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The Lantern

The Lantern fosters community through creative collaboration, providing a welcoming space for individuals and organizations to connect, share, and grow. We aim to empower voices and inspire change by hosting diverse events and programs.

Event Description:A free community event celebrating connection, care, and community. Join us as The Lantern opens its doors and welcomes the community for an afternoon of conversation, connection, and discovery. Meet 30+ local organizations and practitioners providing support for aging, caregiving, serious illness, end-of-life, grief, and advocacy. Learn about resources available throughout life&#39;s major transitions, ask questions, and build connections in a welcoming and compassionate space. Together, we&#39;re working to nourish deep connections, expand access to care, and advance grief literacy. Free &bull; All are welcome &bull; Registration encouraged About The Lantern:The Lantern is a new nonprofit organization born from the belief that no one should have to grieve alone. We are on a mission to embrace and illuminate the full human experience by holding supportive space for life&#39;s joys and sorrows, nourishing deep connections, expanding access to grief and healing, advancing grief literacy across sectors, and reawakening our capacity to grieve and love. You can find us here: <a fr-original-style="" href="http://www.thelanternpdx.org" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration-color: currentcolor; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">www.thelanternpdx.org</a>

Community Care Gathering: An Open House

Event Description:Somatic Breathwork is a powerful, embodied experience that awakens the body&rsquo;s natural capacity to heal and transform. By using the breath as a catalyst, we engage directly with the nervous system and emotional body, allowing us to release stagnant energy stored from unresolved experiences.<p fr-original-style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;" style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; margin: 0px; line-height: 1.5; width: 100%; box-sizing: inherit;"> What to expect from this session:&nbsp; &nbsp;1. Set intentions: Ease into the space and connect with your purpose for the experience.&nbsp; &nbsp;2. &nbsp;Experience deep, active breathwork: A guided journey to release tension, move energy, and invite healing.&nbsp;&nbsp; 3. &nbsp;Close with integration: Reflect, rest, and reconnect with your body and breath.Participants will remain lying down with eyes closed throughout. Come dressed comfortably, ready to drop in and go deep. Through this dynamic practice, participants may express a full range of emotions: yelling, crying, laughing, shaking, or deep stillness. These expressions are not just cathartic&mdash;they are essential to restoring clarity, presence, and emotional harmony.This journey is an invitation to reclaim your energetic sovereignty&mdash;to come home to yourself and reestablish a meaningful, intimate connection with life. What to bring to this session:<ul fr-original-style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;" style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; box-sizing: inherit;"><li fr-original-style="margin-left: 15px;" style="margin-left: 15px; box-sizing: inherit;">yoga mat</li><li fr-original-style="margin-left: 15px;" style="margin-left: 15px; box-sizing: inherit;">water bottle</li><li fr-original-style="margin-left: 15px;" style="margin-left: 15px; box-sizing: inherit;">journal</li><li fr-original-style="margin-left: 15px;" style="margin-left: 15px; box-sizing: inherit;">chapstick</li><li fr-original-style="margin-left: 15px;" style="margin-left: 15px; box-sizing: inherit;">wear loose fitting and comfortable clothing</li></ul> Disclaimer:This session is designed to bring up physical, emotional, and energetic intensity at times. Feeling discomfort during part of the breathwork is expected and intentional&mdash;it&rsquo;s part of the process. You will be fully supported throughout. If you have a chronic medical condition, mental health diagnosis, or are currently taking medication, please consult with your physician or healthcare provider before participating. All participants will be required to sign a waiver prior to the event.

Somatic Breathwork With Aaron Robinson

Alchemy Of Summer | A Fire Element WorkshopThe Fire element holds both joy and sorrow as inseparable. About The SeriesThis two-hour workshop is part of a five-session series marking the turning of each season through the lens of Chinese medicine and Daoist philosophy. Each gathering weaves together teaching, qigong movement, journaling, and guided meditation.Summer belongs to the Fire element &mdash; the season of the Heart, of connection, joy, and the quality of presence we bring to our relationships. In Chinese medicine, summer is when yang energy peaks. The Heart is considered the sovereign organ, the seat of consciousness and spirit (shen). When Fire is balanced, we experience genuine warmth, clarity, and the capacity for intimacy. When it&#39;s dysregulated &mdash; in excess or deficiency &mdash; we see anxiety, disconnection, or the compulsive pursuit of stimulation. SessionParticipants will explore&nbsp;<ul fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">The Five Element framework and summer&#39;s place within it</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Heart and shen: what it means to live from the Heart-mind</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">The relationship between joy and sorrow in the Fire tradition</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Qigong movement practices for the Heart meridian</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Guided reflection and journaling on inner narrative and presence</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Seasonal recommendations for food, sleep, and daily rhythm</li></ul> This workshop is accessible to anyone curious about their own nature and the rhythms of the natural world. No background in Chinese medicine required. What To Bring<ul fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">A journal</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Comfy clothes</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Water</li></ul>Cost$40 About Your FacilitatorChristopher Miller, L.Ac. has practiced acupuncture and Daoist medicine in Portland since 2012, with a focus on Alchemical Acupuncture. He practices at in Portland&#39;s Pearl District, integrating Medical Qigong, bodywork, and rites of passage work into his clinical and teaching practice. He holds a Master&#39;s in Traditional Chinese Medicine from Five Branches University with additional clinical training in Canada and China, and has been teaching Daoist wisdom workshops since 2018. About The LanternThe Lantern is a new nonprofit organization born from the belief that no one should have to grieve alone. We are on a mission to embrace and illuminate the full human experience by holding supportive space for life&#39;s joys and sorrows, nourishing deep connections, expanding access to grief and healing, advancing grief literacy across sectors, and reawakening our capacity to grieve and love. You can find us here: www.thelanternpdx.org

Alchemy Of Summer | A Fire Element Workshop

To face the climate crisis, we need a strong, resilient and joyful Portland community. Join your Portland neighbors during PNW Climate Week to build a community of care, joy and climate action.

Community Climate Fest

Listening BeyondAn intimate evening of multidimensional music and psychedelic discourse&nbsp; On July 10, virtuosic multi-instrumentalists Hailey Niswanger and Mia Garcia of OHMA team up with DoubleBlind magazine for a one-time only, intimate evening of live music and psychedelic discourse. Join us (and our closest friends) at The Lantern, a beautiful new space centering grief and healing in Portland. OHMA will transport us with their transcendent soundscapes, and DoubleBlind co-founder Shelby Hartman and journalist Cat Donohue will catch us up on the latest in the world of psychedelia.&nbsp; We look forward to being in community with you. About the Hosts Shelby Hartman is Co-Founder and Publisher of DoubleBlind, a media company at the forefront of the psychedelic movement. She&rsquo;s reported for the Los Angeles Times, Rolling Stone, VICE, Playboy, Quartz, LA Weekly, and the Huffington Post, among others. Her work has been featured in outlets such as The New York Times, Business Insider, KCRW, Bustle, and Forbes, and she&rsquo;s been invited to speak at SXSW, Horizons: Perspectives in Psychedelics, and Harvard Law School. She&rsquo;s the co-author of The DoubleBlind Guide to Psychedelics (Hachette, 2026), a practical guide on how to trip situated within reporting about the psychedelic ecosystem. In 2020, she was named by Forbes as a female leader in cannabis and psychedelics. She&rsquo;s a graduate of Columbia Journalism School. You can find her here:&nbsp;<a fr-original-style="" href="http://doubleblindmag.com/" id="isPasted" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration-color: currentcolor; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">http://doubleblindmag.com/</a> Caitlin Donohue is a journalist and author who works to evolve the way we learn about our relationship to drugs. Her second YA book Weed: Cannabis Culture in the Americas was translated into Spanish and expanded for Latin American audiences with Fiebre Ediciones. Through producing and hosting over 150 episodes of her weekly Mexico City radio program Cr&oacute;nica, she became interested in drug education and began to lead harm reduction workshops for audiences from the CDMX queer nightlife community to skate clubs, community centers and university groups throughout North America. She has twice served as judge at the Mexican Cannabis Cup and is currently completing a master&rsquo;s of public health at the University of California, Berkeley. OHMA&nbsp;Composed of Mia Garcia and Hailey Niswanger, the duo channels the essence of the divine with the intention to unify and uplift souls through powerful frequencies. OHMA weaves a fusion of acoustic classical, folk, cosmic jazz, and electronic textures, sparkled with elemental nature sounds. Together they create unique sonic landscapes that inspires all to connect with the world around them. Combined, the two instrumentalists play guitar, bass, piano, flute, saxophone, bass clarinet, clarinet, accordion, synthesizers, vocals, and more. You can find them here:&nbsp;<a fr-original-style="" href="https://ohmamusic.com/" id="isPasted" rel="noopener noreferrer noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration-color: currentcolor; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">https://ohmamusic.com/</a> About The Lantern:The Lantern is a new nonprofit organization born from the belief that no one should have to grieve alone. We are on a mission to embrace and illuminate the full human experience by holding supportive space for life&#39;s joys and sorrows, nourishing deep connections, expanding access to grief and healing, advancing grief literacy across sectors, and reawakening our capacity to grieve and love. You can find us here: <a fr-original-style="" href="http://www.thelanternpdx.org" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration-color: currentcolor; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">www.thelanternpdx.org</a>

DoubleBlind + OHMA Present: Listening Beyond

Your gift helps turn The Lantern into a home for so many!&nbsp; Every dollar helps to fund our couches, bookshelves, and the other furniture that creates a warm a welcoming space for people to land. Thank you for helping us support our community.

