Navigating grief, sadness, and loss: Finding healing at Rest & Restore
Have you noticed the quiet of winter drawing your emotional experience to the surface? During the winter season, we experience a decrease in light - hours and quality, cold and wet conditions and drawing down of our energy reserves. For many, this period can create a sense of isolation and disconnection from the outside world where emotions can begin to percolate and often cycle in our heads and hearts.
Themes of grief, sadness, and loss are commonly revisited during the long winter dark. These are profound experiences that have touched each of our lives at some point. Whether we face the passing of a loved one or anniversary of their passing, the end of a relationship, or the loss of a cherished dream, a stormy transition or change, our emotions can feel overwhelming. It can, for many be a hard time to reach out and connect with community, family or loved ones but this is often what we are yearning for in the winter months.
Traditionally, indigenous communities would draw close to the hearth during the winter months to gather and consolidate, build and foster their relationships whilst sharing food stores, stories, making necessary tools and collectively sharing the responsibilities of family. It makes sense during winter to share and restore, create healing spaces and foster strong support networks during dark times.
Part of us yearns for a warm hearth, creative processes, slow movement, nourishing food, the quiet of nature, sound and harmony to nourish and store our energies and also share our pain, loss and sadness during winter.
Instead of doing it alone, or with limited resources, we invite you to consider the warm hearth of our winter retreats. Perhaps finding a safe space during challenging times can offer the pause of an exhale and an opportunity to slowly consider what’s on offer. Maybe you need rest, a warm and nourishing meal, a kind word, a series of slow movements. Or perhaps an awe inspiring venture into the Redwood Forest to reconnect with the ever present open hearted embrace of nature.
We offer a wide range of therapeutic and wellbeing immersions, plus one on one expertise to delve deeper into your unique experience of loss to find the impetus of change and the presence of peace. Take a moment to consider what’s on offer at our last winter retreat as we harness the final exhale of winter:
Mindfulness techniques that help navigate the winding path of your emotions with compassion and self-awareness,
Body centred practices such as breathwork, yoga and qigong to explore body tension associated with grief and loss
Sound and music as a way to access your emotions and spirit in an uplifting and restorative way
Gentle immersions offering self compassion and self love as agents of change and healing
Art immersions as a way to connect and explore the many textures and expressions of grief and so much more.
In addition to traditional wellness practices, our retreat integrates a wide range of therapeutic modalities tailored to support individuals experiencing grief and loss. Consider:
The finely attuned support of our psychologist,
The nourishing touch from our experienced body workers,
The benefits of meridan and acupressure support from our Shiatsu and Reflexology practitioners
A personalised sound healing with your personalised intention setting and goals
The power of a letting go ceremonies in slow and measured ways
Nature as a Healing Companion
Nature offers us its timeless, constant companionship during difficult times and has the ability to hold us close in a warm embrace whilst we traverse uncertain and unknown territory. Surrounded by the natural beauty along the Yarra River in Warburton, guests can find solace and time to reconnect with the elements. Consider the majesty of walking amongst the Giant Redwood Trees and breathing in the ground beneath you, quiet time listening to the sounds of the river, outdoor meditation sessions, and reflective journaling exercises amidst our serene landscape as the perfect opportunity for quiet contemplation and connection with the natural world.
So take a moment to consider how time spent in a nourishing and inviting community, where you are free to do as little or as much as you’d like offer you the support you need right now. We invite you to return to the hearth and nourish yourself and gather the support you need to move through the swell of emotions with a sense of grounded awareness, tools and insight, laughter and warmth to rekindle your inner fire and connect with resilience and a sense of vitality.