In Week 2 of the Ash Rose Project mini-series, Lisa continues her personal grief journey with Ian McCartor, Founder of the Ash Rose Foundation. They move from honoring the past in Week 1 to processing grief in the present through creativity.

As Ian begins sketching the portrait in her mother’s honor using her ashes, this week’s conversation explores what it means to actively create while grieving.

Lisa reflects on the emotions that have surfaced since beginning the project: sadness, gratitude, loneliness, and the tension between letting go and holding on. Together, she and Ian discuss how creative expression allows space for the full spectrum of grief from the light to the dark, and why both are essential for healing.

They explore powerful metaphors of winter, stillness, and the “quiet before the bloom,” examining how grief can feel dormant yet truly transformative beneath the surface.

Lisa shares:

• The emotional complexity of sending her mother’s ashes for the artwork
• How legacy-building reshapes her grief
• The loneliness that can accompany loss
• Returning to joy after deep sorrow
• The role of community, service, and storytelling in healing

This episode is a reflection on release, trust, and the sacred act of becoming. It serves as a reminder that even in the coldest seasons of grief, something within us is still blooming.

If you are interested in working with Ian McCartor on your own Ash Rose Project, visit theashrose.org. 

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Special thanks to:

Podcast Editor Jacqueline van Bierk of Pink Star Music

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