I learned this the hard way after my father died unexpectedly 7 years ago. Rather than create space for myself to grieve, I dove back into my work and normal life.  And it was exactly the opposite of what I needed.  With my grief untended and held privately, it nearly broke me. (Read here for more on my story).

While no one knows how the country will change or find meaning in the loss, I do know from my years of being intimate with grief there’s no way around it, only through it.  Even better if it’s done in community.

In the words of civil rights leader and elder john a. powell, “Turning toward each other is 90% of the healing.” 

So while we can’t get rid of grief, we can hold it in something bigger than ourselves. And that something is community.

In service of this intention, Marisol and I will support us in a 3 part ritual:

1. First we’ll support you in gently connecting with whatever grief may be present for you through guided reflection prompts and a visualization.

2. Then in small confidential groups of 2-3 you’ll have a chance to share what’s coming up for you around grief so that it no longer needs to be held alone.

3. And to close, as a community we’ll release the grief that’s ready to move to one of the elements — air, light/fire, or water — to acknowledge how it moves through all of us.

Truth be told, it’s not possible to process and release all of the grief that’s arisen in the last few weeks in one shot. This experience certainly isn’t a one-and-done. But it’s at least a start.

Logistics

• We'd like to make this Breaking Bread a fundraiser for the NAACP Legal Defense Fund.  Suggested donation $1-25, though no one will be turned away for lack of funds.  Venmo @Melissa-Lau-2.

• Please bring paper, pencil, and whatever helps you get really comfortable (e.g., tea, a cozy blanket)

• If you plan to attend, we encourage you to clear the rest of your evening to allow yourself space to continue processing. 

• If you plan to come, please arrive no later than 6:35 pm to minimize impact on the collective.

Warmly,
Melissa L., Marisol & Hestia’s founding friends (Bee, Nayad, Peter)

In light of this week's events, we're changing up Saturday's Breaking Bread:

With such big emotions / reactions sweeping the country right now, we'd like to create a space for this community to be with what's present for us collectively in light of the loss of George Floyd. 

So to this end, Melorie and Iris have generously volunteered to facilitate Saturday's Breaking Bread. They'll open up a space for us to share what's on our hearts / minds; and if it feels appropriate, they'll lead us through a visioning process to help us get clarity on the future we want to live into, and steps we can take to manifest it.  

With warmth & gratitude for this community,
The Breaking Bread crew

If you are new to our community dinners, read more below for more information about the flow of our bi-weekly online Breaking Breads!

6:30-6:35
SETTLING IN & NOURISHING OURSELVES

• Pick a digital gratitude card to inspire you around the theme of what’s taking root right now.
  
  6:35-7:45 
  CONNECTING & DROPPING IN

• Intro to the Hestia community, our vision and community values

• Melorie and Iris will facilitate a space for us to share what's present for us right now in light of this week's events.  And if it feels appropriate, they'll lead us in a visioning process with the intention of getting clarity on the dreams and ventures that are calling to us and visualizing their manifestation.

• Get to know each other through dyads and group storytelling

7:45-8:00
CLOSING + DESSERT

• Share community announcements + updates

Bring your food and join us on zoom for some visualization and connection inspired by Marisol's work in transpersonal coaching and plant medicine integration.

<<If you plan to come, please arrive no later than 6:35 pm to minimize impact on the collective.>>

If you are new to our community dinners, read more below for more information about the flow of our bi-weekly Breaking Breads!  If you are new to our community dinners, read more below for more information about the flow of our bi-weekly online Breaking Breads!

6:30-6:45
SETTLING IN & NOURISHING OURSELVES

• Pick a digital gratitude card to inspire you around the theme of what’s taking root right now and share in smaller breakout rooms.
  
  6:45-7:40 
  CONNECTING & DROPPING IN

• Intro to the Hestia community, our vision and community values

• Grounding sound healing meditation to relax and get present with ourselves led by Marie

• Get to know each other through dyads and group storytelling

7:40-8:00
CLOSING + DESSERT

• Share community announcements + updates

If you are new to our community dinners, read more below for more information about the flow of our bi-weekly online Breaking Breads!

6:30-6:45
SETTLING IN & NOURISHING OURSELVES

• Pick a digital gratitude card to inspire you around the theme of what’s taking root right now.
  
  6:45-7:20 
  CONNECTING & DROPPING IN

• Intro to the Hestia community, our vision and community values

• Grounding sound healing meditation to relax and get present with ourselves led by Marie

• Get to know each other through dyads and group storytelling

7:20-7:30
CLOSING + DESSERT

• Share community announcements + updates

7:30-8:00
OPTIONAL RECIPROCITY RING

• Give and receive community support in small group deep dives through the reciprocity ring structure

If you are new to our community dinners, read more below for more information about the flow of our bi-weekly Breaking Breads!

6:30-7:15
SETTLING IN & DROPPING IN 

• Pick a gratitude card to inspire us for the night

• Introduction to the community, vision and values

• Using sound to introduce ourselves

• Grounding guided meditation to relax and get present with ourselves

• Connect our group inquiry through dyads or trios in breakout rooms

• Movement to celebrate our individual and collective blooming

• Group share: What’s taking root for you? How will you nurture what wants to come forth?

