Mending Our Souls: The Role of Textiles in Death, Loss, and Processing Grief

This course explores the role of textiles in supporting healing journeys for individuals and communities experiencing grief, both historically and in contemporary contexts. Just as death and loss are universal experiences, textiles hold significant meaning in every culture and individual’s life. We will examine the importance of textiles in relation to death and mourning by investigating their prominence in rituals, the neurological benefits of textile creation, and the supportive qualities of textile-related practices in both personal and collective grieving. We will also explore how symbolism, memory, and legacy are woven into the identities of textiles. Additionally, we will connect these insights to established grief theories, highlighting the benefits of using textiles as a tool for navigating loss.

Learning Outcomes:

• Explore the historical and cultural applications of textiles in ritualizing, memorializing, processing grief, and fostering remembrance.
• Understand the practical uses of textiles in contexts of death, dying, and loss, encompassing personal, collective, and clinical applications.
• Analyze the connections between textiles and prominent grief theories, highlighting their role in understanding and navigating grief.
• Investigate personal narratives related to textiles, loss, and memory, fostering deeper reflection on individual experiences with grief.
• Develop skills in creating and utilizing textiles as a therapeutic tool for personal and communal grieving processes.

 The class session is 1.5 hours, with time allotted for open discussion.