Your gift helps turn The Lantern into a home for so many! Every dollar helps to fund our couches, bookshelves, and the other furniture that creates a warm a welcoming space for people to land. Thank you for helping us support our community.

Help us fund our furniture!

This is not a chair. This is an invitation.&nbsp; A placemaker and placeholder for connection, compassion, and community. Each chair in our sanctuary costs $50, and represents a moment in time and space where one longing human never has to grieve alone.&nbsp; If you believe in coming together and saving a seat for one another when times get tough, please consider joining our movement by purchasing a chair. We promise there will always be a seat for you here.

This is not a chair. This is an invitation. A placemaker and placeholder for connection, compassion, and community. Each chair in our sanctuary costs $50, and represents a moment in time and space where one longing human never has to grieve alone. If you believe in coming together and saving a seat for one another when times get tough, please consider joining our movement by purchasing a chair.We promise there will always be a seat for you here.

Buy a chair for the sanctuary

<a fr-original-style="" href="https://www.frontporchsessions.com" style="text-decoration-color: currentcolor; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">Front Porch Sessions</a>, in collaboration with The Lantern, presents a special night of You Are Not Alone. About The EventYou Are Not Alone is an evening of true personal stories, shared reflection, and community connection. Each show centers around a theme, with storytellers sharing honest stories that invite the audience to listen, reflect, and connect through simple conversation prompts after each performance. This special night&rsquo;s theme is &ldquo;What Really Happens in the Dark?&rdquo; We&rsquo;ll explore the things that happen when no one is watching: fear, secrets, grief, mischief, desire, transformation, and the truths that sometimes only reveal themselves after the lights go down. Sometimes the dark is where we hide. Sometimes it is where we heal. Sometimes it is where we finally become honest. Join us for an evening of true stories about what we discover when we are brave enough to look. About The HostChris Williams earned a Master&rsquo;s Degree in Conflict Resolution from Portland State University in 2007 and has worked internationally and locally in the field of education for decades. You can catch him telling his own stories or playing on stage, improvising with Kickstand Comedy. Regardless of where he is or what he&#39;s doing, he&#39;s committed to engaging with the communities around him and living a full and purposeful life filled with laughter, creativity and surprises. He&#39;s spent over 15 years on the front lines helping to educate youth in the public school system. He quickly discovered &nbsp;that they had just as much to teach him. You can find him here: <a fr-original-style="" href="https://www.frontporchsessions.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration-color: currentcolor; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">frontporchsessions.com</a> About The LanternThe Lantern is a &nbsp;nonprofit organization born from the belief that no one should have to grieve alone. We are on a mission to embrace and illuminate the full human experience by holding supportive space for life&#39;s joys and sorrows, nourishing deep connections, expanding access to grief and healing, advancing grief literacy across sectors, and reawakening our capacity to grieve and love. You can find us here: <a fr-original-style="" href="http://www.thelanternpdx.org" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration-color: currentcolor; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">www.thelanternpdx.org</a>

You Are Not Alone with Chris Williams

Event Description: A simple, four-part practice to move from energy to ease. We&rsquo;ll begin with gentle shaking to loosen tension, shift into movement that allows you to honor how you feel in the moment, then settle into a quiet meditation practice and an optional deeply restful lie-down. Everything is invitational with lots of options&mdash;seated or standing, functional or playful movements, eyes open or closed. Come as you are and leave more spacious, grounded, and clear. Who it&rsquo;s for: anyone seeking a gentle way to discharge stress, lift mood, and settle into deep calm&mdash;great for people who carry tension, anxiety, a busy mind, or have trouble dropping straight into seated/silent meditation. Goals: loosen and mobilize stuck energy through shaking and free movement; shift into quiet observation; finish grounded, relaxed, and clear. About the Facilitator:Briana Lynn Cerezo is an integrative coach, somatic practitioner, and certified trauma-informed breathwork guide based in Portland, Oregon. She weaves somatic awareness and movement, meditation, breathwork, and energy work into an integrative approach that helps people reconnect with their innate wisdom, build resilience, and live with greater authenticity and ease. Her work invites clients to bridge insight and embodiment&mdash;transforming cognitive understanding into lived experience through the intelligence of the body, breath, and spirit. While deeply potent on its own, her approach also complements psychotherapy and counseling, offering a holistic path toward integration and nervous system empowerment. Briana&rsquo;s background blends academic study with years of formal training in ancient and contemporary healing arts, along with a lifelong dedication to exploring the edges of human consciousness, creativity, and transformation. She brings both skill and soul to her work&mdash;rooted in real-world experience, ongoing personal practice, and an unwavering curiosity about what it means to be fully alive. website: <a fr-original-style="" href="http://brianalynn.net/" style="text-decoration-color: currentcolor; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">brianalynn.net</a> About The Lantern:The Lantern is a new nonprofit organization born from the belief that no one should have to grieve alone. We are on a mission to embrace and illuminate the full human experience by holding supportive space for life&#39;s joys and sorrows, nourishing deep connections, expanding access to grief and healing, advancing grief literacy across sectors, and reawakening our capacity to grieve and love. You can find us here: <a fr-original-style="" href="http://www.thelanternpdx.org" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration-color: currentcolor; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">www.thelanternpdx.org</a>

Movement to Stillness Meditation

About QigongQigong is an ancient practice rooted in Taoist wisdom and Chinese medicine that cultivates the circulation of life force through the body. Through coordinated breath, posture, and intention, we learn to listen to the body from the inside.&nbsp; SessionThe sessions run each Tuesday at 10am for 45 minutes, and can be practiced standing or seated. No equipment needed. Wear clothing you can move in comfortably. This is a practice for any body, at any stage of life. Cost$5-$15 Sliding Scale About Your FacilitatorChristopher Miller, L.Ac. has practiced acupuncture and Daoist medicine in Portland since 2012, with a focus on Alchemical Acupuncture. He practices at in Portland&#39;s Pearl District, integrating Medical Qigong, bodywork, and rites of passage work into his clinical and teaching practice. He holds a Master&#39;s in Traditional Chinese Medicine from Five Branches University with additional clinical training in Canada and China, and has been teaching Daoist wisdom workshops since 2018.

