Grief Magic: Rituals, Tarot & Gentle Conversations about Loss

In this episode, I’m in conversation with trauma-informed somatic practitioner and educator Darshana Avila about the relationship between grief, pleasure, and aliveness.
We explore how pain and joy are not opposites, but part of the same spectrum of being human. Darshana shares how her work has evolved from sacred sexuality and body-based healing into a broader exploration of what she calls “erotic wholeness” — not limited to sex, but rooted in life force, creativity, grief, connection and presence.
We talk about:
How grief and pleasure can coexist

The idea of eros as aliveness rather than performance

The role of community and ritual in grief

Moving beyond binary ideas of “good” and “bad” emotions

Trauma-informed ways of relating to ourselves

Darshana Avila is a trauma-informed somatic educator, practitioner and international speaker who helps people reconnect with the most essential aspects of themselves — their truth, their desires, and their capacity for profound pleasure and power. 
Known for her grounded, candid, and relational approach, she bridges the worlds of erotic embodiment, trauma healing and self actualization.
Darshana’s work has been featured on Netflix’s Sex, Love & goop, The Guardian, The New Yorker, and numerous leading podcasts.
darshanaavila.com 
instagram.com/darshana_avila
youtube.com/@darshana-avila
linkedin.com/in/darshana-avila
You can join monthly Spark sessions with Yarrow over here: https://griefmagic.com/free-monthly-spark-sessions/
Thank you for listening!
Love,
Yarrow

In this gentle solo episode, I’m sharing some thoughts about how I’ve slowly shaped my home into a place that feels like a cocoon, somewhere to truly rest.
I talk about why cocooning begins with decluttering rather than buying more, how choosing a simple colour landscape (for me, green and pink) creates visual calm, and why I love filling my space with natural textures like cotton, linen, and velvet (often second hand).
We explore how light moves through a home, how to create different zones for work and rest, the magic of soft lighting, scent, and a few small rituals that help a space feel protected and intentional.
This is not an episode about perfect interiors, i’s about tending to the space that tends to you.
Here is the sign up for the decluttering fundraiser I mentioned: https://griefmagic.com/spring-cocoon/https://griefmagic.com/spring-cocoon/

Thanks for listening!
Love,
Yarrow

In this short solo episode, I’m inviting you to join a soft, companionable decluttering workshop we’ll be doing together on March 8th from 4–6pm (UK time).
Making space can be emotional as much as practical and doing it alone can feel overwhelming, so this workshop is a gentle spring reset.
We’ll begin with a short pep talk and a simple, kind approach to decluttering, then spend time quietly clearing our spaces side by side. We’ll check in together and continue for a second session.
The workshop is also a fundraiser to support a dear friend’s family in Sudan who urgently need help right now.
You can sign up here: https://griefmagic.com/spring-cocoon/
Love,
Yarrow

In this Ask Me Anything episode, I’m answering some personal questions about my life, my history, and what feels meaningful to me right now.

I talk about what I was like at school, my relationship with work, gratitude, grief, and the quieter rhythms that support me.

If this episode sparks questions of your own, you’re very welcome to send them in for future Ask Me Anything episodes: https://speakpipe.com/yarrowm

You can join the Monday sessions here: https://griefmagic.com/blessings/ and sign up for the grief glimmers course here: https://griefmagic.com/courses/

Sending love,
Yarrow

In this episode of Grief Magic, I explore scent as a gentle companion during slow, tender, or inward seasons of life. We talk about how smell can support emotional regulation, memory, and meaning making, and how working with scent can become a quiet ritual rather than another thing to get right.
I share a simple introduction to aromatherapy, including what it is and what it is not, and how to approach essential oils in ways that feel intuitive, sustainable, and accessible. We look at how scent can act as an anchor through grief, burnout, recovery, and periods of change, offering continuity and comfort without requiring words.
If you like, you can join our Monday sessions here: https://griefmagic.com/blessings/
and you can join my newsletter over here: https://griefmagic.com/
Thank you for listening!
Love,
Yarrow