Grief Alchemy: A Ritual Journey Back to Joy

Ready to find Joy?

Our natural state of Joy can return when we are unburdened by the weight of Grief.

According to Frances Weller, this Grief might include:

1) Losing the things we once loved (people, visions, opportunities, relationships, abilities, etc)
2) The parts of us that have never known love (shame, guilt, not-enough-ness, etc)
3) The destruction of our Earth home (Ecological Grief)
4) The things we didn't receive in this lifetime (village, ancestral lands, elders)
5) The inheritance of Ancestral Grief

Time doesn't heal these wounds; rather, you've gotta feel it to heal it!

For two full days, we'll assemble a Grief-Tending Village and journey through these "Gates of Grief," allowing plenty of time, space, and support for release and integration. This multi-day ritual will be facilitated by Josh Fox (he/him) and Sharon Oxendine (she/her) and supported by a team of other seasoned Grief-tenders. These Grief rituals combine the elements of potent medicine-songs, authentic-relating exercises, poetry and storytelling, group sharing, somatic awareness, and indigenous wisdom. All of these pieces will be integrated into a strongly-held container for the Village to unburden itself and call forth the birthright of Joy.

This weekend ritual is ideal for those feeling stuck in their lives, feeling lackluster, or turning towards addictive habits. It's also ideal for those who have experienced recent loss or those who haven't had the chance to fully and properly grieve past losses (it's never too late!). We welcome into the Village those who have anger, grief, or numbness about the state of the world; and also those who have never been able to grieve. This weekend container is not fit to hold those actively engaged with major trauma, those who are struggling with psychosis or suicidal tendencies, or those who are unable to respect the boundaries of others or the agreements of the Village. If you are unsure whether this space is right for you, feel free to reach out!

Grief Facilitation

Josh Fox is a seasoned facilitator, teacher, herbalist, and song-carrier. For over a decade, he has held space as a grief-, shadow-, and trauma-tender in his private practice and has regularly offered community healing circles throughout the Southeast. A graduate and long-time faculty of Daoist Traditions College, he is a lifelong student of Chinese Medicine, somatic therapies, and Non-Violent Communication. His village-building work with Grief has been greatly inspired by the work and rituals of Sobonfu Somé, Frances Weller, Joanna Macy, and Martin Prechtel; and he has received direct ceremonial training with Laurence Cole and Kedar Brown.

Sharon Oxendine is a proud First Nations woman and is enrolled member of the Lumbee Tribe in Southeast NC. Sharon has studied with Native and Indigenous Teachers for over thirty years. She established a created a Nonprofit Community Organization-Medicine Wheel Way in2019. The land is eight acres located in Fairview, NC. The mission is dedicated to supporting BIPOC and Underserved communities in Nature Restorative practices. Sharon is a Sacred Pipe Carrier, and she works with her community in providing ceremonies celebrating life, transitions, rites of passage and soul retrievals. She has studied with many Indigenous teachers including the late Malidoma Some. She traveled to his village and studied with his Shaman teachers in 2009. Sharon has been initiated into the Medicine Lodge of J. Grate and she was named as an Elder by her community in 2009. You can find information about Medicine Wheel Way on Facebook.

Room and Board

The ritual will be hosted at Dreaming Stone Arts & Ecology Center, an hour South of Asheville, NC.

The ritual goes from 10am on Saturday, January 6th until 7pm on Sunday, January 7th. Saturday night will run until the post-dinner activity is over and Sunday will begin with breakfast around 8am. The ticket includes five vegetarian meals. Our chef, Mirna, consistently delivers "beyond-organic" cooking where ingredients are sourced or wild-crafted as locally as possible. Upon registering, you'll be asked to fill out a form to accommodate any allergies or dietary needs. You are also welcome to bring any supplementary snacks (meat included).

You are welcome to choose from these sleeping possibilities:

• Bring a bedroll and sleep over in the main ceremony space (at no additional cost)
• Commute each day from Asheville, Hendersonville, Tryon, etc.
• Find a nearby private dwelling (contact Dreaming Stone for support here: dreamingstonenc@gmail.com)

Registration and Finances

For the sake of intimacy, focus, and safety, the ritual weekend is limited in number of participants. Ticket sales are available in four tiers. Each tier has limited tickets and will disappear when they sell out.

We strive to keep this program accessible while tending to the long-term sustainability of this work. Please help us strike this balance by contributing the highest ticket tier you can afford, and leaving less-expensive tickets for others who might need them more:

• "Strained Finances" Tier 1: $275
• "Stable Finances" Tier 2: $350
• "Comfortable Finances" Tier 3: $425
• "Abundant Finances" Tier 4: $500
  

If you own the home you live in; have stock investments, crytocurrency, or inherited money; or travel recreationally, consider opting for Tiers 3 or 4. You may also consider selecting a higher Tier if you benefit from a higher degree of earning power (due to your education, race, gender, etc.). Your generosity helps this work reach a greater diversity of individuals.

Payment Plans: Any of these Tiers can be purchased on a payment plan. As you check out, follow links to Paypal's "Buy now, pay later."

Limited Accessibility Scholarships (for BIPOC and extreme need-based individuals) are currently available (by application).
Scholarship application: https://forms.gle/xBMrJershB8K6QSS9

Refund Policy

Tickets are non-refundable. Your ticket can be transfered to another individual if a written request is made before 10am on January 4th. 

Support

All inquiries can be emailed to Shannon Donnelly at cosmic.compadres@gmail.com