How can we respond to uncertainty and loss with the power of soul work? In this episode of The Wise Effort Show, Dr. Diana Hill speaks with Francis Weller, an influential author and psychotherapist, about confronting the ‘long dark’ — a term he uses to describe our collective and individual challenges. Weller emphasizes the importance of community, imagination, and ritual in overcoming grief and trauma. They discuss key concepts from his book, ‘In the Absence of the Ordinary: Soul Work for Times of Uncertainty,’ and explore practical ways to engage in soul work and build resilience. Listen to this episode to uncover how these practices can help you navigate difficult times and become more connected to yourself and others.

In This Episode, We Explore:

• The Long Dark
• Rediscovering Rituals in Uncertain Times
• The Power of Grief Rituals
• Creating a Holding Vessel for Grief
• Finding Healing in Community
• The Medicine for the Long Dark

Suggested Next Episode:

Episode 157: The Medicine of Surrender, Poetry, and Metaphor With Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer

Related Resources:

• In the Absence of the Ordinary
• The Wild Edge of Sorrow (Hardcover edition)
• Learn more about Francis Weller
• Learn from Diana at an upcoming event

About Francis Weller:

FRANCIS WELLER, MFT, is a psychotherapist, writer, and soul activist. He is a master of synthesizing diverse streams of thought from psychology, anthropology, mythology, alchemy, Indigenous cultures, and poetic traditions. The author of books including The Wild Edge of Sorrow and The Threshold Between Loss and Revelation (with Rashani Réa), he has introduced the healing work of ritual to thousands of people. Francis founded and directs WisdomBridge, an organization that offers educational programs that seek to integrate the wisdom from Indigenous cultures with the insights and knowledge gathered from Western poetic, psychological, and spiritual traditions.

For more than forty years, Francis has worked as a psychotherapist and developed a style he calls soul-centered psychotherapy. His latest offerings include a ten-session audio series on Living a Soulful Life and Why It Matters, a four-session series on An Apprenticeship with Sorrow, and a five-session series on The Alchemy of Initiation. His collection, In the Absence of the Ordinary: Soul Work for Times of Uncertainty, is available for pre-order where books are sold. It will be released on August 19 alongside an updated hardcover edition of The Wild Edge of Sorrow. For more information about Francis’s work, visit: francisweller.net.

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