us feel we want more of those things, but it can be so so hard to make time. If you feel the same I hope this episode will offer you some ideas & inspiration.  You can joi...