Remembering how to grieve in community

Greif  Tending

A grief-tending ceremony at Cedar House Retreat is an invitation to journey with your grief in community. It is not therapy, it is community care. It is a return to something ancient and human: the act of grieving together.

We may begin and end with simple opening and closing rituals to create a sacred container for the work. There may be opportunities to share and be witnessed within a confidential and supportive circle, as well as rituals of release and remembrance using natural elements like earth, water, fire, and song. Time with nature is often woven in, offering a chance to reconnect and pause. Creative expression might arise through writing, movement, or bringing a sentimental item to honour your grief. Guided breathwork and sound may be used to gently support the body in softening and releasing held emotion. You do not need to have experience with any of these practices—just a willingness to show up as you are. All practices are optional, and you will never be pushed to speak, share, or participate in any way that doesn’t feel right for you.

Each session may include:

Opening and closing ceremonies to create a sacred container for the work

Guided breathwork and sound to support the body in releasing held emotion

Rituals of release and remembrance, using natural elements like earth, water, fire, and song

Time in nature to reconnect with stillness and the cycles that hold us

Creative expression through writing, art, crafts, movement, or gentle voice work

Opportunities to share and be witnessed in a confidential, supportive circle

You don’t need to have experience with any of these practices—just a willingness to show up as you are.

The Many Gateways of Grief

At Cedar House Retreat, we honour grief in all its forms—not only the grief that comes from death, but the quieter, less spoken sorrows that often go unnamed.

Drawing inspiration from the work of Francis Weller and other grief-tenders, we recognise that grief can come in to our lives in many ways. These include:

The loss of someone or something we love

The parts of ourselves we had to hide or abandon

The places in us that have never known love or safety

The sorrows of the world

Ancestral grief and the weight of what came before

Anticipatory grief

Each of these gates is a valid entry point into grief. You do not need to name your grief clearly or understand it fully to be welcome in this work. Sometimes, simply sitting with what aches—without needing to explain it—is enough.

One-to-One Grief Support

For those who prefer more personal space, one-to-one grief support is available. These sessions are held in the quiet sanctuary of the retreat space, with time to speak, rest, reflect, or simply be. Each session is shaped around your needs in the moment and may include ritual, breathwork, sound, or guided practices.

Offerings and Pricing

Grief-tending is offered through circles and half-day retreats.

1:1 Grief-Tending Session (75–90 min) £45

Grief-Tending Circle (2–3 hrs) £35

One-Day Grief Retreat (5–6 hrs) £75

If you feel called to this work but finances are a barrier, please reach out. A small number of community-supported places may be available each year.

Influences and Further Reading

This work is inspired by the years of community work Carly has undertaken as a Social Worker, supporting people through life’s most challenging traumas and difficulties, her own long apprentiship with grief and the teachings of Francis Weller, whose writing on communal grief and the many gateways into sorrow has helped shape this path. If you feel drawn to explore his work further, I highly recommend his book The Wild Edge of Sorrow: Rituals of Renewal and the Sacred Work of Grief, available through your local bookshop.

Important Note on Wellbeing and Responsibility

The grief-tending offerings at Cedar House Retreat are intended as supportive, ceremonial, and community-based experiences. They are not a substitute for professional medical, psychiatric, or psychological care. While the space is held with deep compassion and care, each participant remains fully responsible for their own emotional, physical, and mental wellbeing before, during, and after the session. 

           We will send you an application form prior to booking to ensure that our grief-tending approach is right for you.

If you are currently in crisis or experiencing significant mental health challenges, we strongly encourage you to seek support from a qualified healthcare provider. We are not able to offer any medical, psychiatric or mental health support and do not offer clinical advice or treatment.

                                                     

To enquire about one-to-one sessions or receive updates on upcoming grief-tending circles and retreats, please get in touch via our contact form or by email hello@cedarhouseretreat.co.uk

  • Please wear something comfortable and bring anything you’d like to feel supported—perhaps a water bottle, journal, cushion, or shawl. If we're outdoors, dress for the weather. You’ll receive full details when you book.

    People also find comfort in bringing sentimental items such as photographs, jewellery or art that represents their focus of grief and their support systems.

  • Groups are intentionally small—usually 6 to 10 people—to allow for intimacy, safety, and deep connection.

  • No. You are not required to speak or share. You are welcome to participate in whatever way feels safe and right for you. We will have a variety of tools for expression.

  • Yes. Many people feel a quiet ache or heaviness without knowing exactly where it comes from. You don’t need to name or understand your grief to be here. by sharing from your heart, you might surprise yourself of your inner voice and wisdom.

  • Yes. Grief and motherhood often walk hand-in-hand. If you’re unsure or have specific needs, feel free to get in touch and we can talk through what would support you best.

  • This is an important and thoughtful question. The honest answer is: we cannot guarantee how you will feel. Each person arrives with their own history, sensitivities, and triggers, and we cannot always predict how emotions will surface in others.

    What we can do is create a held space with clear boundaries and shared agreements—what some call a “brave space”—where all feelings are welcome, but no one is allowed to dominate, harm, or disrupt the emotional safety of the group.

    Anger is a natural, human emotion. In our culture, it is often suppressed or misunderstood, but when expressed in a contained, respectful way, it can be an integral part of healing. If someone in the group expresses anger, it will be held and witnessed with care, and always within the agreed container. No one will be allowed to direct their anger at another person.

    You will always be supported to care for your own needs in the moment—whether that means stepping outside, asking for support, or simply observing without engaging. Your comfort and agency are respected at all times.

  • There will always be gentle options to step outside, rest, or take a break. You’ll be held with care, and no one will ever be rushed or judged.