Requiem is a ritualized grief project, a communal ceremony and memorial to honor those that have died from COVID-19 as well as to celebrate their lives. This project, with a worldwide scope, gives us the necessary opportunity to grieve together while offering our support to these souls as they pass from one state of being into the next. This project consists of 108 necklaces of carved and ebonized wood that mass together to create a prayer mala or necklace and a collection of circle drawings in gold ink – one circle for each person passed. The names of those that passed from COVID are written on the circles. The golden circles act as a place holder until names are learned.
Requiem
2021
The staggering number of people who have died due to COVID 19 since early 2020 is truly difficult to comprehend. How do we understand more than 4 million? This figure is most likely inaccurate and much higher. Numbers tell us how many, but they do not convey who. Those that passed are our grandparents, parents, sisters and brothers, partners, children. They’re our friends, lovers and neighbors, celebrities, musicians, artists, poets, leaders and our spiritual guides. Because of the necessary restrictions, many of these people have died alone. We haven’t been able to gather and grieve in traditional and meaningful ways, adding layers of despair.
Requiem provides an opportunity for us to come together, after almost two years of necessary separation, to acknowledge and reflect on each individual that has passed. This is necessary and beneficial to heal the collective trauma as we move forward. One does not need to experience a death in the family circle to be effected by all the deaths caused by the pandemic. Coming together we pause, grieve, tell stories while reflecting on the beautiful fragility of life.
Many spiritual traditions utilize prayer beads or a mala with 108 beads for devotional prayer, mantra and meditation. 108 is a significant number and has multiple meanings depending on the spiritual practice including the wholeness of existence and the basis of all creation. Tibetan Buddhists call the state of existence between life and rebirth, the bardo. After a person dies, their soul travels through this bardo meeting all manner of beneficial and terrifying apparitions. Buddhists believe prayers and well wishes from those on Earth can help support those traveling through the bardo, easing their transition and encouraging an auspicious reincarnation.
The Requiem Prayer Mala is 96 necklaces based on combinations of the circle and the square and 12 clear quartz ovoid necklaces for a total of 108 necklaces. The circle and the square are elemental geometry and sacred architecture woven into the fabric of all creation creating harmony within and amplifying our spirits. The circle represents the divine life force and is a symbol of vitality, wholeness, and perfection. The square is the symbol of physical matter and stability. Clear quartz is believed to have the highest vibration of all the stones able to offset any negative energy and is often referred to as the “master healer.” The quartz ovoids represent fertility, rebirth, even immortality and symbolize the complete circle of life and death, of sacred potential and time. When all together, the 108 necklaces create a complete prayer mala carrying our prayers, well wishes and love to all those that have passed.
A golden circle, a symbol of eternity and rebirth, is drawn for each individual who has passed. The illuminating qualities of gold remind us that we all glitter brightly and can offer light beyond our physical lifespan. The names of those that have passed are then written on the golden circles. This is a compassionate, simple and profound act that honors each person’s individual existence. Understanding the challenge of learning all 4 million plus names, many circles remain without names while symbolically representing the individual. When exhibited, viewers can directly write names of their person or people who have passed on the circle(s). Collaboratively and over time, we complete the project together.
Please help complete the memorial by sharing names of your loved ones. Send them to Tina at [email protected]. If you would like to volunteer to help gather names, especially if you live outside of the United States, please get in touch with Tina at the above email.
One golden circle for each person who passed from COVID-19
The highly moving Compassion Drawing events invites everyone to participate in the ceremonial aspect of the project. Coming together in this way offers the opportunity to process the incredible losses and challenges of the pandemic. Drawing golden circles is quiet and meditative and each person’s circles are highly individual, like a fingerprint. Multiple people work on the 50 x 72″ drawings creating a rich tapestry of circles expressing the collective nature of REQUIEM. Together we draw, mark, memorialize and honor those that died from Covid 19. We hope you can join us at one of the upcoming Compassion Drawing events. If you would like to host a drawing event in your city or town, please get in touch with Tina at [email protected].
Compassion Drawing Events
January 9, 2022 Westminster Presbyterian, Tiburon, CA
November 15, 2021 92nd Street Y, New York City, NY
September 28, 2021 St. Mary’s College, Moraga, CA
September 3 – 5, 2021 Ratna Ling Retreat Center, Cazadero, CA
August 5, 2021 Grace Cathedral, San Francisco CA
June 24, 2021 RagaYoga Studio, Walnut Creek, CA
A project of this importance and size is a costly endeavor. Please donate in support Requiem. All donations go to materials, costs associated with the Compassion Drawing events, documentation and exhibitions. If you would like to become an official sponsor of Requiem, please contact Tina at [email protected]. By financially supporting Requiem, you become part of the project and help make it’s completion possible.
Requiem Is Sponsored By