Diving Deep, A Ritual Journey of Grief & Joy

Join Laurence Cole, Josh Fox, & Sharon Oxendine in Tending the Village Heart!

The Village is converging again in the heart of Appalachia’s healing watershed. For three days, we will gather to dive deep into the watery depths to discover our Joy. Come be a part of this alchemical journey and discover the profound aliveness that arises from meaningful and intimate human connection.

Event Highlights:

• Elder Wisdom: Engage with our beloved elders who will share their songs, ritual practices, and wisdom as a giveaway to tend the village heart. Their presence will provide a grounding and nurturing foundation for our collective journey.

• Grief Ritual: Participate in an intimate and heartfelt journey where we will explore the depths of our Grief through authentic expression, deep listening, mutual support, and ancestral connection. By engaging in singing, deep-connection exercises, poetry, storytelling, movement, and ancient practices; we will transform individual and collective pain into wisdom and vitality for ourselves and our communities.

• Nature Immersion & Water Therapy: Enjoy the enchanting natural beauty of this mountainous sanctuary. Nature walks, river swims, sauna, hot-tub, and forest bathing are available throughout our time together.

• Celebration of Life: Dance, sing, and celebrate the richness of life in a village of kindred spirits. Enjoy live music throughout! Through joyous expression and shared moments of laughter and creativity, we will deepen our sense of belonging and interconnectedness.

In this village, we will cultivate a space where vulnerability is met with compassion, where joy and grief are honored as sacred parts of the human experience, and where each soul is seen and valued. Together, we will weave a tapestry of connection that nourishes our own spirits while also uplifting the collective soul.

Grief Work & Healing

Aliveness returns 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

We will journey through these "Gates of Grief," allowing plenty of time, space, and support for release and integration. These Grief rituals combine the elements of potent medicine-songs, authentic-relating exercises, poetry, 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 is welcome to all who are drawn to the light of the Village fire! The healing potential 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 recent 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!

Elders & Facilitators

Laurence Cole, a song elder and ritualist from Port Townsend, Washington, has been helping groups of people rediscover the healing power of grieving communally for over ten years. Guided and inspired by the teachings of Malidoma Some, Sobonfu Some, Angeles Arrien, Michael Meade, James Hillman, Francis Weller, Joanna Macy and many others, Laurence creates a safe, non-judgmental space for folks to rediscover their natural human capacity for healing together. Blending song, poetry, easy grounding movement, small and large group sharing, humor, silent reflective solitude in nature, and the co-creation of a beautiful ritual setting, Laurence provides a journey through the depths and heights of our aliveness, often leading to a sense of renewal, connection and even an awakened capacity for radiant joy.

Josh Fox, is a seasoned ritualist, 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 offered hundreds of community healing circles throughout the Southeast. He is a co-founder and steward of Sun Song Community (Human Nature Preserve), and he is a lifelong student of medicine music, vision quest, Chinese Medicine, somatic therapies, Non-Violent Communication, and community living. His Village-building work with Grief has been greatly inspired by the work and rituals of Sobonfu Somé, Aixa Amankay, 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 in 2019. 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.

Room & Board

This gathering will be hosted at Sacred Mountain Waters in Marshall, North Carolina, approximately 45 minutes North of Asheville. Sacred Mountain Waters is a private retreat center nestled in a wide, Appalachian mountain valley and bounded by two miles of pristine rivers with more than 200 acres of forest and trails. Guests of the property are encouraged to enjoy the gifts of walking the land, visiting the many waterfalls, or diving into the natural swimming pond after cleansing in the sauna or soaking in one of the fresh water hot tubs.

You are welcome to choose from these sleeping possibilities:

• Tent or car camping (cost included)
• Bring a bedroll and sleep in a shared indoor space (cost included)
• Request one of the limited indoor beds (costs extra, contact Shannon)

One ticket includes 5 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).

A tea and coffee station will be available with hot beverages throughout the gathering.

Registration & Finances

For the sake of intimacy, focus and safety, the 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:

1. "Strained Finances" Tier 1: $385

2. "Stable Finances" Tier 2: $485

3. "Comfortable Finances" Tier 3: $585

4. "Abundant Finances" Tier 4: $685

In the current economy, we know that many people are strained. If you own the home you live in; have stock investments, cryptocurrency, 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.). We offer lower tiers for those who rent, who live paycheck-to-paycheck, who are affected by systemic oppression, and for activists who offer their time and energy towards peace or protection of the earth. 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 and Work/Trade Positions available for BIPOC and extreme need-based individuals. Click HERE to apply.

Refund Policy

Putting on events like this require big overhead. In an effort to share the financial responsibility and make sure that the facilitators don’t go broke: Tickets are non-refundable. Your ticket can be transferred to another individual if a written request is made before 10am on Tuesday, September 2.

Support

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