Weekly Community Qigong

About This EventOnce a month, men gather and sit together around a seasonal theme drawn from the five-element tradition: what&#39;s stirring, where we&#39;re avoiding full responsibility, what needs grieving, what&#39;s been distilled by the work. We follow the conversation where it leads, and occasionally break into smaller groups or pairs when the work calls for more intimacy. This is not therapy, and it is not a seminar. It&#39;s a container, deliberately structured, where men practice the underused art of honest presence with one another. No experience with men&#39;s work required. Come as you are. For men who want to go deeper, a closed cohort group forms periodically from those who&#39;ve attended the monthly circle. That group meets longer, asks more of its members, and is by conversation and invitation only. Ask Christopher after a session if you&#39;re curious. About Your FacilitatorChristopher Miller, L.Ac. has practiced acupuncture and Daoist medicine in Portland since 2012, with a focus on Alchemical Acupuncture. He practices at in Portland&#39;s Pearl District, integrating Medical Qigong, bodywork, and rites of passage work into his clinical and teaching practice. He holds a Master&#39;s in Traditional Chinese Medicine from Five Branches University with additional clinical training in Canada and China, and has been teaching Daoist wisdom workshops since 2018. About The LanternThe Lantern is a new nonprofit organization born from the belief that no one should have to grieve alone. We are on a mission to embrace and illuminate the full human experience by holding supportive space for life&#39;s joys and sorrows, nourishing deep connections, expanding access to grief and healing, advancing grief literacy across sectors, and reawakening our capacity to grieve and love. You can find us here: <a fr-original-style="" href="http://www.thelanternpdx.org" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration-color: currentcolor; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">www.thelanternpdx.org</a>

Monthly Men's Group

Event Description:Grief Craft is an ongoing, low-pressure gathering for people who want quiet company while working on creative projects alongside grief.&nbsp; Participants are invited to bring something they&rsquo;re already working on &mdash; writing, embroidery, knitting, drawing, card-making, or another portable craft. You&rsquo;re also welcome to come without a project; watercolor materials (paints, brushes, and paper) will be available. &nbsp; The gathering begins with brief introductions and a chance to share what you plan to work on, followed by extended quiet work time. we&rsquo;ll close by checking back in and, if you&rsquo;d like, sharing what you made or noticed during the session. There is no expectation to talk about grief directly, produce anything finished, or share more than feels comfortable.&nbsp; This space is held with particular care for people with marginalized identities, though all who are grieving are welcome. Come as you are, work at your own pace, and let making be a way of keeping grief company. &nbsp; What to expect:&nbsp;&nbsp; - This is a quiet, low-pressure space with periods of shared silence.&nbsp; - The gathering will include a brief opening, quiet work time, and a short closing.&nbsp; - Participation in introductions and sharing is optional.&nbsp; - There is no expectation to talk about grief or share personal stories.&nbsp; - You&rsquo;re welcome to arrive late or leave early as needed.&nbsp; - Seating will be available, and you&rsquo;re encouraged to move, stretch, or step outside if helpful.&nbsp; - Please bring your own project if you have one.

Grief Craft

Event Description:This is a two-hour improv <a fr-original-style="" href="https://www.frontporchsessions.com/facilitation-coaching-workshops" style="text-decoration-color: currentcolor; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">workshop</a> for people who have experienced loss and understand what it means to grieve, whether that loss is recent, old, clear, complicated, private, or still unfolding. This is not therapy, and no one will be asked to perform their grief. It is an improv workshop first: we will play games, build scenes, laugh, listen, make each other look good, and remember what it feels like to be surprised in a room full of people.At the same time, the workshop is designed with grief in mind. We will set clear expectations, build safety and trust, take breaks, allow people to pass when needed, and make room for the truth that loss changes how we show up. Through classic improv exercises and grief-aware adaptations, participants will practice presence, flexibility, connection, and play. The goal is not to &ldquo;move on&rdquo; or turn pain into comedy. The goal is to create a room where people can laugh without explaining themselves, participate without pressure, and feel a little less alone. Session:August 15, 12:00pm-2:00pm. In this workshop, we will use classic improv warm-ups, ensemble games, character exercises, short scenes, and group reflection to explore comedy, connection, and presence in a grief-aware space. You will not be asked to perform your grief, tell your whole story, or make your pain funny. This is not therapy. It is an improv class designed with care for people who understand loss. We will laugh. We will play. We will probably make strange characters and awkward scenes. We will practice saying yes, making each other look good, listening closely, and finding comedy in human behavior rather than in anyone&rsquo;s pain. This workshop is open to all experience levels. Come as you are. Pass when you need to. Laugh when it happens. Let the room hold both the grief and the ridiculousness of being human. About Chris Williams:I believe stories are one of the quickest ways we remember that we belong to each other. Whether I&rsquo;m producing a live storytelling show, leading a workshop, or helping a team better understand itself, my work is rooted in the same idea: people connect more deeply when they have the space, structure, and invitation to be real with one another. Through Front Porch Sessions LLC, I create storytelling, improv, facilitation, and belonging-centered workshops for organizations, teams, communities, and individuals.&nbsp; My work helps people build trust, strengthen communication, listen with more care, navigate conflict more thoughtfully, and tell clearer, more meaningful stories about who they are and why their work matters. About Kristen Schier:Kristen Schier (she/her) is an actor, improviser, teacher, and clown. She has extensive improv teaching, directing, and performing experience. She holds a BFA in Theater Arts from the University of the Arts where she also taught Acting for Non-Majors, Improvisation for the Actor, and first-year Acting Studio. She has toured all over the country teaching and performing at various festivals such as the Seattle Festival of Improvised Theater, Chicago Improv Festival, Vancouver International Improv Festival, Boom Chicago Comedy Festival in Amsterdam, and more. Kristen is the former Co-Artistic Director of Curious Comedy in Portland Oregon and former Improv Producer at the Philly Improv Theater. She has studied improv at Second City, Magnet Theater, and Annoyance. Kristen has also studied Physical Theater, clown, extensively with Pig Iron Theater company and Movement Theater Studio. About The LanternThe Lantern is a new nonprofit organization born from the belief that no one should have to grieve alone. We are on a mission to embrace and illuminate the full human experience by holding supportive space for life&#39;s joys and sorrows, nourishing deep connections, expanding access to grief and healing, advancing grief literacy across sectors, and reawakening our capacity to grieve and love. You can find us here: <a fr-original-style="" href="http://www.thelanternpdx.org" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration-color: currentcolor; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">www.thelanternpdx.org</a>

Improv Workshop: with Chris Williams & Kristen Schier

About the Event:Join Madrone Kalil of Taproot Journeys for a five-part Breathwork Metamorphosis immersive series inspired by Francis Weller&#39;s Five Gates of Grief. Through conscious breathing, chakra-attuned music, somatic experience, creative expression, and community sharing, participants are invited to explore grief as a pathway toward healing, meaning, and transformation. It is rare in life that four hours has the potential to profoundly change our outlook, feeling, or insight but breathwork does just that&ndash;it takes you on a journey, in a safe container, offering meaningful ways to reimagine your life. Investment:<ul fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">$125 (Those with less means)</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">$140 (Standard rate)</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">$155 (Those with more means)</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">All five gates of grief: $550 ($110/session)</li></ul>Attend a single session in any order, or register for the full five-part series at a discounted rate. Scholarships are offered for those who need additional support. Please contact Madrone at <a fr-original-style="" href="mailto:madrone@taprootjourneys.com" style="text-decoration-color: currentcolor; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">madrone@taprootjourneys.com</a> for details. What to Expect:<ul fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Practical pre-event guidance for preparing for your breathwork experience</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">An introduction to one of Francis Weller&#39;s Five Gates of Grief (one each session)</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Guided conscious circular breathing with a chakra-attuned music journey (approximately 60 minutes)</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Creative integration through art and/or journaling (see examples <a fr-original-style="" href="https://www.taprootjourneys.com/mandalas" style="text-decoration-color: currentcolor; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">here</a>)</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Optional group sharing and reflection in a supportive, compassionate space</li></ul>Benefits of Conscious Breathing:The breathwork process provides a framework for individuals to move stuck energy, release outdated programming, unhealthy patterns and behaviors, and limiting beliefs. One example of releasing stuck energy is through our tears.&nbsp; When we are born, in our first breath we cry using our voices, this is our beginning medicine, our prescription giving us permission to release. We intuitively know that this is a healthy way to express ourselves and expel stuck energy. When you think about it, after childhood we are often not allowed to cry freely to truly express our grief without judgement or comment from others. Breathwork can assist with:<ul fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Moving through aspects of grief work shifting from grieving to mourning&nbsp;</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Release stuck energy</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Emotional, mental, and physical release</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Spiritual growth and awareness&nbsp;</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Greater connection between your mind and body</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">More energy and better function of your body in general</li></ul>What People Are Saying about Breathwork:&ldquo;Breathwork with Madrone is an honest soul journey of letting go of ego and being faced with your honest self.&nbsp;I had a major breakthrough in my anxiety journey and being disconnected from myself. I was able to discover what presence with my true self feels like and it is incredible clarity.&rdquo; &nbsp;- Bette R. &quot;Going into breathwork I had no idea what to expect. I&#39;m an over-thinker by nature and wanted to &#39;plan&#39; out my experience. Madrone was there for me with calming words and a steady spirit and I had a beautiful, profound and cleansing spiritual experience.&quot; &nbsp; - Stephanie W. This Series May Be Helpful If You Are:<ul fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Navigating grief, loss, or a major life transition</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Feeling emotionally stuck or disconnected from yourself</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Seeking deeper healing, clarity, or spiritual growth</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Curious about grief as a practice of tending, honoring, and transformation</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Looking for an embodied approach to creating change that goes beyond talking alone</li></ul>Sessions &amp; Themes: Gate One: Everything We Love We Will Lose I Saturday, August 15, 2026 | 10 am&ndash;2 pm Gate Five: Ancestral Grief I Saturday, October 17, 2026 | 10 am&ndash;2 pm&nbsp; Gate Two: The Places That Have Not Known Love I Saturday, March 6, 2027 | 10 am&ndash;2 pm Gate Three: The Sorrows of the World I Saturday, April 3, 2027 | 10 am&ndash;2 pmGate Four: What We Expected and Did Not Receive I Saturday, June 5, 2027 | 10 am&ndash;2 pm*Come as you are&ndash;just be 18 or older!&nbsp; About Your Facilitator:Madrone Kalil, Ph.D. (Communication Studies), is a retired Professor Emerita from Northern Arizona University where she taught for eighteen years.&nbsp;She is a published author, speaker, educator, Warrior Goddess and Warrior Heart Coach, and end-of-life doula and death concierge who guides individuals and communities through moments of transition and transformation.&nbsp;She is the founder of Taproot Journeys and Bridge of Fire Consulting, where she develops retreats, workshops, and ceremonial experiences designed to help people meet change with intention and live more fully.She relocated to Portland with her wife and fur kiddos a little over a year ago but has been traveling to the PNW for a once-a-year ceremony since 2006 so this area has a special place in her heart. Her work with community ceremony practice spans over twenty years.&nbsp;You can find Madrone here: <a fr-original-style="" href="http://taprootjourneys.com" style="text-decoration-color: currentcolor; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">taprootjourneys.com</a>&nbsp; About The Lantern:The Lantern is a new nonprofit organization born from the belief that no one should have to grieve alone. We are on a mission to embrace and illuminate the full human experience by holding supportive space for life&#39;s joys and sorrows, nourishing deep connections, expanding access to grief and healing, advancing grief literacy across sectors, and reawakening our capacity to grieve and love. You can find us here: <a fr-original-style="" href="http://www.thelanternpdx.org" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration-color: currentcolor; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">www.thelanternpdx.org</a>

