Songs of the Ancestors
In every culture, across every generation, humans have turned to song in times of joy, struggle, and sorrow. We sing to cradle the living and to carry the dead. We sing to feel less alone. We sing because the voice is one of the oldest instruments of the soul.
At Salt Trails Collective, we believe in the sacred power of sound to hold grief. Through our Singing Our Grief gatherings, we return to this ancient medicine—using shared voice and song to soften what feels heavy, to connect across difference, and to remember that we were never meant to carry sorrow alone.
Why We Sing
Grief lives in the body. It trembles in our throats, curls in our bellies, presses on our hearts. When we sing together, something shifts. The vibration of sound moves emotion through our tissues. Our voices, imperfect and honest, resonate in the space between us, creating a field of connection and care. We don’t need to be “good” singers—just present ones. The voice, after all, is not a performance—it is an offering.
Singing Our Grief is rooted in this belief: that the simple act of singing in community can transform our relationship to sorrow. It is a practice of sacred expression, not spectacle. It is where the personal becomes collective. Where grief is not explained but experienced—and met with compassion.
What to Expect at Singing Our Grief
Each gathering unfolds gently, shaped by those who attend and the moment we’re in. There is no “right” way to show up—just your presence is enough. A rough shape might look like this:
Arrival: Enter the space, settle in. Say hello if you want, or stay quiet if you need to.
Opening Ritual: We ground ourselves together in breath, presence, and intention.
Shared Singing: We sing simple, resonant songs together—often taught call-and-response style, easy to learn, heart-deep.
Grief Sharing: A chance to name aloud what you carry. No pressure to speak—your silence is sacred, too.
More Singing: We may return to song to hold what has been shared, to offer care in sound.
Closing: A sweet goodbye and a reminder: you are not alone in your grief.
This is not a performance or a polished production. It’s a living ritual. Every time we gather, the shape changes. We are creative, responsive humans, and we trust the process. We ask that you trust us, too, to walk beside you through the evening.
Ancestral Music and Sacred Expression
Our songs are often rooted in ancestral music and oral tradition—from lullabies to chants to grief songs handed down across generations. In lifting our voices together, we don’t just sing for ourselves—we sing with and for those who came before, and those who will come after. This is intergenerational healing in action.
Whether you are deep in loss or simply tender, whether you feel loud or silent inside, you are welcome here. Come sing with us. Come be held in sound.
