Today we’d like to introduce you to Jennifer Cormier.
Hi Jennifer, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
When I was a little girl, I never quite dreamed of being a ‘Grief Guide’
In second grade, I filled out an “All About Me” Dr. Suess book and wrote that I wanted to be a ‘dancer, teacher and mom’ when I “grew up.”
I have been and am currently filling all three roles – what is so brilliant, however, is that in my definition of ‘Grief Guide,’ I get to weave all of my background in the Arts (as a Visual, Performing, and Ceremonial Artist) into my work as well as my work teaching people through the Somatic Healing Arts. So, when people ask me, “Wow, you work in grief; that must be so heavy and hard,” I respond, “Well, actually, there is so much beauty in it.”
My role as “Ceremonial Artist” was largely one I filled as a bespoke wedding officiant for Soulful Couples in San Diego back in 2018 and 2019 – then, when COVID hit in March of 2020, all of the weddings were canceled. So, I decided to dive into Grief work. I began the “Grief and Grace” Private Community Facebook Group, followed by a Virtual Yearlong Immersion Program for people moving through a major loss and the ‘Walk Through Grief With Grace’ Podcast.
Covid really solidified my work as a Grief Guide.
There is so much grief in the world right now. Personal Grief. Collective Grief. Ecological Grief. When I ask people ‘Do you know anyone who is grieving?” It is a huge surprise when I hear “no” because, frankly, I don’t know anyone who is NOT grieving.
There is SO much to grieve. Not just the death of parents, siblings, friends, children, family, and community members, but the loss of pets, jobs, ways of life, the loss of dreams. Every phase of life, like empty nesting for parents or crossing the threshold into menopause or retirement, is a time to grieve what is no longer.
Even Weddings are a time to grieve. To let go of your life as a single person. Also, to grieve loved ones who might not be able to celebrate with you in person. When people say, “Oh, weddings and grief, they are so different!” I say – no, not really – they are both about love.
My background is eclectic – my Junian therapist coined me a “Quest-er.”
I’ve got degrees, certifications, and licenses in Fine Art, Art History, Yoga, Pilates Therapeutics, Massage, Dance, Birth and Death Doula Courses, Conscious Dying, Green Burial and Home Funeral Training, and a Ministerial Ordination I was called to after the death of my dad Gil.
When my dad died on Nov 15th, 2012, it was really a pivotal moment in time for me.
Witnessing his healing journey with cancer and being by his side as he died it left me in sheer awe. I was no longer afraid of dying.
AND I had no cultural, religious, family, or spiritual foundation that told me how to meet the depth of pain and grief I faced with the biggest loss of my life – the death of my dad. Luckily, I had a mentor, Dr. Lewis Mehl-Madrona who offered a suggestion: “Why don’t you take grief by the hand, walk with it for a full year, through all the seasons and birthdays and holidays and milestones – let it be your teacher” – I took this to heart.
Without quite knowing what I was doing – I took time every day to honor my grief itself.
To sit down with it and ask it, “Grief, what do you have for me today?” I literally walked with my grief – on the same wooded paths my dad and I would walk with our rescue dog Daisy when he was alive. I played music, I cried, moaned, wailed, I lit a candle, and it became a daily ritual. Eventually, after a season or two, I started dancing again. I would dance with my grief. It turned into an offering.
This experience of the year of grief after my dad died offered me so much wisdom about death, grief, and also about living. It is still teaching me today.
In the Grief Work, I offer my clients, we honor the slow.
We honor the seasons, and we respect that it takes time.
This is good medicine for the heart and soul.
Rev. Jenn Cormier, Grief Guide brings 20 years of experience in Somatic Healing and the Arts to clients who are moving through life transitions and grief. She is committed to the evolution of how we relate to death and walk with our grief – not as something to ‘get over’ but as an opportunity to go on a transformational healing journey.
She is the creator of the ‘Walk Through Grief With Grace’ Podcast, the ‘HEAL Immersion Program’ – a unique holistic group for those who are ready to step into living and loving more fully than ever, the “Reclaiming Joy” Retreat and is Launching the ‘Grace Collective’ an Inclusive Online Community Membership for creative humans healing after loss.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I would say the road has varied in terrain! Sometimes smooth, sometimes rocky.
The important thing is I’ve chosen to walk along it!
After my dad died, I took our rescue dog Daisy out on walks – the same loops in the woods where she, my dad, and I all would walk together.
One of the ways I began healing the pain of my dad’s death was to walk in circles in the woods.
Walking in Nature was a healing medicine for my Soul.
Grief never ends; it just shifts – it gets lighter, more filled with gratitude and wisdom, understanding and hope – love and creativity.
I chose to name my podcast.
“Walk Through Grief With Grace” to highlight the healing power of
1) Choice (to go for the walk)
2) Movement – walking through instead of staying stagnant and
3) Consciously bringing along Grace – energy of supportive flow, of magical or divine guidance, beauty of creativity, wonder and awe, openness, softness, and curiosity.
I believe that these three ingredients are needed to embark on a healing journey.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Walk Through Grief With Grace?
I specialize in helping people who are weighted down by their life losses to find a new sense of lightness, connection, and inner wisdom so they can live and love more fully than ever before and be free to discover new passion, creativity, and purpose in their lives.
…………………..
In 2020, my focus was on offering fully custom soulful wedding ceremonies to couples who wanted their wedding ceremony to be as authentic and unique as they were – I was working to deepen and firmly establish ‘Weddings with Jenn’ as a Wedding Officiant and Ceremonial Artist here in San Diego.
Covid shut down all the weddings (and my business) in March of 2020, and I needed to reestablish my work in the world – after Soul Searching, I decided to focus on helping people who were grieving after a major life loss.
I became certified as a Conscious Dying, Green Burial, and Home Funeral Guide in 2019 and realized how much need there was to help people at the ‘end of life’ and beyond.
I found my way online (like the rest of the world!) and founded the
Free Online Virtual Community ‘Grief and Grace’ – a public group on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/176177430380895
This lead to the podcast ‘Walk Through Grief With Grace.’
That launched on Nov 15th, 2021 – The 9th Anniversary of my Dad Gil’s Death.
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/walk-through-grief-with-grace/id1594667339
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6UlOXE6g4O8Ek8CGyYWnNt
My ‘Reclaiming Joy’ Retreat in Mexico:
https://walkthroughgriefwithgrace.mykajabi.com/fall-healing-retreat
I’m launching a new evolution of my work in the world March 2024 called
‘The Grace Collective’ – A community membership of those who have lived through loss coming together to give and receive support, healing, and inspiration through the creative process; you can check out our website @ www.walkthroughgriefwithgrace.com
Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
Find support. Receive the support that is being offered to you. Don’t try to ‘go it alone!”
Cultivate a quiet or creative personal practice to hear the depths of your Soul – Align with what makes you most YOU – your unique set of skills and what brings you joy – find where that aligns with what the people need. Stay true to what makes you come alive – and know you’ll have to morph and shift, but keep walking – Stay the course!
Because by serving others, by giving the world your gifts -everyone thrives – including you!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.walkthroughgriefwithgrace.com
- Instagram: @dreamdancingwiththeancestors
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/176177430380895
- Yelp: https://walkthroughgriefwithgrace.mykajabi.com/fall-healing-retreat
- Other: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/walk-through-grief-with-grace/id1594667339
