Poet Hanif Abdurraqib reflects on the ways grief has shaped his spirituality
Aug 2, 2023
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Poet Hanif Abdurraqib discusses how losing his mother and close friends shaped his spirituality. He explores the role of music in connecting with memories of loved ones and finding solace in daily life. Abdurraqib also shares his experiences dealing with depression and anxiety, highlighting the importance of spirituality in facing grief.
Grief can shape one's spirituality, offering a unique spiritual practice.
Music serves as a connection to lost loved ones, acting as small monuments.
Deep dives
Spiritual Identity and Loss
Hanif Abduraqib's spiritual identity is intricately linked to his experiences of loss. He believes in the presence of an afterlife due to the significant losses he has endured, but rejects rigid religious teachings on the subject. His spiritual relationship is primarily shaped by his understanding of grief and the questioning of the value of life.
The Role of Music in Grief
While music does not bring back loved ones or recreate their memories, it serves as small monuments for Hanif Abduraqib, reminding him of the people he has lost. Songs act as silent films, transporting him to moments with his mother and friends. Music does not solve grief, but it offers a connection and a way to channel the presence of those who are gone.
Navigating Grief and Finding Purpose
Hanif Abduraqib embraces grief as a part of himself and sees it as a journey rather than something to move past. He believes in being a generous steward to his grief, making a home for it within him. While grappling with depression and anxiety, curiosity becomes a driving force that propels him forward and helps him find meaning and purpose in staying alive.
In his new book, A Little Devil in America, poet Hanif Abdurraqib writes about music in such a way that NPR's Rachel Martin wanted to focus a conversation about spiritual transcendence related to it. What came out, however, was a deep discussion about how losing his mother and close friends early in life created its own kind of spiritual practice for Abdurraqib. In today's episode, he explains how "grief makes a home within us" and why that might actually be a good thing.