This course was created so that we may all weave willow to hold one another, to hold what needs to be held. HOW I HOLD YOU - where the 'you' is you, is another, is the earth, is our deepest sorrows and grief, is the simultaneous truths, is the corporeal ready to transform. This course creates one possibility of weaving baskets to receive death, our bodies forming boats to sail our beloveds towards their deepest rest and return. The weaving of coffins/soul boats as a way to be with, to be in devotion, in vigil, in silence and in steadiness.
We offer sliding scale and payment plans - just scroll down the page here to find all the info.
We will walk you through the full process of weaving a lidded willow coffin and simultaneously provide all the techniques to weave what Mo has been calling a Soul Boat, or more commonly referred to as a willow tray.
Willow keeps the time and is a supportive companion in times of transition, death, and grief.
We understand that the choices and access to choice around end of life care and what happens to our body after we have died are nuanced, personal, cultural, and are also heavily impacted by systemic inequities and ecological imbalances/confusion. By offering these teachings we are not suggesting one pathway over another. May this offer inspiration for conversations and steps towards what our hearts most long for in the innately powerful and alchemical process that is death and decay.
This course lends itself to the seasoned basket maker or a curious and adventurous beginner.
The techniques and processes offered here are the ones we’ve devoted ourselves to for now, but are also ever-changing with ongoing learning and experimentation. We hope that the vessels made by folks and for their people / themselves become a unique expression of care that flows from their weaving hands.
You can follow the process and techniques step by step or combine them with your existing weaving experience and vision, changing the overall form, size, etc.
The vision is to support a bioregional web of willow burial vessel/coffin/soul boat/ritual vessel creators in many communities.
We realize that access to willow can be challenging if you are newly forming your relationship to willow and basket making. You can explore this course now, start planting and tending your willow patch individually or collectively, and dream into the community vessels that can be woven in the years to come. – or – you can purchase cured willow if you are hoping to weave one on the sooner side.
We offer suggestions of where to purchase cured willow in the U.S. here on the bottom of the page. The quantities and sizes of willow needed are included in the course.
The first live Q & A for this course will be in May 2024 and will focus on finding, gathering, and growing willow for making coffins/ soul boats.
We also have our Courting Willow course that walks you through a journey of getting to know, grow, gather, and tend willow for basket making.
Song is yet another river to travel and be held/carried by in liminal times of grief, thresholds, and transitions. We are including a living song library in this course - one that will continue to grow alongside the life of this offering. Songs for singing solo or together, songs to weave into your baskets. The songs will be available as audio recordings with lyrics included. Would love for this song library to be co-created with folks who feel called to enroll in the course and share songs!
-a welcome video and story to bring us into this work together
-clear and detailed recorded video lessons to move through at your own pace - walking you through the full process of weaving a willow coffin/soul boat
-sketches and dimensions of the coffin made and detailed notes on other materials needed, size and quantity of willow needed, suggestions on timing your process, and thoughts on accessing willow for your basket
-techniques covered: making a frame for base and lid, tapestry weave, scalloming, 3 rod wale, chase weave/arrow weave, french rand, stacking, 5 behind 2 rod border, finishing techniques - braiding and willow 'cordage' to make toggles, roped handles
- living song library including songs for grief, death, thresholds, liminality, & life
- access to our online community The River & The Rowboat
- Rolling live, seasonal Q & A calls to support your process and offer discussion around death care/burial traditions/practices and connection with willow coffin /soul boat weaving practices.
- Reflection questions related to weaving these vessels
*** like our other courses, you will have access to this course 'forever' and enrollment is ongoing ! ***
We offer
and payment plans for this course
Enter discount codes at checkout + payment plan also available at checkout
Tier 1: full price $178
Tier 2: $152 SLIDINGSCALE15
Tier 3: $125 SLIDINGSCALE30
Tier 4: $89 SLIDINGSCALE50
A huge basket of thanks to Marit Olivia and Jen Hauser for your magic, your keen eyes, your devotion to willow, and your huge gift of filming this course and even more thanks to Marit for offering up all the music that adorns this course.
" It was a profound privilege and honor to feel the steadfast support and tender guidance of Mo during my apprenticeship to coffin weaving. I could not have asked for a more attuned and depth filled experience.
With Mo's guidance I was able to weave both soul boat and coffin with ease and confidence, her orbiting hands of support made a long time dream come to fruition.
I would recommend any and all humans who are wanting to deepen their basketry practice, or those hoping to step into threshold work to learn alongside Mo."
Ayeen Telopa