Breathwork Metamorphosis: Exploring the Five Gates of Grief

Event Description:Grief is one of our most universal experiences &mdash; and one of the least welcomed. Yet when we allow ourselves to turn toward it rather than away, life becomes more available to us in all its fullness. In this workshop we will use guided meditation, embodiment practices, writing prompts, and tea ceremony to create a gentle space for you to meet yourself. To befriend grief &mdash; to learn its language, feel it in your body, and discover how you can carry it with expansive grace, tenderness, and strength.&nbsp; You will leave with repeatable skills and practices you can return to on your own, whenever grief asks for your attention. Come with a specific loss you are living with, or simply with an open heart and a desire to deepen your relationship with this very human experience. Please wear comfortable clothing and bring any props that help you settle in &mdash; a blanket, cushion, or bolster. We will move between sitting and lying down as you follow what your body needs. This event is limited to 12 people. About the Facilitator:Marialicia Gonz&aacute;lez is a Midwife turned Hospice Nurse, Grief Coach and Educator. She supports individuals and groups with her signature &ldquo;Embodied Grief Work,&rdquo; which brings cross-body movements and neural plasticity into the grief space.&nbsp; She first offered Grief &amp; the Art of Living in 2016, and along with co-founding the Grief Rites Foundation, has consistently provided quiet intimate spaces, as well as stages, where grief is welcome.&nbsp; About The Lantern:The Lantern is a new nonprofit organization born from the belief that no one should have to grieve alone. We are on a mission to embrace and illuminate the full human experience by holding supportive space for life&#39;s joys and sorrows, nourishing deep connections, expanding access to grief and healing, advancing grief literacy across sectors, and reawakening our capacity to grieve and love. You can find us here: <a fr-original-style="" href="http://www.thelanternpdx.org" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration-color: currentcolor; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">www.thelanternpdx.org</a>

Grief and the Art of Living

Event Description:Whether you are a long-time griever or new to the experience, join us for an evening of creative clay work, where you will have the chance to connect with others who are navigating their own grief as well. In this workshop we will create ceramic grief jars, or grief urns, and talk about ways to create self-care rituals around grief. The ceramic grief jars can be used to hold space for grief, and can also give us a path toward holding and moving through our experiences. Completed grief jars will be ready for pick up approximately 2 weeks after completion. About the Facilitator:Anna VonRosenstiel is a local ceramic artist and owner of Carter + Rose. She has been working with clay for over 20 years and was a classroom teacher for 7 of those years. She loves that clay is an amazing way to connect with students of all ages. Anna truly believes that creativity brings people together and has the therapeutic power to help navigate the ups and downs of life. About The Lantern:The Lantern is a new nonprofit organization born from the belief that no one should have to grieve alone. We are on a mission to embrace and illuminate the full human experience by holding supportive space for life&#39;s joys and sorrows, nourishing deep connections, expanding access to grief and healing, advancing grief literacy across sectors, and reawakening our capacity to grieve and love. You can find us here: <a fr-original-style="" href="http://www.thelanternpdx.org" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration-color: currentcolor; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">www.thelanternpdx.org</a>

Grief Jars

Event Description:When we find ourselves navigating one of life&rsquo;s inevitable challenges&mdash;loss, heartbreak, or unexpected change&mdash;we often long for tools and anchors that can help hold, support, and witness us exactly where we are. In the face of these moments, Tarot can be both a humble and profound companion to us, offering nurturing medicine and guidance in difficult times. Created and developed by intuitive Tarot teacher, bestselling author, death doula, and founder of Tarot for the Wild Soul, Lindsay Mack, Soul Tarot is an approach to the cards for those who wish to learn Tarot from a soul-centered, inclusive, trauma-informed, non-predictive, and evolutionary perspective rooted in common sense and critical thinking. It is an invitation to read Tarot for whatever arises&mdash;to meet our decks in the present moment and engage with them as meaningful tools of support during times of uncertainty, chronic pain, grief, and transformation. Soul Tarot for Companioning is a two-part workshop that explores the cards through the lens of radical presence and companioning, one that can provide a sense of anchoring, as opposed to a fix or a resolution to our issues. Together, we will cover and explore practical and accessible ways that Tarot can serve as a steady source of guidance, support, and connection, no matter what life may bring (leaving plenty of time for practice and Q&amp;A).&nbsp; Participants will leave with newfound knowledge about the cards, as well as totally unique and beautiful ways of working with them (both for themselves and others). All levels of Tarot knowledge welcome; folks are welcome to bring any Tarot deck they like to this workshop.&nbsp; Sessions:1 ticket covers these two sessions, please make sure to attend both! Day One, August 22nd, 1-4pm We will dig into part one of this workshop by diving into the pillars of Soul Tarot, as well as the bones and structure of the Tarot itself, and how we can use it for deep support and companioning. We will then cover the Major Arcana, leaving time for practice and Q&amp;A. Day Two, August 23rd, 1-3pm On day two of our workshop, we will dig into the Minor Arcana (Cups, Wands, Swords, and Pentacles) and The Court Cards, once again examining them through the lens of Soul Tarot and deep anchoring and soul support in challenging times. We will (again) leave lots of time for practice and Q&amp;A before parting ways! About the Facilitator:Founded by Lindsay Mack, Tarot for the Wild Soul offers online Soul Tarot&reg; courses, immersive retreats, and soul-led community for sensitive, soul-led folks who want to form a deep and lasting connection with the cards Soul Tarot&reg; is an approach to Tarot reading that considers the cards from a soul centered, inclusive, trauma informed, non-predictive, evolutionary perspective, rooted in common sense and critical thinking. It is an invitation to learn how to read Tarot for anything that arises, to show up to our decks in the present moment, and engage with them as integral helping tools in moments of anxiety, uncertainty, chronic pain, or grief. About The LanternThe Lantern is a new nonprofit organization born from the belief that no one should have to grieve alone. We are on a mission to embrace and illuminate the full human experience by holding supportive space for life&#39;s joys and sorrows, nourishing deep connections, expanding access to grief and healing, advancing grief literacy across sectors, and reawakening our capacity to grieve and love. You can find us here: <a fr-original-style="" href="http://www.thelanternpdx.org" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration-color: currentcolor; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">www.thelanternpdx.org</a>

