In Week 1 of the Ash Rose Project mini-series, Ian McCartor of the Ash Rose Foundation and Lisa Hartung begin the most emotionally intense part of the journey: honoring the past.

This episode centers on reflection. Of memories, values, rituals, and the everyday moments that continue to shape us after loss. As Ian begins the artistic process of creating an ash portrait, Lisa walks through the first week of journaling prompts designed to deepen connection with her mother and gently “till the soil” of grief.

Through vivid storytelling, Lisa shares cherished memories of painting with her mother "en plein air," a girl's trip to Italy, road trips through Maine, being in the garden with her mom, and the small daily routines she misses most such as bedtime rituals, phone calls, games, and laughter. Together, Lisa and Ian explore how memory transforms grief, how rituals can be carried forward into the next generation, and how reflection allows the past to inform hope for the future.

Week 1 is raw, messy, and sacred, just like sketching before a painting takes form or preparing the soil for planting seeds in the garden. This episode invites listeners to witness how grief can be honored, felt fully, and woven into the present with intention, beauty, and love.

To learn more about the Ash Rose Foundation, head to theashrose.org. You can sign up for your own Ash Rose Project in honor of a loved one! 

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Special thanks to:

Podcast Editor Jacqueline van Bierk of Pink Star Music

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