Grief Alchemy

A Cornwall Retreat

27th September - 1st October 2024

Join us for five unforgettable days of release, nourishment, and transformation in the healing lands of Erth Barton in Cornwall, England.

Apply here

This profoundly life-shifting experience is centred around the exploration and integration of grief, in all its forms. Together we will explore how to cultivate a new relationship with grief, creating the space to feel it all and welcoming in transformation and alchemy.

Originating from the Latin root word ‘tener’ meaning soft and gentle; grief tending invites us to bring gentleness, compassion and kindness to our grief. Tend to your grief in circle and ceremony as a way to honour loss in community, move your body with gentle yoga and nervous system somatic practices, breathe new life and freedom into your heart with breathwork, and welcome grief as a gateway to a deeper connection to yourself and life itself.

We have designed the retreat for you to move fluidly between group workshops, embodiment practices and individual support. We intend to hold a space for you to allow your grief to be stirred, feel safe to express and release, and invite in the potential for healing and transformation.

This is a holistic experience for mind, body and heart. You will be nourished with incredibly delicious organic food and invited to soak in the healing lands of this forgotten corner of Cornwall, enhancing your connection to nature and self.

Rest, release and soften into the welcoming arms of this Grief Alchemy retreat held in the healing lands of Erth Barton, sitting on its own peninsula just across the border into Cornwall.

“We only grieve for what we love; so in this way grief is evidence of our love. Grief becomes an act of love that breaks our hearts open to the vast and beautiful landscape of gratitude and aliveness.”

— Francis Weller

Details

Anyone, everyone.
Anyone who is experiencing grief, or who has experienced grief. Whether because of a bereavement, relationship break up, health challenge, or any other loss or unmet longing.
For anyone who is interested in compassionately healing their grief and integrating it into all of who they are. People who are willing to let grief change them and to understand grief as the potential initiation into more authenticity and a deeper connection with life. Moving forward, rather than moving on.
This retreat will provide a safe space to be heard and understood with deep sensitivity.
The cost of the retreat varies between £1150 and £2350 depending on which accommodation option you choose. This price includes the full retreat experience - all workshops, catering, accommodation and the integration programme.
- Daily group grief tending workshops
- Daily bodywork (breathwork, gentle yoga or trauma/tension releasing exercises)
- Introduction call with Nici before the retreat
- A grief ceremony
- 3 beautifully prepared seasonal and organic meals a day
- 3 integration group calls after the retreat
Erth is remote and yet, easily accessible by road and serviced by excellent rail links from London & the North. Located just over the border in Cornwall.

Meet the team

Nici Harrison

Lead Facilitator
Nici, founder of The Grief Space, will be your lead facilitator for the week. She will hold the grief tending workshops and be there as a support to help you integrate the guest workshops. Nici has curated the whole retreat with care and compassion. She is there to support your entire journey with us.
Veronica Stanwell

Supporting Facilitator
Veronica is a multidisciplinary healing arts practitioner and founder of Rooted Healing, weaving her love for land, ceremony, somatics and song into intimate explorations for connection, healing and growth. Her MSc studentship in Transpersonal Psychology is driven by the remembrance of ancient wisdom in our quest towards belonging.
Deborah Maddison

Nervous system support
Deborah will be sharing TRE® (Tension & Trauma Release Exercises) with the group. She is beautiful at holding safe spaces for people to reconnect to themselves. She still uses these practices daily to come home to herself, as they support nervous system regulation, release from tension and a deeper connection to herself and life.
Charlie Gavins

Supporting facilitator
Charlie is with us to support the team hold the space with ease, grace and compassion. Having recently returned from many years in Sad Ghuru’s ashram his daily life is a devotional offering and ritual. Charlie is also a certified coach with a passion for nurturing the creative within.

Our home

Erth Barton is a historical, organic, ethical, and riverside retreat.

It marries its medieval roots with a 21st century vision of offering the opportunity to live simply, wildly, immersed in the unspoilt natural landscape surrounded by wildlife.

Erth Barton’s position, is elevated on Erth hill, with views from large granite mullion windows over the River Lynher that snakes around both its sides.

