Join the Twin Cities Grief Collective for our monthly Community Grief Ritual at Lakewood Cemetery. Together we create a sacred space where grief in all its forms can be honored and held in community.
A Community Grief Ritual is a practice of gathering with others to tend to sorrow, longing, and loss in a supportive circle. It is rooted in the wisdom that grief is not meant to be carried alone. Through song, reflection, movement, and deep listening, we witness one another with compassion. Deep listening means receiving what is shared without judgment or fixing, trusting that presence itself can be healing. In this space, all grief is welcome, and all expressions of grief—whether tears, wails, silence, laughter, or story—are honored.
Our rituals are not meant to solve grief, but to make space for it. Sometimes new discoveries or tender feelings may emerge. We encourage participants to care for themselves after the ritual—through rest, journaling, connecting with trusted friends, and exploring ongoing grief support. Our collective also offers resources and can help point you toward additional care.
What to Expect
Each ritual offers time for settling, sharing, and closing together, with space afterward to reorient gently before returning to the world. The ritual itself lasts about 90 minutes, followed by optional time to explore Lakewood’s beautiful grounds.
What to Bring
You are invited to bring an object that represents your grief to place on our community altar during the ritual. It will be returned to you at the end of our time together.
About the Twin Cities Grief Collective
The Twin Cities Grief Collective is a volunteer organization of healing professionals—chaplains, death doulas, artists, ritualists, therapists, caregivers, and more—committed to creating spaces where loss and longing can be witnessed, shared, and transformed in community. We choose to create these rituals together as a way to help heal the world.
The Lakewood Welcome Center
This event takes place in the Community Room in the Welcome Center at Lakewood. This beautiful, state-of-the-art building provides a warm and sunny backdrop for community events, in addition to offering quiet space for families to gather and make arrangements for end-of-life.
Parking and Transportation
Driving Directions
Parking is available on any of the roads inside Lakewood’s gates unless otherwise noted with a no parking sign. Handicap parking will be available near the Chapel as well as the Welcome Center. Lakewood does not have an onsite parking lot – it is street parking only. This means you may have to park a short distance away and walk. We strongly encourage carpooling and public transportation.
Bus Directions
Metro Transit lines 6 and 23 stop directly outside of Lakewood’s gates, a short walk to the Memorial Chapel and the Welcome Center.
Bike Directions
Please lock bikes at the rack near the main entrance gates and walk to the Welcome Center. Do not lock bikes to trees or signs, leave bicycles unlocked on the grounds., or leave shared bikes or scooters overnight.
Questions?
For questions about the event, call Lakewood at 612-540-5165 or email events@lakewoodcemetery.org.
