CIIS Public Programs Francis Weller: On Caring for Our Souls in Uncertain Times
Jan 15, 2026
In a thought-provoking conversation, psychotherapist Francis Weller delves into the complexities of grief, soul care, and the cultural disruptions caused by recent global changes. He argues that modern society experiences a profound 'soul loss' and emphasizes the need for communal grieving. Weller introduces the concept of 'alchemy of grief,' suggesting that shared sorrow can transform into healing. He also underscores the importance of rituals and friendship as essential practices for navigating our uncertain times.
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Absence Of The Ordinary
- The absence of the ordinary signals a call to a different octave of response and perception.
- Francis Weller says this era requires a soul response, not the old heroic individualism.
Collapse Of Individualist Myths
- Our culture's individualism and domination fantasies are cracking and no longer sustain life.
- Weller argues the time invites grief, ritual, and community as core responses.
Emptiness Behind Modern Sorrows
- Weller traces many modern sorrows to a collective emptiness in white society severed from land, ritual, and story.
- He links this emptiness to substitution by power, rank, and capitalism across cultures.
