Grief Tending Circle

An experiential workshop and guided ritual to explore and allow space for grief. Held in the sanctuary of The Quiet View yurt and gardens. Grief is not linear and it is not finite. It cycles round, can be loud, quiet, hidden, confusing or hard to name. It lives in the body, in the spaces between things, and is present beneath the surface of everyday life. Grief is the experience of loss, it is a process that evolves, an ongoing experience of something no longer here. We know grief follows a bereavement and it also follows other losses; a relationship ending, a redundancy, deteriorating health or illness, a hoped-for future, or a sense of who you once were. We also grieve what we might have expected and things we never chose, the parts of ourselves we have had to leave behind, and the sadness we carry for the wider world. Whatever you’re grieving, it carries wisdom and something longing for expression. When grief has nowhere to go, it can create a barrier to connection, to joy, to vitality both within ourselves and with others. This workshop is informed by our own experiences of grief, group work and circle holding, and also by the Five Gates of Grief model (developed by Francis Weller) which offers us a framework for the challenges and emotional responses that loss and change can bring. What to Expect We’ll gather together to spend the afternoon in the sanctuary of The Quiet View in Kingston. The peaceful gardens overlook the hills of the Kent Downs, nestled by fields and woodland. The land itself forms part of the support for the circle. Held by Louise Allen, an experienced facilitator and therapist, trained in Wild Therapy. This workshop invites people to come together to explore and express grief together. We work in a trauma-informed way and all sharing and practices are invitational and optional. We aim to facilitate the workshop at a pace that allows for awareness, integration, and choice. You will be free to share as much or as little as you want, to listen, or simply to notice what arises. Throughout the afternoon, we will facilitate nature connection, ritual and sharing opportunities as ways to come together and know that we are not alone. Using body based focusing, sound, writing and talking practices, we will invite the untamed nature of grief to be expressed. During these practices we will invite you to notice what is present in your body, your breath, and your emotional landscape, allowing this awareness to guide the process. We will use a combination of singing, drumming, humming and movement to connect as a group for support. Both the group and the land itself becomes part of the holding. There is no expectation to show up in a particular way, but we invite you to stay close to your own experience and allow what is present to emerge. The afternoon includes: • Introduction to the 5 Gates of Grief • A chance to reflect and share what feels comfortable • Collective guided ritual to help access your grief • Grounding practices with the support of the land • Quiet reflection time, including a group labyrinth walk • Light refreshments Qualities of grief can include sorrow, despair, anger, rage, fear, numbness, relief and also love and joy. All feelings are welcome - there is no right or wrong way to grieve. Who is this for? This workshop is for anyone who wants to explore grief in a group setting. It is aimed at adults. We welcome all forms of grief, including (and not exclusively): • Bereavement • Unmet needs • Loss of identity, relationship, work, or health • Childlessness or pregnancy loss • Life-changing illness or disability, or late diagnosis • Collective or climate grief You do not need to justify your grief to attend. Why join us? Everyone will have their own reasons for attending and their experience of the afternoon. We hope that people might leave: • Feeling less alone in their experience of grief • Feeling less overwhelmed or scared by grief, and more connected to their process • With some tools and ritual ideas to tend to grief at home • Having experienced the value of being in circle together, with collective listening and sharing • With a sense of meaning, connection or affirmation of life Practical Details When: Saturday 12th December, 12pm–5pm Where: The Quiet View, Kingston nr Canterbury Included: Facilitation, refreshments, materials where needed Bring: Comfortable clothing, layers, water bottle, journal and pen and an optional drum or rattle/shaker Cost We are inviting people to come and join our small group for this afternoon. Standard price £60 Abundant price £80 If cost is a barrier, please do contact us. Higher contributions help support subsidised places. This might be a welcome opportunity to have space to share the grief you carry. Equally, you do not need to be “falling apart” to come. You do not need to explain or justify your grief. You are welcome as you are without expectation. This is an invitation to explore the relationship you have with your grief, supported by a group and the land. Accessibility The venue has parking for up to 8 cars. Public transport is limited to the village but we will be happy to link people up to arrange lift sharing or help to and from Canterbury train or bus station. There is an option to share travel information when you sign up. The garden is not completely flat but the stewards of the land find it possible to move around the majority of the garden with a motorised buggy. There are ramps to the toilet and into the yurt with double door access to both. We can arrange pillows and/or chairs for seating and laying down. The facilitators have experience working with neurodiversity and so welcome requests or information about communication preferences. We will do our best to accommodate. If you have specific access needs, please let us know and we can work with you to make the event as inclusive and comfortable as possible. Please Note This circle offers a held community space to honour grief through ritual, connection and time with the land. It is not a therapy group. While grief shared in community can be powerful, we encourage participants to ensure they have other forms of support in their lives if needed — whether through friends, family, or professional care. If you are in acute distress, please contact Samaritans (116 123), your GP, or local crisis services.