Soul Tarot for Companioning

About this event:Our relationships with animals shape our lives in meaningful and lasting ways. They become part of our routines, our homes, and our stories. When these relationships change or end, the grief that follows can be deep, yet often receives little recognition or space for support. This in-person peer support group welcomes those grieving the death of a pet or companion animal, experiencing loss after rehoming or separation, or anticipating a death. The group is a &quot;drop-in&quot; style group meaning participants can attend individual sessions as needed without committing to a full series or attending every meeting.&nbsp; The format of the group is largely built around open-ended time to share your grief experience, without people trying to &quot;fix it&quot; or help you &quot;move on.&quot;&nbsp;Together, we will create space to reflect on the bonds we form with creatures of another species and the&nbsp;many ways loss can be experienced. No grief is too unusual or too small to be honored. Through shared presence and conversation, participants will support one another in recognizing the significance of these relationships and challenging the idea that grief for animals should be minimized or quickly moved past. To support a more connected experience, the group is limited to 9 participants.&nbsp; About Your FacilitatorNathan Barnett (he/him) is an animal lover who has found a home in Portland after living in the south, the midwest, and the Atlantic coast. He knows the heartbreak of losing a beloved animal companion and how hard it can be to find places where that grief is understood and honored. Nathan, a professional counselor associate, is trained in clinical rehabilitation counseling with a focus on grief and disability, but in this space, he aims simply to help hold a gentle, nonjudgmental container where stories of love and loss can be shared, shedding the hat of &ldquo;counselor&rdquo; for the role of peer in grief, helping to hold this sacred space. About The Lantern The Lantern is a new nonprofit organization born from the belief that no one should have to grieve alone. We are on a mission to embrace and illuminate the full human experience by holding supportive space for life&#39;s joys and sorrows, nourishing deep connections, expanding access to grief and healing, advancing grief literacy across sectors, and reawakening our capacity to grieve and love. You can find us here:&nbsp;<a fr-original-style="" href="http://www.thelanternpdx.org/" style="text-decoration-color: currentcolor; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">www.thelanternpdx.org</a>

Grieving Beloved Animal Companions

Event Description:This is a generative memoir writing workshop. Your teacher Nick will talk about some ways of organizing our thoughts around memoir and offer some structural ideas, then we&#39;ll try two or three prompts to facilitate some fresh new writing we&#39;re excited about. The goal of this workshop is to have new energy for our writing and leave the evening with more momentum. About the Facilitator: Nick Jaina was an Oregon Book Award finalist and has published three books, including the memoir Get It While You Can. His work has been published in Oregon Journal for the Humanities, McSweeney&#39;s&nbsp;and Portland Mercury. <a fr-original-style="" href="http://www.nickjaina.com/" style="text-decoration-color: currentcolor; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">www.nickjaina.com</a> About The Lantern:The Lantern is a new nonprofit organization born from the belief that no one should have to grieve alone. We are on a mission to embrace and illuminate the full human experience by holding supportive space for life&#39;s joys and sorrows, nourishing deep connections, expanding access to grief and healing, advancing grief literacy across sectors, and reawakening our capacity to grieve and love. You can find us here: <a fr-original-style="" href="http://www.thelanternpdx.org" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration-color: currentcolor; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">www.thelanternpdx.org</a>

Memoir Writing Workshop

About the eventJoin End-of-Life Pet Doula Madrone Kalil Ph.D. for a workshop journey in honor of your animal companion friends/family members.&nbsp;This workshop offers you an opportunity to learn how to shift inward grieving toward external mourning by memorializing the loss of your animal companion(s) through the creation of memorial altars. Whether your friend took off their earthly robes recently or a long time ago, it is never too late to honor their energy and say thank you for all that they brought to your life.&nbsp;Our animal companion friends/family members are the absolute best teachers about death and dying. Sadly, in our world, much of the grief we have for our animal companions is disenfranchised, &ldquo;grief that goes unacknowledged or un-validated by social norms.&rdquo;&nbsp;This is especially disheartening because for some of us, our animal companions are our closest friends having no judgement, accepting us completely, flaws and all. Paws care not about our flaws! What to expectTogether we will discuss and learn about disenfranchised grief, what altars/centers are, how to use symbolism to represent our animal companions, and co-create a group altar honoring all of our beloved dead animal companions.*Please bring a picture(s) of your beloved animal companion*This workshop includes participants leaving with a few ritual/sacred items to add to their altar process at home. This workshop is for you if you:&bull; Just lost your beloved animal companion.&bull; Feel like you did not get a chance to properly memorialize your animal companion and want a creative way to do so now.&bull; Desire a space to be witnessed in your grief about your beloved animal companion.&bull; Are anticipating the death of an aging or terminally ill animal companion and want to be prepared with a way to honor them after they take off their earthly robes.&bull; Continue to feel the presence and impact of an animal companion who died months or even years ago and want to honor these feelings.&bull; Have been told by others that your friend was &ldquo;just get another pet&rdquo; and feel your grief has not been fully understood or honored.&bull; Want to create a meaningful ritual to celebrate the life and legacy of your animalcompanion.&bull; Long for connection with others who understand the depth of the bond between humans and animals.&bull; Are seeking a creative, hands-on way to express grief, love, gratitude, and remembrance.&bull; Know that your animal companion was never &ldquo;just a pet&rdquo; and want their life to behonored accordingly.&nbsp; What people are saying about working with Madrone&quot;We were devastated when our 14 year old dog Clover had to be sent to the other side. Madrone&rsquo;s wisdom, guidance and tenderness helped us let go a little more and be much more at peace. She created a very meaningful ceremony for our family and Clover. We appreciated all of the attention to detail and how Madrone was able to weave the story of Clover&rsquo;s life. She clearly spent hours crafting. Thank you Madrone for your loving kindness and for witnessing our grief and helping us transform it.&quot; - Jen P. &ldquo;I was trying hard to cope with death and the material in Madrone&#39;s class changed so much for me. I feel better knowing grief isn&#39;t supposed to be short lived and that it is okay whenever I feel the need to cry because of it. I want people to know that they aren&rsquo;t alone and that experiencing grief is a journey, not a linear line. You and your class helped me heal and I cannot thank you enough!&quot; - Hanna H. About Your Facilitator&nbsp;Madrone Kalil, Ph.D. (Communication Studies), is a retired Professor Emerita from Northern Arizona University where she taught for eighteen years.&nbsp;She is a published author, speaker, educator, Warrior Goddess and Warrior Heart Coach, and end-of-life doula and death concierge who guides individuals and communities through moments of transition and transformation.&nbsp;She is the founder of Taproot Journeys and Bridge of Fire Consulting, where she develops retreats, workshops, and ceremonial experiences designed to help people meet change with intention and live more fully.She relocated to Portland with her wife and fur kiddos a little over a year ago but has been traveling to the PNW for a once-a-year ceremony since 2006 so this area has a special place in her heart. Her work with community ceremony practice spans over twenty years. You can find Madrone here: <a fr-original-style="" href="http://taprootjourneys.com" style="text-decoration-color: currentcolor; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">taprootjourneys.com</a>&nbsp; About The LanternThe Lantern is a new nonprofit organization born from the belief that no one should have to grieve alone. We are on a mission to embrace and illuminate the full human experience by holding supportive space for life&#39;s joys and sorrows, nourishing deep connections, expanding access to grief and healing, advancing grief literacy across sectors, and reawakening our capacity to grieve and love. You can find us here: <a fr-original-style="" href="http://www.thelanternpdx.org" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration-color: currentcolor; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">www.thelanternpdx.org</a>

