When grief theorist Shea Darian set out to replace the Five Stages of Grief created by Dr. Elizabeth Kubler-Ross in 1969, she knew she was taking on a challenge. It took Kubler-Ross fifteen years for the Five Stages to become a mainstay of grief theory in popular culture. Today, grief researchers generally agree that stages of grief do not exist.

“There’s a wide gap between what research shows and how most people imagine they can heal their grief-related suffering–whether the loss is caused by a death, broken relationship, or some other life-shifting loss,” Darian said.

At 9 a.m. Friday, March 22, Darian begins a series of presentations on grief and healing at Doing Grief Community Healing Project in Sun City. The presentations will be part of a new spring series–“Mourning Light Cafe,” a time for participants to connect, learn how to heal their grief-related pain, and share experiences with one another.

Darian studied grief and grieving for four years before creating and publishing a new theory of the grieving process–the Model of Adaptive Grieving Dynamics–in Sage Publications’ journal, “Illness, Crisis and Loss” (Vol. 22(3) 2014). Once the journal article was in print, Darian wrote a book for the general pubic, “Doing Grief in Real Life: A Soulful Guide to Navigate Loss, Death, and Change” (2022). In March of last year, she founded Doing Grief Community Healing Project in Sun City to serve the Northwest Valley by providing grief education, healing arts, and support programs.

“I want to provide grievers, caregivers, and professional healers with a local gathering place to build a sense of community, learn, and support one another,” Darian explained, “Grief is a topic that’s hard for people to talk about, but Kubler-Ross got us talking and thinking about grief decades ago. Now, it’s time to talk and think beyond the five stages she gave us.”

“Mourning Light Cafe” is hosted by Darian’s spouse, Dr. Andrew Darian, who is a lifelong educator. The series runs 9-10:30 a.m. Fridays, March 22, April 12 and 26, and May 10 and 24. Sessions will include light refreshments, a brief presentation by Shea Darian, and time for conversation and sharing among participants. Doing Grief Community Healing Project is located at The Church of the Palms, 14808 N. Boswell Blvd.

RSVP for “Mourning Light Cafe” and other Healing Project programs such as Story Circles, drum making, fiber arts workshops, World Labyrinth Day Peace Walk and more at 602-315-8480, Connect@DoingGrief.com or fill out the RSVP form on the Healing Project website at DoingGrief.com. A suggested donation of $5-10 can be donated online or at the door. All are welcome regardless of an ability to pay.