Speaking & Teaching

I hold rituals, teach, and speak about political grief that has nowhere to go: the grief of war, displacement, and a world that keeps breaking its own agreements.

My audiences have included faith based communities, retreats, conferences and forums. From Unitarian Universalists to the United Nations.

I bring nearly two decades of human rights work focused on Palestine/Israel, the listening practice of a spiritual director, and a collective mourning practice that I co-facilitate every week.

What I speak and teach about

Grief and ritual. Grief rituals, and teaching on how grief can turn toward gratitude, for communities facing loss: after the Los Angeles fires, in Palestine and Israel, and at the turning of the seasons. I co-facilitate Good Mourning, a weekly collective grief practice, and run the Collective Mourning Salon.

Nonviolence and interfaith. Talks and conversations on the practice of nonviolence in Palestine/Israel, the role of women in peace movements, and keeping faith in times of chaos.

Human rights and digital rights. Earlier talks on disinformation, content moderation, deplatforming, and surveillance, at RightsCon, the UN Internet Governance Forum, the Stockholm Internet Freedom Festival, and the UN Human Rights Council.

  • “Alison is one of those rare role models you find yourself learning from with each interaction, because of the way they interact with the web of life. Intentional and deep, with humility and levity.”

    Andrew Dunn, School of Wise Innovation

  • “Alison lives a mystical life. Her guidance is both visionary and grounded, helping people flourish with integrity and compassion. With her guidance I've found more joy and connection to others."

    Rebecca Michaelson

Ways to work together

  • Grief rituals for communities, congregations, and organizations, held in person or online.

  • Talks and panels on political grief, peace, and ritual

  • Workshops and retreat sessions on grief and gratitude for 15 - 40 people.

  • Seasonal and ceremonial gatherings, such as solstice and the Jewish festival calendar.

Selected engagements

Grief rituals and ritual holding

  • Grief Ritual After the Los Angeles Fires. School of Wise Innovation, 2025.

  • Grief Ritual Focused on Genocide in Palestine. Beit Tikkun, 2025.

  • Using Music to Transform Grief into Gratitude. KOL: Retreat for Jewish Diasporic Music, 2025.

  • The Pain of These Times: Palestine & Israel. Dagara Grief Ritual with Coby Liebman, 2024.

  • Summer Solstice. Sespe Bioregional Center, 2025.

Teaching on Activism and Wellness

  • Finding Balance - Activism and Wellness. Muslim Interfaith Solidarity Project. November 2026.

  • Grief and Gratitude in Challenging Times. MANNA Passover Festival, 2025.

Nonviolence and Interfaith Solidarity Work

  • Women's Role in the Peace Movement. The Union of the Eagle, Condor, Quetzal and Humming Bird, an indigenous gathering of 30 tribes, 2025.

  • Palestine, Israel & Peacebuilding. Unitarian Universalist Church, 2024.

  • Peace in Times of Chaos. Northwest Interfaith Forum, 2024.

  • Personal Journey: From Israel & Palestine. Ubiquity University, 2022.

Earlier work: Human Rights & Digital Rights

Before I turned to grief and ritual, I spoke at human rights and internet governance forums. A short selection:

  • Avigayil can transform grief into a powerful experience where you feel so much wonder and awe for the world. This is truly a nourishing expeirence for the soul.

    — Participant in Interfaith Collective Mourning

  • Alison make spiritual work happen. She gets things done. She has done the real spiritual work needed to lead by example and build spiritual community.

    — Debra Hopkins, Partner at Sespe Bioregional Center

  • The Good Mourning practice has helped me come back to my art practice as a way to move through my grief and the overwhelm of these difficult times.

    — Good Mourning participant

Invite me

To invite me to speak, teach, or hold a ritual, send:

  • The occasion and who the audience is

  • The date, location or format, and length

  • Anything the group is carrying that I should know before I arrive

Contact Me