• Song for collective emergence and harmonization

7:15-7:50

CONNECTING

• Reciprocity: How can we ask for help and/or give help in community?

7:50-8:00

CLOSING

• Share any other community announcements

If you are new to our community dinners, read more below for more information about the flow of our bi-weekly Breaking Breads! We are experimenting with an online format

7:00-7:30
SETTLING IN & NOURISHING OURSELVES

• Make a community spring mosaic to honor the equinox and introduce ourselves! with Bee
  
  7:30-7:50 
  DROPPING IN

• Intro to the Hestia community and the theme of the month

• Grounding meditation/ embodiment to get present with ourselves

7:50-8:45
CONNECTING

• Get to know each other with music and group discussion with KaNi and Mika around the theme of balance

• Check in on group needs during this time:  How can we support each other during this period of so much uncertainty and change?

8:45-9:00
CLOSING

• Share community announcements + updates

• Get an inspirational Gratitude Blooming message to take home

Dearest Hestia Friends,

We look forward to enjoying some good food and connection for Breaking Bread #4!  Peter will be our chef of the night.  

For the experience, we are excited to have several co-hosts who are stepping up to share their nature and healing gifts!

Nico will be curating a 5 pm experience for nature lovers around mushroom meditation followed by a conversation with turkey tails. 

At 7 pm, we will begin our breaking bread inquiry with sound healing by Joy Evans to kick off our community inquiry for the night and Nayad will be coming straight from Peru to lead our group inquiry on BALANCE!  
-------------

COMMUNITY INQUIRY:

WHAT DOES BALANCE FEEL LIKE WHEN I'M LIVING IN ALIGNMENT WITH MY HEART AND SOUL? WHAT FEELS OFF-BALANCE IN MY LIFE? 

>>RSVP HERE<< by THURS, MAR 5.

Our $15-$40 sliding scale donation is:

• $15 (covers food expenses for your meal) 

• $20 (covers your food and includes a gratitude tip for the chef/host)

• $30 (covers food for you and someone in need)

• $40 (covers 2 people for food plus gratitude tip for the chef/host)

<<PLEASE LET US KNOW IF YOU NEED FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE. WE ARE HAPPY TO HELP!>>

If you are new to our community dinners, read more below for more information about the flow of our bi-weekly Breaking Breads!

<5:00-7:00> OPTIONAL EXCURSION OR GROUP ACTIVITY TO HELP US CONNECT MORE DEEPLY

<7:00-7:45> SETTLING IN & NOURISHING OURSELVES

<7:45-8:30> CONNECTING & DROPPING IN 

• Intro to the Hestia community, our vision and community values

• Grounding meditation/ embodiment/ playful exercise to relax and get present with ourselves

• Get to know each other through dyads and group storytelling

<8:30-9:00> CLOSING + DESSERT

• Share community announcements + updates

• Get an inspirational Gratitude Blooming message to take home

<9:00-9:30> FINAL CLOSING & CLEANUP

• Transition + clean up time 

• Night owls rally to a neighboring spot

Dearest Hestia Friends,

We look forward to deepening into our inquiry for February and enjoying some good food by our community chefs, Peter and Melissa S!

Our collective inquiry for the month of February is:  WHAT DOES MY HEART LONG FOR?

>>RSVP HERE<< by MON, FEB 24.

If you are new to our community dinners, read more below for more information about the flow of our bi-weekly Breaking Breads!

<7:00-7:45> SETTLING IN & NOURISHING OURSELVES

<7:45-8:30> CONNECTING & DROPPING IN 

• Intro to the Hestia community, our vision and community values

• Grounding meditation/ embodiment/ playful exercise to relax and get present with ourselves

• Get to know each other through dyads and group storytelling

<8:30-9:00> CLOSING + DESSERT

• Share community announcements + updates

• Get an inspirational Gratitude Blooming message to take home

<9:00-9:30> FINAL CLOSING & CLEANUP

• Transition + clean up time 

• Night owls rally to a neighboring spot

Dearest Hestia Friends,

You are invited to this special Saturday edition of Breaking Bread:  Galentine's/Valentine's celebration!

In 2020, our new Saturday dinners are meant to extend our time together to deepen and expand our growth and connection. The hosts of the Saturday dinners will have more time to introduce an optional group activity before the start of the dinner from 4-7 pm!

Our collective inquiry for the month of February is:   WHAT DOES MY HEART LONG FOR?

>>RSVP HERE<< by Wed, Feb 12.

If you are new to our community dinners, read more below for more information about the flow of our bi-weekly Breaking Breads!

FLOW:

<4:00-7:00> OPTIONAL GALENTINE'S ACTIVITY LED BY THE HOSTS (TBD)

<7:00-7:30> SETTLING IN & NOURISHING OURSELVES

<7:30-8:15> CONNECTING & DROPPING IN 

• Intro to the Hestia community, our vision and community values

• Grounding meditation/ embodiment/ playful exercise to relax and get present with ourselves

• Get to know each other through dyads and group storytelling

<8:15-9:00> CLOSING + DESSERT

• Share community announcements + updates

• Get an inspirational Gratitude Blooming message to take home

<9:00-9:30> FINAL CLOSING & CLEANUP

• Transition + clean up time 

• Night owls rally to a neighboring spot