Episode 94: Bringing The Light Into The Story of Dying with Tynan Grierson

Overview: In this episode, we welcome Tynan Grierson, the founder of The Story Ark. Tynan shares his journey from launching a service to record the stories of loved ones and finding himself becoming a grief counselor, guide, coach, and confidant. He discusses the powerful role storytelling plays in how we process and understand death, and how Western culture’s discomfort with death affects us all. Tynan’s personal experience of nursing his father through his final days deeply informs this conversation.

Key Discussion Points:

• The Story Ark: Tynan launched The Story Ark just before the pandemic to capture the voices and stories of loved ones. His work evolved into guiding others through grief, helping them embrace their stories as part of their legacy.
• Western Culture and Death: The group explores how Western society tends to distance itself from death and aging, often placing elders in homes to avoid the reality of mortality.
• Emotional Capacity: Sydney highlights the struggle some people have with holding space for others during grief, leading to a sealing off of emotions and, ultimately, despair.
• Personal Stories of Loss: Tynan shares his experience of caring for his father through his illness and death, and the expectations placed on him to manage others’ emotions during this time.
• Cultural Perspectives on Death: They discuss how cultures like India’s have communal rituals that prepare people for death, contrasting with Western society’s lack of preparation.
• Melissa’s Experience: Melissa recounts the shock of discovering her mother and brother after they had died, and the impact of being unprepared for such events.
• Kundalini Yoga and Death: Sydney shares her experiences with Kundalini Yoga’s practices of “dying consciously” and rebirthing, which helped her develop a nurturing relationship with death.
• Grief and Storytelling: Tynan offers insights on moving through grief, emphasizing that it’s okay to let the process unfold naturally. He encourages everyone to share their stories, as every life holds wisdom and value.

Call to Action: To learn more about The Story Ark and how you can preserve the stories of your loved ones, visit www.thestoryark.ca.