Remembering as Medicine: Alchemizing Grief
Grief has many forms — a person, a dream, a relationship, a chapter of life.
Some losses live quietly inside us; others pull at us daily. All deserve space, dignity, and gentle tending.
Remembering as Medicine is the first gathering in a new series of monthly, trauma-informed support circles designed for those who carry loss in their hearts. This inaugural event opens the doorway into an ongoing group process that blends therapeutic supprt, arts-based exploration, body-mind practices, and community witnessing. Together, we will create a space where grief can soften, move, and transform — without rushing, fixing, or forcing.
This evening offers a structured, supportive arc: moments of quiet personal reflection, shared stories, creativity, movement, sound, and communal grounding. You are invited exactly as you are.
What to Expect
6:30–7:00 PM — Arrival & Settling
A gentle landing with tea, grounding, and choosing your place in the circle.
7:00 PM — Opening
Introductions, naming intentions, and a land acknowledgement to root us in presence.
7:10 PM — Body-Based Mindfulness
A guided practice to support nervous-system regulation and embodied awareness.
7:15 PM — Circle of Introductions
Participants are invited to share their name, the “object of grief” they carry, and what they hope to receive from this gathering.
8:00 PM — Short Film / Reflection
A brief, evocative film that invites contemplation and resonance.
8:10 PM — Expressive Movement
Gentle, expressive dance beginning with shaking to release tension and move emotion through the body.
8:35 PM — Sound Bath
A multi-instrumental sound journey to support inner spaciousness, grounding, and emotional processing.
9:15 PM — Guided Practice: Speaking to Your Grief
Writing a letter to the object of grief — a space to give voice to what lives inside.
9:30 PM — Guided Practice: Listening to Your Grief
Writing a letter from the object of grief back to you — cultivating compassion, understanding, and connection.
9:45 PM — Closing Circle
A brief mindfulness practice and closing circle
Who This Is For
Anyone carrying loss, recent or long-ago
Those seeking community after isolation in grief
Individuals drawn to mindfulness, expressive arts, somatic practice, and sound
People yearning for a compassionate, non-clinical, trauma-informed space to be witnessed and supported
No previous experience in meditation, movement, or creative expression is required.
We want this gathering to be accessible. If finances are a barrier, please use the flexible pricing option or contact us - we will ensure you can attend. At the same time, we deeply appreciate the support of those are able to contribute. Events like this require significant time, care, and resources to create, and your support directly helps us continue offering such community-centered spaces for healing.
Herbal tea will be served.
Pens and paper will be available, but you're welcome to bring your own journal and pen for the writing portion of the evening.
Looking Ahead: Monthly Support Circles
This event is the first doorway into a recurring monthly grief support group held at Pluto.
Each session will weave together trauma-informed psychotherapy, expressive arts, narrative practices, somatic grounding, and mindful presence — building an ongoing, gentle pathway for transformation and integration.
About the Facilitators
Masha Andreeva, RP (Qualifying), DTATI
Masha is a Toronto-based Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying) and Art Therapist whose work is rooted in authenticity, creativity, and compassionate presence. She supports individuals and groups navigating grief, transition, and emotional complexity, offering trauma-informed spaces where growth, connection, and genuine expression can unfold.
Her facilitation style is gentle and grounded, guided by the values of community, love, and perseverance. Through expressive arts, somatic awareness, and mindful exploration, Masha helps participants reconnect with their inner strength and the wisdom carried within their stories.
Isra Ahmed
Isra is a multicultural storyteller, community builder, and world traveler whose path has been deeply shaped by the search for meaning beyond loss. Over the past three years, Isra has lived in multiple cities/countries and has found herself spending the most time in Toronto - the last place her late mother visited before her passing.
Through her own journey with grief, Isra has come to believe that our ability to love our lost ones does not end; it transforms. She is passionate about creating spaces where memories can be honored, and where continued bonds with those who have passed are nurtured with intention and creativity.
Her approach centers around curiosity, shared experience, and the quiet magic of storytelling — helping individuals find their own unique ways of staying connected to the ones they miss, while holding compassion for every chapter of healing.