We are living through a time in which the fissures in our systems are widening to a degree that total collapse is inevitable. At the same time, we catch glimpses of what is being born, of re-imagined ways of being.  As we embody this “both/and” space, honing our skills in embracing complexity is critical.  How can we begin to take steps towards acting as we wish the world to be while we exist in systems that do not support such change? How do we practice reimagination while it may be necessary to participate in dominant structures to support our livelihood? 

I believe that one powerful action we can take is becoming death and grief literate! Our society’s grief and death illiteracy crisis seeps into our structures and systems. It flows through our processes and plans–even within organizations and movements oriented toward structural and systemic change. This illiteracy can be seen through organizational patterns as:

• Difficulty naming and talking about grief, loss, and death

• Ignoring or denying complex topics or conversations

• Unhealthily centring urgency and productivity at the expense of well-being and open discussion

• Lack of transparency

• Lack of care systems and structures to support wellbeing 

• No emphasis on how our wellbeing is interconnected

• No acknowledgement of how our systems impact our bodies