Grief Magic: Rituals, Stories & Gentle Conversations about Loss

In this first “Read With Me” episode, I’m sharing reflections on I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman, a haunting, deeply philosophical dystopian novel that unexpectedly became one of the most meaningful books I’ve read recently.
I read this during the winter solstice season on the Isle of Lewis, and despite rarely reading dystopian fiction, I found myself profoundly moved by the novel’s exploration of uncertainty, loneliness, curiosity, resilience, and human connection.
In this episode, I explore:
reading as a nervous system experience
suspense and anxiety in fiction
existential literature in approachable ways
how imagining “the worst case scenario” can sometimes reduce fear
the resilience of ritual, companionship, and curiosity

Here is the link to the free Creative Grief Club, which includes monthly Zoom sessions and the book group on Fable: ⁠https://griefmagic.com/free/⁠
Thanks for listening!
Love,
Yarrow

In this episode, I’m speaking with Lasara Firefox Allen, writer, educator, menopause coach, and author of the beautiful book Genderqueer Menopause.
This conversation meant so much to me personally. Lasara’s work has genuinely helped me feel more hopeful, affirmed, and curious about aging, changing hormones, and living in a body that does not always fit dominant cultural narratives around gender or menopause.
Together we talk about:
gender expansive experiences of perimenopause and menopause
self advocacy in medical systems
grief and identity shifts in midlife
hormones beyond binary thinking
masking, neurodivergence, and authenticity
This episode contains discussion of:
chronic illness
suicidal ideation statistics during perimenopause
medical neglect
grief and loss
Lasara Firefox Allen, MSW (they/them/Mx.) is a certified Menopause Doula, gender-affirming Menopause Coach, and educator specializing in inclusive midlife care. As CEO and Founder of Genderqueer Futures and Founding Coach of The Genderqueer Menopause Coach, they train healthcare providers, therapists, doulas, coaches, and other menopause professionals through the Gender-Affirming Menopause Care Certification Course, and facilitate community programs for trans and gender-expansive individuals. Their trauma-informed, evidence-based approach bridges research, somatics, and lived experience to transform menopause care. Socials: Substack: @lasarafirefoxallen Instagram: @lasara_firefox_allen @genderqueer.menopause Facebook: /lasara.wakerobin.firefox.allen (personal) and /lasara.firefox.allen (professional) as well as /genderqueermenopause TikTok: @lasarafirefoxallen and @genderqueer.menopause

Here is the link to the free Creative Grief Club, which includes monthly Zoom sessions and the book group on Fable: ⁠⁠https://griefmagic.com/free/⁠⁠
Thanks for listening!
Love,
Yarrow

In this episode I'm sharing one of my favourite quiet practices: using tarot as a companion for journaling, especially through grief and times of transition.
This is not about reading the cards correctly or having the right tools. It's about giving yourself a gentle structure for self-reflection, a way to move past the blank page, and permission to make your inner life feel beautiful and worth documenting.
What I cover:
Why journaling with tarot doesn't have to be daily, elaborate, or precious and how simplicity is actually the whole point
How to create a dedicated writing space that makes showing up feel easy
Simple habits that make journaling richer: dating your pages, adding stickers and images, romanticizing the ordinary details of your life
How I use a single drawn card as a writing prompt, including a short body-based meditation for going deeper with the card's energy
Here is the link to the free Creative Grief Club, which includes monthly Zoom sessions and the book group on Fable: https://griefmagic.com/free/
Thanks for listening!
Love,
Yarrow

In this episode, I talk about how to approach the summer season with intention, especially if you're living with grief or chronic illness. Winter often gives us permission to slow down and rest. Summer asks something different of us. So how do we create a summer that feels nourishing rather than demanding? I explore practical rituals for seasonal transition, from organizing your home and wardrobe to curating your summer reading list. We also talk about calendar planning, protecting your energy, and checking in with the people you love about what you all need this season. This episode is an invitation to design a summer that honours your body and your capacity.
What we cover:
The practice of intentional seasonal transitions

Home rituals: organizing wardrobes, rotating seasonal items, stocking essentials

Curating your summer reading list and letting go of books that aren't serving you

Calendar planning as a form of self-care

Checking in with your community about summer hopes and needs

Permission to do summer differently

Here is the link to the free Creative Grief Club, which includes monthly Zoom sessions and the book group on Fable: https://griefmagic.com/free/
Thanks for listening!
Love,
Yarrow

In this episode I'm reflecting on my relationship with screens, rest, and the quiet ritual of reading. I open with an honest look at my own winter screen habits and what it felt like to step back from Netflix and return to books. From there I explore why reading matters so much right now, and why fiction, romance, and healing stories in particular are having such a significant cultural moment.
What I cover:
Why audiovisual media can be dysregulating for sensitive and neurodivergent people, and what reading offers as a gentler alternative

The beauty of reading spaces, pink bookshelves, and healing fiction as nourishment for the grieving body

Four reasons fiction is so powerful right now: narrative repair, imaginative justice, emotional rehearsal, and representation as regulation

Practical ideas for building a gentle, sustainable reading practice including the Fable app, Libby, and why one page always counts

Why romance is one of the fastest growing publishing genres globally and what that tells us about what we collectively need right now

Here is the link to the free Creative Grief Club, which includes monthly Zoom sessions and the book group on Fable: https://griefmagic.com/free/
Thanks for listening!
Love,
Yarrow