Honoring Animal Companions: Creating Memorial Altars

Event Description:The Body Knows is a weekly ritual to come home to yourself and step intentionally into the week ahead. Sometimes the things we&#39;re carrying can&#39;t be solved through thinking alone. Movement offers another way to process, release, and reconnect with yourself. The Body Knows is a guided movement practice rooted in somatic awareness and moving meditation. You&#39;ll slow down, listen to your body, and move in whatever way feels authentic to you.&nbsp; There are no steps to learn or choreography to follow - just music, simple invitations, and space to explore movement. No dance experience is needed. Each class weaves together grounding, body awareness, guided movement, music, moments of stillness, and time for reflection. Whatever you&#39;re carrying - grief, stress, joy, uncertainty, exhaustion, or just the weight of everyday life - you&#39;re welcome here. Sunday nights can feel heavy or transitional. Maybe you&#39;re coming off a busy weekend, anticipating what&#39;s ahead, or simply noticing that familiar knot of &quot;Sunday Scaries.&quot; This is your invitation to begin the week feeling more grounded and better resourced for whatever lies ahead. Accessibility &amp; Participation:You&#39;re welcome to move standing, seated, lying down, or any combination of the three. You&#39;re always welcome to modify, rest, pause, or simply observe. Please wear clothing that allows you to move comfortably. About the Facilitator:Jen Ottovegio is a coach, meditation teacher, facilitator, and lifelong dancer based in NE Portland. She believes our bodies often know things long before our minds catch up. Drawing from her background in coaching, meditation, group facilitation, and sensual dance, Jen creates warm, welcoming spaces where people can slow down, reconnect with their bodies, and build greater self-trust. The Body Knows brings together her love of movement and her belief that meaningful change often begins with listening to what the body already knows. About The Lantern:The Lantern is a new nonprofit organization born from the belief that no one should have to grieve alone. We are on a mission to embrace and illuminate the full human experience by holding supportive space for life&#39;s joys and sorrows, nourishing deep connections, expanding access to grief and healing, advancing grief literacy across sectors, and reawakening our capacity to grieve and love. You can find us here: <a fr-original-style="" href="http://www.thelanternpdx.org" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration-color: currentcolor; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">www.thelanternpdx.org</a>

The Body Knows: A Guided Movement Practice

About The ExhibitionWhat if the parts of ourselves we struggle with most are also the source of our greatest gifts? In his first sculptural exhibition, Mark Holloway explores the places where our beauty and our brokenness share the same roots. Through figures such as the Caretaker, the Pleaser, and the Lover, each sculpture offers a glimpse into the beautiful complexity that makes us human. Inspired by Tibetan Buddhist teacher Tsoknyi Rinpoche, Beautiful Monsters explores the possibility that our deepest struggles often arise from our most precious gifts, encouraging us to meet both with curiosity and compassion. Each sculpture asks not &quot;What&#39;s wrong with us?&quot; but, &quot;What if every part of us belongs?&quot;&nbsp; Open Gallery (No registration necessary)Saturday, 11:00am-5:00pmSunday, 11-2pm, 3-5pm Wander through the sculptures at your own pace. Along the way, you&#39;re invited to reflect on your own Beautiful Monsters and, if inspired, leave a brief anonymous reflection that becomes part of the exhibition and a silent conversation among visitors. Connection Events (Registration required, free admission)Saturday, Sept 12 - 5:00-6:30pm&nbsp;Sunday, Sept 13 - 2:00-3:00pm&nbsp; Join The Lantern community and the artist for two open gatherings to spend time with the sculptures, our own Beautiful Monsters, and one another. Each gathering begins with a brief introduction to the ideas and questions at the heart of the exhibition, followed by guided reflection and small-group conversation inspired by the sculptures. Light refreshments will be served at events. About the Artist:Mark Holloway recently discovered sculpture as another way of asking the questions that have shaped much of his life: How do we become more fully ourselves? How do we see and hold all parts of ourselves with compassion?&nbsp;After decades spent building community through philanthropy and nonprofit leadership, he now works in clay as a form of connection, curiosity, and spiritual awakening. Mark originally hails from Louisiana and lives in Portland and Mexico when he isn&rsquo;t adventuring around the world. About The Lantern:The Lantern is a new nonprofit organization born from the belief that no one should have to grieve alone. We are on a mission to embrace and illuminate the full human experience by holding supportive space for life&#39;s joys and sorrows, nourishing deep connections, expanding access to grief and healing, advancing grief literacy across sectors, and reawakening our capacity to grieve and love. You can find us here: <a fr-original-style="" href="http://www.thelanternpdx.org" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration-color: currentcolor; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">www.thelanternpdx.org</a>

Beautiful Monsters: A Sculptural Exploration of Our Light and Darkness

Event Description:You are invited to a special gathering introducing The Cheryl Hauser Effect, a documentary now in its final stage of production. The film shares the story of Cheryl Hauser, a Minnesota woman who, after being diagnosed with Alzheimer&#39;s disease, chose to face the end of her life on her own terms through VSED (Voluntarily Stopping Eating and Drinking). At seventy-six, Cheryl became a thoughtful advocate for end-of-life autonomy, inspiring important conversations about dementia, caregiving, and personal choice. This special preview event offers an early look at The Cheryl Hauser Effect while the film is still in production. Through selected clips and conversation, we&#39;ll explore Cheryl&#39;s story and the impact this film hopes to make. During this special evening, you will: &bull; View selected, never-before-seen clips from the documentary&bull; Learn more about VSED and end-of-life options&bull; Hear from those directly involved in the story and the work surrounding end-of-life autonomy A conversation will follow with: <a fr-original-style="" href="https://eden-health.com/" style="text-decoration-color: currentcolor; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">Randi Ewing</a>, Palliative Care Director, Eden Health<a fr-original-style="" href="https://www.dr-kaplan.com/" style="text-decoration-color: currentcolor; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">Dr. Stephanie Kaplan</a>, Naturopathic Physician Specializing in End-of-Life Care<a fr-original-style="" href="https://www.jpsmjournal.com/article/S0885-3924(23)00565-1/fulltext" style="text-decoration-color: currentcolor; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">Dr. Pete Regan</a>,&nbsp;First physician to prescribe under Oregon&#39;s Death with Dignity Act<a fr-original-style="" href="https://www.jamiethrower.com/" style="text-decoration-color: currentcolor; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">Jamie Thrower</a>, End-of-Life Doula and Grief Educator Join us for an evening of storytelling, education, and conversation as we share Cheryl&#39;s story and build support for the film&#39;s completion. Learn more at <a fr-original-style="" href="https://www.thecherylhausereffect.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration-color: currentcolor; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">thecherylhausereffect.com</a> About The Lantern:The Lantern is a new nonprofit organization born from the belief that no one should have to grieve alone. We are on a mission to embrace and illuminate the full human experience by holding supportive space for life&#39;s joys and sorrows, nourishing deep connections, expanding access to grief and healing, advancing grief literacy across sectors, and reawakening our capacity to grieve and love. You can find us here: <a fr-original-style="" href="http://www.thelanternpdx.org" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration-color: currentcolor; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">www.thelanternpdx.org</a>

The Cheryl Hauser Effect: Story and Conversation about VSED

Event Description:In this immersive, experiential workshop you&#39;ll witness&mdash;and participate in&mdash;a guided role-play process that explores the perspectives of a dying person and the people gathered at the bedside. You&#39;ll explore compassionate communication, family dynamics, grief, spiritual diversity, death anxiety, and not only the process of dying, but the emotional issues and family dynamics that can accompany it. Session:Live demonstration: Observe the Deathbed Dress Rehearsal performed by experienced facilitators.Small group practice, where each attendee will have a chance to practice what was demonstrated &nbsp;Closing discussion and debrief You &nbsp;will explore:Your end-of-life hopes, fears and intentions How to express your wishes to loved ones Planning your ideal deathbed scenario Working with ancestors and meaning-making You will practice...Providing a non-anxious presence for others Supporting the bereaved Navigating difficult family dynamics Offering spiritually-inclusive care Who Should Attend?End-of-life professionals Death doulas Funeral directors Counselors and therapists Chaplains and clergy Physicians, nurses,healthcare providers Spiritual seekers and teachers Four CE credit hours available for nurses, social workers, psychologists and more. The CE package must be purchased separately <a fr-original-style="" href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ce-credits-for-deathbed-dress-rehearsal-sept-20-2026-tickets-1993213718889?aff=oddtdtcreator&keep_tld=true" rel="noopener" style="text-decoration-color: currentcolor; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">HERE.</a> More information about the event can be found <a fr-original-style="" href="https://danieldirect.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Deathbed-Dress-Rehearsal-Overview.pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration-color: currentcolor; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">here</a>. About the Facilitators:Dr. Terri Daniel is an end-of-life educator, inter-spiritual hospice chaplain and grief counselor. She is certified in death, dying and bereavement by the Association of Death Education and Counseling, in family-focused grief therapy by The Portland Institute, and in trauma-informed critical care by the NYU School of Social Work. Terri conducts workshops throughout the U.S. and offers end-of-life consulting through her private practice at <a fr-original-style="text-align: start;" href="http://www.endwelladvisors.com/" id="isPasted" style="text-align: start; text-decoration-color: currentcolor; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">www.EndWellAdvisors.com</a>. In addition, she is an adjunct professor in death studies and chaplaincy at Marian University, the Graduate Theological Union and United Theological Seminary. Terri is also the founder of <a fr-original-style="" href="http://www.deathgriefandbelief.com/" style="text-decoration-color: currentcolor; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">The Conference on Death, Grief and Belief</a>,&nbsp; and the <a fr-original-style="" href="http://www.askdoctordeath.com/" style="text-decoration-color: currentcolor; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">Ask Doctor Death</a>&nbsp;podcast. Jordan Amali is a death doula with a master&rsquo;s degree in public health. She is co-founder of the Portland Peaceful Pathways Cooperative, and also serves as an end-of-life community organizer and a hospice volunteer coordinator. Her work is inspired by the fact that death is the only shared experience we are all absolutely guaranteed, yet our American social ecosystems fail to support this inevitable part of life. Acknowledging death, planning for death, and embracing life in the face of death is truly revolutionary work that can change how we engage in every aspect of living. About The Lantern:The Lantern is a new nonprofit organization born from the belief that no one should have to grieve alone. We are on a mission to embrace and illuminate the full human experience by holding supportive space for life&#39;s joys and sorrows, nourishing deep connections, expanding access to grief and healing, advancing grief literacy across sectors, and reawakening our capacity to grieve and love. You can find us here: <a fr-original-style="" href="http://www.thelanternpdx.org" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration-color: currentcolor; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">www.thelanternpdx.org</a>

