Co-Facilitated by (left to right) Tere Carranza, Kendra E. Thornbury, Laurence Cole and Therese.

2012 Dates: March 3-4, November 3-4 starts 10:30am Saturday, and ends around 5pm Sunday

For many years, Therese, Tere and Kendra have been hosting this powerful two-day retreat. Laurence Cole joined our team two years ago. This retreat offers an opportunity to gather and support each other in grief release and healing. There are very few places in this culture where we can bring our strong emotions, our deep grief and anger. Many of us yearn to unburden ourselves in a loving supportive situation.

The retreat will include talking circles, singing, ceremony, sharing food and some quiet time in the woods. The heart of the retreat is our evening ceremony using the grief ritual Therese and Laurence learned from Sobonfu Some.

Because this work will open your heart and leave you feeling raw and exposed, we will gather again on Sunday morning for debriefing, more grief work, a ceremony to bury the items left on the Grief Altar and then will celebrate with food and singing. We want you to go back into your lives feeling refreshed and grounded. We plan to be done by late afternoon on Sunday.

Overnight accommodations: for those who live more than a half hour away (Seattle, farther than Poulsbo etc) there are several options for overnight sleeping. You can have a simple bed here in the Groves, there is a local motel (Island Country Inn) 10 minutes away and a B &B within walking distance (Holly Lane Gardens).

Money: The Groves operates by requesting “Dana” rather than set fees. Suggested donation is $300 for the retreat facilitated by four of us, plus 4 meals. Overnight lodging for those who stay in the Groves will be $25/person additional. If these amounts are a hardship for you, offer what you can afford. However, we do request a minimum of $100 per person, which includes lodging at the Groves if you need it. A $$ deposit is requested to confirm your commitment and help you hold to it when you begin to waver (which, understandably, most people do). Please send a $50 deposit to 9255 Holly Farm Lane, Bainbridge Island WA 98110 to confirm your intention to attend. For those who are living in abundance and can offer more than the ‘suggested donation’ of $300—PLEASE DO! That generosity will help under-write those on limited budgets.

PLEASE RSVP if you are interested. More info will be sent once we get your deposit. Feel free to call if you have more questions. Photo below (left to right) Tere, Kendra, Laurence and Therese after the Spring 2010 Grief Retreat