Families looking for a nurturing way to help children cope with grief will discover a unique, creative practice at Lakewood’s upcoming mandala workshops on Sunday, August 4. These three-hour sessions, led by internationally renowned earth artist and author Day Schildkret, offer a hands-on approach to processing grief through art and nature which can be especially powerful for families and children.
Schildkret didn’t specifically have children in mind when he developed his mandala practice after the loss of his father, but the solace he found arranging natural elements into beautiful patterns works well for children. “I wanted to make order from a time that seemed very disordered,” he recalls. “I needed to bring stability to my life which felt so unstable.” Schildkret’s method of foraging and arranging natural elements became a daily ritual that soothed his grief and brought meaning to his creations. “I wasn’t just making something pretty. I was making something meaningful,” he explains.
Lakewood is the perfect setting for beauty and remembrance
Approaching his sixth event at Lakewood, Day explains one reason that this place is so special to him is that memory and grief are such key components of his art. “I think Lakewood’s mission to go back to a time when cemeteries were places that families came not just to visit their dead but to be gathering places, really brings life and meaning to so many.”
Having shared his practice worldwide and authored two books on the topic, Schildkret has found a special bond with families. “Showing children how to express sadness through creative endeavors can be really meaningful,” he says.
Reflecting on the impact of these workshops, Schildkret recalls an especially poignant moment, when a young boy dedicated his mandala to his late brother. “After each group had created mandalas, we went on an art tour allowing everyone to share the meaning behind their pieces. A five-year-old boy took my hand and led me to the altar he’d made. The boy pointed out several patterns of seven including leaves, berries and stones. Then he told the group, ‘My brother died last year and I’m dedicating this altar to him because he left us when he was seven.’” Day still chokes up with the memory of this young boy seeking meaning from numbers and shapes by creating something beautiful to honor his brother.
Another memorable experience involved a mom and her two sons, aged eight and twelve, who attended a workshop after the death of their family dog. The mother observed how the practice not only helped her children find meaning but also strengthened their family bond. “Now we have a practice that brings us together as a family.”
While loss and death are perplexing and confusing for everyone, for children, grief can produce many challenging and unfamiliar feelings including isolation and anxiety.
That’s why these creative, hands-on workshops where Schildkret teaches participants how to use art, nature, and ritual to find tranquility amid life’s chaos are so valuable. “Whatever threshold you’re walking through, such as a loved one’s death, you can do something empowering. You have resources,” Schildkret explains.
Lakewood offers two Morning Altars workshops, free for children under 12 with a paid admission, on Sunday, August 4, at 10 AM and 2 PM. Additionally, on Saturday, August 3 from 6 – 9 PM, Schildkret will be in conversation with Cathy Wurzer about his unique practice. Following their talk, a reception and book signing will be held in Lakewood’s new Welcome Center.
Learn more and register for these events.