Deathbed Dress Rehearsal

About The EventBefriending mortality can be seen as a spiritual quest, a psychological assignment, a philosophical riddle, or a culture-making undertaking. In this two-day workshop we approach the fact of our deaths as a subject for learning. Dedicated to democratizing information and rebuilding our collective knowledge around how we care for our dying and our dead, facilitator Holly J. Pruett weaves together big questions, stories, poetry, and nitty gritty details. &nbsp; Based on the popular six-session online Befriending Mortality series, this is the first time the experience is being offered in person, exclusively through The Lantern.&nbsp; SessionsOctober 2nd, 6-8:30pm&nbsp;October 3rd, 9am-3pm Lunch and curated resource materials are included.&nbsp; CostEarly Bird: $195 - $375 sliding scaleGeneral Admission: $215 - $395 sliding scale From Befriending Mortality Participants&ldquo;I appreciate Holly&#39;s ability to welcome people with all kinds of experiences and interests into this space. I had hesitated about signing up &ndash; I don&#39;t have a terminal diagnosis or experience with supporting someone during their dying time, and I questioned whether I belonged here. Holly made space for all of us, with kindness, humor, grace, and gentle practicality.&quot; &ldquo;I am going to start a conversation among my immediate family so that we can share our thoughts and wishes and make it normal to talk about death.&rdquo; AgendaThe opening Befriending Mortality session on Friday evening asks &ndash; What happens when we approach death as a teacher? Might we learn better how to care for the dying in our midst, to live in the presence of our mortality, to relate to our dead as something other than &ldquo;lost,&rdquo; and to die when it is our turn? Might grief be developed as a skill, not just suffered as an emotion? Could the skill of heartbrokenness be essential to the times we are in? The Saturday Intensive walks us through a continuum of care and considerations from The Dying Time to Final Disposition and what happens between Death and Disposition. We&rsquo;ll explore a full range of Ceremonies of Remembrance and Bereavement and how all of this might come together in a Death Plan. &nbsp; Topics include: The Dying Time &ndash; How do we support the dying in our midst? What supports might we want for our dying time? We&rsquo;ll look at the landscape from diagnosis to death: palliative care and hospice; medical aid in dying (MAID), voluntary stopping eating and drinking (VSED), and other forms of &ldquo;choice in dying&rdquo;; assembling a care team and the role of an end-of-life doula; and the deaths that don&rsquo;t go &ldquo;according to plan.&rdquo; Final Disposition&nbsp;&ndash; What will happen to your body when you die? What guides this decision? We will pull back the curtain on the full range of options including how to detect green washing when it comes to technologies and products marketed as eco-friendly, including natural organic reduction (also known as human composting, terramation, and soil transformation) and alkaline hydrolysis (aquamation, or water or flameless cremation). From Death to Disposition&nbsp; &ndash; Historically, care for the dead was handled by family and community &ndash; and legally, it is still our right to do so. But for many, our ancestral ways of caring for each other after death have been forgotten. We&rsquo;ll review the aspects of deathcare now outsourced to professionals &ndash; bathing, dressing, and transporting the body; sourcing a casket, shroud or urn; handling the paperwork &ndash; and consider the benefits of more hands-on engagement. Remembering Together &ndash; How do we honor, and strengthen, the continuity of relationships across the veil of life and death? We&rsquo;ll consider inspiring examples of creative ceremonies of bereavement and remembrance, including meaningful funerals, living memorials, and &ldquo;re-dos&rdquo; of ceremonies that went wrong or never happened. Creating a Death Plan &ndash; Birth plans have been promoted as a way for expectant parents and their care team to clarify and communicate their values, needs, and preferences for both optimal and unforeseen scenarios. A written death plan can do the same. We&rsquo;ll review all the elements you may want to consider: physical/ medical, legal/ logistical, emotional/ spiritual, and social/ cultural along the time spectrum of before illness, during the dying time, and after death. Who this is for &nbsp; - You&rsquo;re healthy, ill, or living with a terminal diagnosis, a solo ager &ndash; or any age, coupled, widowed or divorced &ndash; wanting to befriend your mortality&nbsp; - You need to complete a few tasks around befriending your mortality, and could use support&nbsp; - You don&rsquo;t have others to talk with about your mortality &ndash; or you do, but want some structure About Your FacilitatorAn experienced and knowledgeable life passage guide, Holly J. Pruett helps individuals, families, and communities to prepare for, live with, and talk about death. Holly is professionally trained as a Life-Cycle Celebrant, Community Death Educator, Home Funeral Guide, and Death Doula; with two Proficiency Badges from the National End-of-Life Doula Alliance, and certification in Thanatology from the Association for Death Education &amp; Counseling. You can find Holly here: <a fr-original-style="" href="https://www.hollyjpruett.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration-color: currentcolor; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">https://www.hollyjpruett.com</a> About The LanternThe Lantern is a new nonprofit organization born from the belief that no one should have to grieve alone. We are on a mission to embrace and illuminate the full human experience by holding supportive space for life&#39;s joys and sorrows, nourishing deep connections, expanding access to grief and healing, advancing grief literacy across sectors, and reawakening our capacity to grieve and love. You can find us here: <a fr-original-style="" href="http://www.thelanternpdx.org" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration-color: currentcolor; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">www.thelanternpdx.org</a>

Befriending Mortality (In person)

Event Description:Explore how your family stories, culture, and traditions have had a significant impact in shaping who you are today and what you believe is valuable to pass on to the next generation. How has your cultural inheritance shaped your life, your values, and your sense of personal identity?&nbsp; During this workshop, you will have the chance to engage in a guided life writing process delving into themes of resilience and renewal in the context of your personal healing journey. We will draw on pearls of wisdom that have been passed on from generation to generation as we craft our narratives. The workshop will focus on the power of memories, the healing benefits of the personal history process, and how you can turn a collection of your stories into an illustrated family heirloom book. No previous writing experience necessary, all are welcome. Admission:Sliding Scale: $70-$90 About the Facilitator:Lisa Kagan is a personal historian, writer, artist, creative facilitator, and celebrant. Her business, <a fr-original-style="" href="https://familyheirloomarts.com/" id="isPasted" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration-color: currentcolor; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">Family Heirloom Arts</a>, is dedicated to helping individuals and families celebrate their life stories and significant life milestones through conducting oral history interviews and creating illustrated heirloom books. She is a co-founder of Touchstone Retreats, facilitating art and writing programs throughout the Portland area. Through her work as a celebrant, Lisa runs Full Circle Ceremonies, supporting people to create custom ceremonies honoring celebrations, transitions, and healing. Lisa believes in the transformative nature of the creative process to renew, empower, challenge, inform, and awaken the human spirit. Lisa received her BA from Wesleyan University in Connecticut with a focus on writing and fine art. She has completed intensive studies in the arts at Skidmore College, the University of New Mexico, Sitka Center for Art and Ecology, Haystack Mountain School of Crafts, and the Maine Photographic Workshops. Lisa has completed extensive training through the Celebrant Academy and the Ceremony and Rites of Passage Global Training certification program. Lisa has published two books of original art and poetry, Coming Home to Myself (2021) and Emergence (2009). About The Lantern:The Lantern is a new nonprofit organization born from the belief that no one should have to grieve alone. We are on a mission to embrace and illuminate the full human experience by holding supportive space for life&#39;s joys and sorrows, nourishing deep connections, expanding access to grief and healing, advancing grief literacy across sectors, and reawakening our capacity to grieve and love. You can find us here: <a fr-original-style="" href="http://www.thelanternpdx.org" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration-color: currentcolor; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">www.thelanternpdx.org</a>

