Surrendering to your sorrow has the power to heal the deepest of wounds
- Sobonfu Somé
Grief & Gratitude
Welcome to the Northern California
Community of Grief Tenders
you are not alone
In this modern world we don’t often have access to healthy communal spaces to express grief and sorrow.
Some of us have been taught that grief is something to be done only in extreme circumstances, and if grief is expressed,
it should be done quickly and privately.
This leads us to carry the burden of unprocessed and unwitnessed grief throughout our lives.
When we don’t allow grief to move we’re left feeling heavy-hearted and alone.
This can lead to numbing grief with distraction, addiction, or isolation.
It also numbs us from the joy, wonder, and beauty that life has to offer.
when we choose to grieve
We choose to feel both the joy and sorrow of life.
We choose the shared connection that each of us hold.
We choose to not be alone.
We choose to belong.
We choose to live fully.
all of you is welcome
We were never meant to carry grief alone. By reaching for each other, we find the courage and support to face what needs tending, keep our hearts open, and return to what matters most. Our gatherings honor all forms of grief including personal losses, life changes and transitions, grief for the injustices of the world, environmental grief, loss of healthy family and community belonging, and ancestral grief.
And as we welcome your griefs we also welcome your expressions of grief.
Our gatherings are about sharing what is true for you, whether that is tears or anger, numbness, fear, joy, or shame. This gathering calls in authenticity and connection. There is no expectation that you express your grief in any specific way. We are not here to fix you. We are hear to listen and express gratitude for your willingness to share your feelings and experience. This is not a solemn or morbid event, this is a life affirming event.
All of you is welcome.
A Conversation With Grief : What is Grief?
Words from the Village
Attending this grief retreat was a life-altering experience. I came in apprehensive and nervous about opening up to strangers, but Josh and the team created such a safe and compassionate space that I quickly felt supported and seen. The retreat completely shifted my understanding of grief—not as an isolated experience, but as something deeply human and universal.
Hearing others share their vulnerability allowed me to open up in ways I never imagined. Though no two experiences of grief were the same, there was an unshakable sense that we were all part of something greater than our individual pain. This retreat cracked me open in the best way possible, giving me a newfound ability to hold space for both myself and others. If you’re feeling stuck, lost, or alone in your grief, this experience will change you. I am forever grateful.
Ben C.
Santa Cruz, CA
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