The movement of the tidal river breathes in and out twice daily bringing an ever-changing landscape and light.

This place is wild.

As soon as you drive onto the peninsula, you’re entering another world.

Wild flowers, buzzards, skylarks, swallows, geese, egrets, fallow deer in the oak filled woodlands, and owls in the trees at night call across the river…..

A typical day

8am – breakfast

9.30 – Grief tending circle

12.30pm – Lunch

1.30pm – Free time or 1:1 sessions

3.30pm – Embodiment workshop (TRE / Breathwork)

6.30pm – Dinner

8pm – Group integration / evening activity

“I'm so glad I came on this retreat at this point in my grief journey. It was the place I needed to reconnect with myself, and allow myself to receive the nourishment that was given to me. The space that was created and held felt safe and brave, which helped me feel comfortable to be vulnerable in the group. I am so grateful for the level of care, presence, patience and kindness the team showed at the retreat. It really was another level!”
— Leah
“Nobody wants to go on a grief retreat, but everyone should. It’s not so much about loss, but a deep exploration, both psychological, spiritual and physical, which opens a pathway to what can be gained. I learnt about suffering, but also about beauty, about comradeship and compassion. I am so much better equipped to continue my journey with grief which is now my companion and with whom I share all life’s ups and downs. I can honestly say it was transformative. I would highly recommend it.”
— Emma
“The grief retreat has been one of the most impactful steps I have taken towards healing my relationship with grief. I could only get there because the space that the team held was built from deep love and care. It made it safe for the parts of myself that have been locked away for a long time to come out. The love that was in the space made it possible for the pain to come out and with those two polarities being able to co-exist I found some healing, thank you!”
— Tim
“Nici is a wonderfully gifted being who has created something unique, inspiring and truly special. Thank you for providing a sacred space for likeminded souls to unite each in our personal experiences of grief, the venue provided the most magical setting to set sail on a life-changing journey. It was my first time on a retreat, I will cherish the memories and keep the tools and teachings close to support me on this ongoing journey.”
— Ruth
“I think anyone suffering with grief would find the grief retreat so helpful, it’s not to try and get rid or replace your grief but to learn how to make peace with it and try and live in harmony with it, in all its rawness and harshness. It’s about remembering our lost loved ones and celebrating the love we have for them, whist accepting that we will never be ok with them being gone. Nici and all of the workshop facilitators made no this a very gentle experience and they really made me feel, welcomed, understood and listen to. So much love for them.”
— Samantha

Accommodation and pricing

Moss (sold out)

Moss is a large room with en-suite bathroom, this is a light room with views onto the gardens. The bathroom has views across the River Lynher.
£1350 (shared twin) / £2350 (private)
Fern (one shared space left)

Fern is an east facing bedroom with en-suite bathroom. This rooms looks out onto the River Lynher to the front with views across to Dartmoor - it’s the sunrise bedroom.
£1350 (shared twin) / £2350 (private)
Granite

Granite is an east facing bedroom that looks out across the River Lynher towards Dartmoor. This room comes with a large shared bathroom across the hallway, which looks onto the west, and St Germans.
£1250 (shared twin) / £2150 (private)
Oak (sold out)

Oak is a triple aspect bedroom with en-suite bathroom. This rooms looks out onto the River Lynher to the front and rear - spend the morning watching the boats and tide drift in & out from the window seat. This room comes with its own balcony with views towards Dartmoor.
£1350 (shared triple, possibly mixed)
Gorse

Gorse is a ground floor bedroom with open fireplace, which looks west over the River Lynher towards St Germans. Relax in the window seat and watch the boats across the river. This room comes with shared bathroom.
£1550 (private)
Lynher + Tiddy

Lynher and Tiddy are shepherd’s huts located in the paddock nearest to the main house and have views onto the Lynher. Can be made up as twin or king bed, and have an en-suite bathroom.
£1150 (shared twin) / £1950 (private)
Cabin

The cabin is nestled in the paddock with views across the River Lynher. Can be made up as twin or king bed, and has an en-suite bathroom.
£1250 (shared twin) / £2150 (private)