Exploring the Healing Power of Family Stories

The Lantern Presents:&#39;Befriending Mortality&#39; 6-Week On-Line Course With Holly J Pruett About The SeriesBefriending mortality can be seen as a spiritual quest, a psychological assignment, a philosophical riddle, or a culture-making undertaking. In this six-part series we approach the fact of our deaths as a subject for learning. Dedicated to democratizing information and rebuilding our collective knowledge around how we care for our dying and our dead, each session engages poetry, stories, big questions, and nitty gritty details.&nbsp; SessionsSix 90-minute online sessions from 5-6:30pm PT, alternating Mondays on:&nbsp; - Sept 14&nbsp; - Sept 28&nbsp; - Oct 12&nbsp; - Oct 26&nbsp; - Nov 9&nbsp; - Nov 23Session recordings and extensive resource materials are included.&nbsp; CostEarly Bird: $175 - $350 sliding scaleGeneral Admission: $195 - $375 sliding scale From Befriending Mortality Participants&ldquo;Holly is wonderfully organized, knowledgeable, and compassionate. &nbsp;She puts together a treasure trove of information in a highly accessible manner. &nbsp;Her personal brilliance, openness and expertise shines through.&rdquo; &ldquo;Great workshop. Holly is a case study on how to offer presence, clarity, and depth in an on-line context. She does a wonderful job acknowledging everyone.&rdquo; Course Content/Sessions: Week 1: Befriending Mortality &ndash; What happens when we approach death as a teacher? Might we learn better how to care for the dying in our midst, to live in the presence of our mortality, to relate to our dead as something other than &ldquo;lost,&rdquo; and to die when it is our turn? Might grief be developed as a skill, not just suffered as an emotion? Could the skill of heartbrokenness be essential to the times we are in? Week 2: Final Disposition &ndash; What will happen to your body when you die? What guides this decision? We will pull back the curtain on the full range of options including how to detect green washing when it comes to technologies and products marketed as eco-friendly, including natural organic reduction (also known as human composting, terramation, and soil transformation) and alkaline hydrolysis (aquamation, or water or flameless cremation). Week 3:&nbsp;The Dying Time &ndash; How do we support the dying in our midst? What supports might we want for our dying time? We&rsquo;ll look at the landscape from diagnosis to death: palliative care and hospice; medical aid in dying (MAID), voluntary stopping eating and drinking (VSED), and other forms of &ldquo;choice in dying&rdquo;; assembling a care team and the role of an end-of-life doula; and the deaths that don&rsquo;t go &ldquo;according to plan.&rdquo; Week 4: From Death to Disposition &nbsp;&ndash; Historically, care for the dead was handled by family and community &ndash; and legally, it is still our right to do so. But for many, our ancestral ways of caring for each other after death have been forgotten. We&rsquo;ll review the aspects of deathcare now outsourced to professionals &ndash; bathing, dressing, and transporting the body; sourcing a casket, shroud or urn; handling the paperwork &ndash; and consider the benefits of more hands-on engagement. Week 5: Remembering Together &ndash; How do we honor, and strengthen, the continuity of relationships across the veil of life and death? We&rsquo;ll consider inspiring examples of creative ceremonies of bereavement and remembrance, including meaningful funerals, living memorials, and &ldquo;re-dos&rdquo; of ceremonies that went wrong or never happened. Week 6:&nbsp;Creating a Death Plan &ndash; Birth plans have been promoted as a way for expectant parents and their care team to clarify and communicate their values, needs, and preferences for both optimal and unforeseen scenarios. A written death plan can do the same. We&rsquo;ll review all the elements you may want to consider: physical/ medical, legal/ logistical, emotional/ spiritual, and social/ cultural along the time spectrum of before illness, during the dying time, and after death. About Your FacilitatorAn experienced and knowledgeable life passage guide, Holly J. Pruett helps individuals, families, and communities to prepare for, live with, and talk about death. Holly is professionally trained as a Life-Cycle Celebrant, Community Death Educator, Home Funeral Guide, and Death Doula; with two Proficiency Badges from the National End-of-Life Doula Alliance, and certification in Thanatology from the Association for Death Education &amp; Counseling. You can find Holly here: <a fr-original-style="" href="https://www.hollyjpruett.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration-color: currentcolor; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">https://www.hollyjpruett.com</a> About The LanternThe Lantern is a new nonprofit organization born from the belief that no one should have to grieve alone. We are on a mission to embrace and illuminate the full human experience by holding supportive space for life&#39;s joys and sorrows, nourishing deep connections, expanding access to grief and healing, advancing grief literacy across sectors, and reawakening our capacity to grieve and love. You can find us here: <a fr-original-style="" href="http://www.thelanternpdx.org" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration-color: currentcolor; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">www.thelanternpdx.org</a>

Befriending Mortality (Virtual)

Event Description:For more than 30 years, Julia Cameron&#39;s The Artist&#39;s Way has helped millions of people reconnect with their creativity, inner voice, and sense of possibility. While it&#39;s often associated with artists, the course is really for anyone who wants to live more intentionally and creatively. Rather than working through the book alone, you&#39;ll experience it alongside a small group over 12 weeks. Together, we&#39;ll build momentum, reflect on each week&#39;s chapter, share insights and challenges, and support one another in staying engaged with the process. Each Tuesday evening includes guided reflection, thoughtful conversation, coaching prompts, and simple grounding practices. Between meetings, you&#39;ll read one chapter each week, write daily Morning Pages, and take yourself on a weekly Artist Date. Whether you&#39;re navigating a life transition, feeling creatively stuck, craving deeper self-connection, or simply wanting to spend the winter investing in yourself, this cohort offers a welcoming space to slow down, reflect, and grow in community. Registration includes all 12 weekly gatherings. Space is intentionally limited to create an intimate, supportive experience. There is no gathering on March 23. Curious whether this cohort is right for you? Learn more about the program, weekly commitment, Morning Pages, Artist Dates, and FAQs at <a fr-original-style="" href="http://jenottovegio.com/artistsway" style="text-decoration-color: currentcolor; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">jenottovegio.com/artistsway</a> About The Facilitator:Jen Ottovegio is a coach, meditation teacher, entrepreneur, artist, and dancer based in Portland, Oregon. Her work helps people slow down, reconnect with themselves, and build the courage to live more intentionally. She believes many of life&#39;s most meaningful changes begin by making space to listen to yourself, which is why she loves facilitating The Artist&#39;s Way. Through self-reflection, accountability, and community, participants reconnect with what matters and discover the courage to follow what lights them up. About The Lantern:The Lantern is a new nonprofit organization born from the belief that no one should have to grieve alone. We are on a mission to embrace and illuminate the full human experience by holding supportive space for life&#39;s joys and sorrows, nourishing deep connections, expanding access to grief and healing, advancing grief literacy across sectors, and reawakening our capacity to grieve and love. You can find us here: <a fr-original-style="" href="http://www.thelanternpdx.org" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration-color: currentcolor; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">www.thelanternpdx.org</a>

The Lantern

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You Are Not Alone with Chris Williams

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Movement to Stillness Meditation

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Weekly Community Qigong

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Monthly Men's Group

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Grief Craft

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Improv Workshop: with Chris Williams & Kristen Schier

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Breathwork Metamorphosis: Exploring the Five Gates of Grief

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Grief and the Art of Living

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Grief Jars

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Soul Tarot for Companioning

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Grieving Beloved Animal Companions

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Memoir Writing Workshop

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Honoring Animal Companions: Creating Memorial Altars

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The Body Knows: A Guided Movement Practice

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Beautiful Monsters: A Sculptural Exploration of Our Light and Darkness

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The Cheryl Hauser Effect: Story and Conversation about VSED

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Deathbed Dress Rehearsal

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Befriending Mortality (In person)

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Exploring the Healing Power of Family Stories

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Befriending Mortality (Virtual)

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The Artist's Way: Winter 2027 Cohort

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