Grief lives in the body. It dwells in the unseen chambers of the heart, the spaces between our ribs, the silences we carry, and the tears we hide. Yet in our modern culture—where speed, isolation, independence and productivity are prized—grief has been exiled. And with it, a powerful balm for the broken heart has disappeared.

This retreat is an invitation to return. To slow down. To gather. To turn toward your grief with reverence—and to do so in the presence of community and the natural world. We meet on the threshold between land and sea, allowing the wild beauty of the Oregon Coast to become our mirror and our medicine.

This is a healing retreat for grief in all its forms—a weekend for those seeking not to “move on,” but to move with. Together, we will turn towards grief as a continued expression of love and longing.

Who Is This Retreat For?

Grief is a part of death, loss, and separation... yes... but it's also present with nearly all change. Grief can show up with:

The death of a beloved
The ache of ancestral or cultural loss
Separation, divorce, and unspoken heartbreak
The pain of illness or life-altering change
Environmental grief and sorrow for the Earth
Unmet longings, abandoned dreams, and unloved parts of the self

Our time together is rooted in the Six Gates of Grief, as articulated by Francis Weller:

Everything We Love, We Will Lose
The Places That Have Not Known Love
The Sorrows of the World
What We Expected and Did Not Receive
Ancestral Grief
The Harm We Have Caused Others

Each gate opens a door to healing. You are welcome at any threshold.

our home for the weekend

Screen Shot 2022-08-29 at 5.41.18 PM.png

Screen Shot 2022-08-29 at 5.31.28 PM.png

Screen Shot 2022-08-29 at 5.31.09 PM.png

Screen Shot 2022-08-29 at 5.31.04 PM.png

Screen Shot 2022-08-29 at 5.41.56 PM.png

Screen Shot 2022-08-29 at 5.41.30 PM.png

Screen Shot 2022-08-29 at 5.38.49 PM.png

Screen Shot 2022-08-29 at 5.40.48 PM.png

Screen Shot 2022-08-29 at 5.40.42 PM.png

Screen Shot 2022-08-29 at 5.40.28 PM.png

“Grief is a way of loving what has slipped from view. Love is a way of grieving that which has not yet done so.”

— Stephen Jenkinson

grief integration ritual & retreat

The annual grief integration ritual & retreat is a time and space to nourish and resource yourself deeply so you can feel all the way through the depth of your love and loss. This weekend is all about honoring that which has been lost as we come into a time of deep thanks-giving, celebration, and exploration available in the coming years. This retreat weaves together group ritual and sharing with time and space for benevolent solitude, connection with nature, and deep inner reflection.

This Retreat is Designed to:

Nourish, resource, and hold you and all you are grieving and longing for
Honor the losses that have and are shaping you.
Celebrate that which you most love and long for now.
Connect with the Six Gates of Grief.
Create a deep sense of belonging with an intimate group of heart-centered people.
Co-create and participate in community grief ritual.
Educate on the historic, cultural, medical, and spiritual landscapes of grief.
Connect us to the natural world (and the Ocean) as an ally in our healing.

Why Grieve in Community?

We were never meant to carry sorrow alone. We must come into connection to heal these deep wounds of disconnection. Grief is universal, it's a natural response to loss. We need to see each other and to be seen and expressed in all that we are carrying.

Grief ritual is ancient medicine. In the presence of others, we find the courage to speak aloud what the soul has long held in silence. When grief is witnessed—by another human being, by a forest, by the ocean—it moves. It breathes.

This retreat is a community-based grief practice, where we gather in circle, in song, in silence, and in ceremony. In doing so, we restore a forgotten intimacy—with ourselves, each other, and the living Earth.

Grief, Nature, and the Path to Belonging

We turn to the natural world not to escape our grief, but to remember how to feel it. The ocean reminds us how to soften. The forest teaches us how to let go. The wind carries our prayers farther than our voices can reach.

Ecological grief, too, is welcome here. We weave our sorrow for the planet into our healing, reconnecting with the Earth as a beloved companion and ally.

This is not only a personal healing retreat—it is a collective act of restoration. A ritual of reweaving ourselves into the fabric of life.

Retreat Details

Dates: Friday, November 14th (6pm)– Sunday, November 16th (10am), 2025
Location: Private retreat home nestled along the Oregon Coast in Cloverdale, OR (exact location shared upon registration)
Meals: Nourishing, intentional meals provided
Lodging: Shared accommodations with limited private rooms available

Meet Alyssa

Alyssa Rose walks with those navigating life's most profound transitions. As a Grief Tender and Death Doula in Portland Oregon, she bridges ancient ritual practices with modern somatic therapies to create sacred spaces for those facing loss, death, and deep change.

Drawing from her extensive work with hundreds of families and communities, Alyssa’s unique approach to grief care honors the somatic, emotional and spiritual dimensions of the liminal and alchemical process of grieving.

Alyssa is passionate about creating a grief literate culture that is resilient and compassionate enough to hold us through life’s challenges and uncertainties. It is here that we practice belonging, and transform a culture sick with loneliness into one ripe with connection.

packages

all packages includes

Holistic, nourishing, vegetarian meals (with vegan and gluten free options)
Two nights in a beautiful shared home on the stunning Oregon coast
Beautiful and intimate community grief ritual
Individual and earth based grief ritual at the ocean.
Cacao Circle
Embodiment practices
Sound healing ceremony
Time and space for personal reflection and connection with nature
Grief integration support

The difference in package is specific to accommodation type: Private room (for 1 person), shared room (for 2 people), or the community room (8 people).

a glimpse into our past retreats

Screen Shot 2024-12-04 at 11.05.14 AM.png

Screen Shot 2024-12-04 at 11.05.45 AM.png

Screen Shot 2022-11-16 at 12.39.45 PM.png

Screen Shot 2022-11-16 at 12.40.14 PM.png

Screen Shot 2022-11-16 at 12.39.11 PM.png

Screen Shot 2022-11-16 at 12.40.01 PM.png

if you have questions

Connect with me

This location is about an hour and 45 minutes driving from Portland.

I will email our final group about a packing list and preparations.

refund policy

Cancellation before October 14th: 50% discount.
Refunds are available beyond the 30 day mark if we can find someone to fill your space. Otherwise I won't be able to do refunds after Oct 14th.

Grief Integration Ritual & Retreat

Choose your tickets

Ocean Solace ticket

Pacific Peace ticket

Forest Connection ticket

Donations

Supporter - help make this event accessible to a wider community