232: Stephen Jenkinson - What is the role of ritual in love and life?

About this episode

Stephen Jenkinson discusses the role of ritual in love and life, exploring themes of matrimony, grief, and tradition.

Stephen Jenkinson is a Canadian writer, teacher, and grief-whisperer. He holds master's degrees from Harvard (theology) and the University of Toronto (social work), spent years directing palliative care at Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto, and has worked intimately with dying people and their families. He's the founder of the Orphan Wisdom School and the author of seven books, including the award-winning Die Wise and Come of Age: The Case for Elderhood in a Time of Trouble . He's also the subject of the documentary film Griefwalker . His work asks hard questions about what it means to live well, and he doesn't let any of us off easy. Keywords: love, matrimony, ritual, culture, grief, wisdom, transformation, relationships, tradition, initiation Key Topics The meaning of matrimony as a cultural and generational act The relationship between grief, gratitude, and love The importance of tradition and formality in modern relationships The concept of matrimony as mothering and culture-building The Deep Wisdom of Matrimony and Culture Embracing Limitations: The Heart of Love and Ritual Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Stephen Jenkinson 05:21 The Journey to the Orphan Wisdom School 07:47…

People in this episode

Host: Dr. Jeremy Goldberg

Guest: Stephen Jenkinson

Topics covered

• the meaning of matrimony
• grief and love
• importance of tradition
• matrimony as culture-building
• wisdom in relationships
• ritual in modern life

Keywords

• love
• matrimony
• ritual
• culture
• grief
• wisdom
• transformation
• relationships
• tradition
• initiation

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Orphan Wisdom School, Harvard, University of Toronto

Books & works: Die Wise, Come of Age: The Case for Elderhood in a Time of Trouble, Griefwalker

Places: Canada, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto

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