My campaign to get the Kyogle Road repaired is what is called a “survivor mission”.

I survived.

Like the mythical phoenix, I am a phoenix griever, rising from the ashes of my grief.

And I’m on a mission to see that something good comes of the tragedy of Karl’s 2016 death (and the deaths of Matilda and Cecilia Bevelander in early 2015).

One way to look at this work is to say it’s spiritual work. I am working from my spirit  — or my soul.

And I am healing myself and others in the process.

Some survivors and authors such as Joanne Jozefowski, describe this work as “spiritual alchemy.”(1)

Our activism transforms something harmful into something beneficial. At least the following seven avenues can open to us:

                                                     Alchemy

At least the following seven avenues can open to us:

1. Contribution: doing something or giving something to those in need;
2. Connection: resisting isolation, participating in humanitarian events, and being part of the community at large;
3. Communication: listening to others’ pain and fear and communicating positive themes and messages of hope;
4. Caring: being aware of who needs help and doing what we can;
5. Compassion: understanding, tolerating, and accepting others’ differences;
6. Ceremony: creating and participating in rituals, memorials, religious, and other services that honour the lives and deaths of our loved ones; and
7. Commitment: pledging and demonstrating our commitment to peace and camaraderie. (2)

Notes:

(1) Jozefowski, “Rising from the Ashes of Grief.

(2) Adapted from Jozefowski, J., n.d., “Rising from the Ashes of Grief.” See also: http://www.survivorguidelines.org/articles/jozef01.html