Sacred Tending: A Grief Retreat
Fri, Jul 04
|Hope Springs Institute
This retreat is for anyone grieving: an invitation to step away from our day-to-day lives to create space that welcomes grief as a portal to connection with yourself, with life, with healing, and with nature.


Time & Location
Jul 04, 2025, 3:00 PM – Jul 06, 2025, 2:00 PM
Hope Springs Institute, 4988 Mineral Springs Rd, Peebles, OH 45660, USA
About The Event
3 Days/2 Nights, from Friday afternoon to Sunday afternoon: $750 (supporting rate $1000, supported rate $500)
This retreat is for anyone grieving: who you were, death of a loved one, change in your health, loss of a dream, death of a pet, estrangement, systemic injustice, climate change, etc. An invitation to step away from our day-to-day lives to create space that welcomes grief as a portal to connection with yourself, with life, with healing, and with nature.
In a society where grief is often suppressed and overlooked, this retreat offers a rare opportunity to welcome introspection, healing, and community. To meet and honor yourself and your grief as you are, without judgement. This retreat includes lodging, nourishing home cooked meals, optional guided activities, spaciousness for personal reflection, acres of protected land, hiking trails, hot tub, and more!
There will be guided activities throughout the weekend, including a Collage Art workshop, a Tea Ceremony, a walking meditation in the labyrinth, a fire ceremony honoring our ancestors, and more!
There will be plentiful individual time for reflection on sacred land with resources provided, such as books, writing prompts, etc.
There will be communal invitations to rest, to reflect, to sing, to move, to grieve!
“In the absence of this depth of community, the safe container is difficult to find. By default, we become the container ourselves, and when this happens, we cannot drop into the well of grief in which we can fully let go of the sorrows we carry. We recycle our grief, moving into it and then pulling it back into our bodies unreleased. Frequently in my practice patients tell me that they often cry in private. I ask them whether, at some point in this process, they ever allow their grief to be witnessed and shared with others. There is usually a quick retort of ‘No, I couldn’t do that. I don’t want to be a burden to anyone else.’ When I push it a little further and ask them how it would feel if a friend came to them with his or her sorrows and pain, they respond that they would feel honored to sit with their friend and offer support. This disconnection between what we would offer others and what we feel we can ask for is extreme. We need to recover our right to ask for help in grief, otherwise it will continue to recycle perpetually. Grief has never been private; it has always been communal. Subconsciously, we are awaiting the presence of others, before we can feel safe enough to drop to our knees on the holy ground of sorrow.” - Francis Weller
The Facilitators:
Cait Miller is a compassionate death doula, grief companion, yoga teacher, community builder, and facilitator dedicated to supporting individuals through life's sacred transitions. Originally from the East Coast and now based in Cleveland, Cait is a proud queer, neurodivergent woman. With a unique blend of spiritual wisdom and wellness practices, Cait creates safe spaces for healing, connection, and self-discovery. Her multifaceted background spans yoga instruction, grief support, community service, and strategic relationship management, all of which she integrates to guide individuals and organizations toward transformative growth. Guided by a profound belief in the inherent worthiness of all people, her approaches are grounded in dignity, compassion, and the importance of presence. When she's not supporting others, Cait enjoys exploring nature, discovering new coffee shops, going to concerts, capturing moments with photography, and reading (often with a book from her local library). A passionate advocate for personal growth and recovery, Cait has been alcohol-free since July 2021. Her happiest moments are spent near water, where she feels most at peace. She is current Hope Springs Institute Board Member and believes in the organization’s mission deeply.
Samantha Jones is a trauma-informed yoga & meditation teacher, energy worker and tea ceremonialist. Her multifaceted role as a space holder centers on self-cultivation and community healing, emphasizing the importance of mindfulness and nervous system regulation. Samantha’s work is framed by a deep reverence for the natural world, sharing practices designed to reconnect individuals to their authentic selves and the profound sacredness of existence.
Rhianna (Rhi) Gonzales is a 200-hour certified trauma-informed yoga instructor and collage artist based in Cleveland, Ohio. With a background in community mental health since 2020, Rhi was drawn to a trauma-informed approach, which inspired her to pursue and complete her yoga teacher training in 2023. Specializing in yin yoga and meditation, Rhi’s personal practice has also led her to explore art as a meditative tool. She utilizes collage art as a means of reflection and emotional expression, offering a creative outlet for processing feelings. In addition to her yoga instruction, Rhi hosts collage nights and other events designed to help participants channel their emotions through artistic expression. Through these gatherings, she has intentionally fostered a supportive community and created a safe space for emotional processing.
Registration
Pricing is for this 3 day / 2 night retreat and includes lodging, all meals, and optional programming. Price may be paid in full at the time of booking or reserved with a $200 deposit. Registration includes a double occupancy room. We acknowledge and honor that transformative work can elicit a deep need for solitude. In an attempt to hold necessary minimums that support Hope Springs Institute's financial realities while also honoring each participant's needs we are inviting choice in the following way:
-Guaranteed Single: this choice comes with an additional cost, but will close your room out as a single occupancy room.
-Preferred Single: this option includes NO price increase, but will only be accommodated if registration numbers allow. To inform us of this preference please indicate on the registration form that you would prefer a single space, with some background on your need if it feels applicable.
Pricing is for this retreat and includes lodging, all meals, and optional programming. Price may be paid in full at the time of booking or reserved with a $200 deposit.
Committed to accessibility for guests and stability for the organization and its staff, Hope Springs Institute sets its fees and rates to reflect reciprocal exchange and mutual support. We offer three pricing tiers: The standard rate represents the full cost of this program, while the supporting community rate offers a “pay it forward” model to off-set the supported community rate, which aims to make these gatherings more possible for a broader range of folks with different circumstances and resources. Get stretchy, but stay safe, and please consider the reminder that sliding scale is not a sale, or a pay-what-you-want structure. Making your share of an equitable contribution might mean that you are still making sacrifices, or prioritizing this experience over something else. Consider payment plans as ways to balance the cost (you can register with a deposit with the balance due before the retreat begins).
A note about the Ticket Processing Fee: this 3% charge covers the expense of credit card processing, and allows us to put your full registration payment toward our dedicated staff and our beloved facilities. If you prefer not to pay the processing fee, you can register by check; email director@hopespringsinstitute.org for instructions.
Registration
Deposit Ticket
This deposit ticket reserves your space for Sacred Tending: A Grief Retreat, and gives us the information we need to communicate with you! When you are able, please purchase the remaining balance ticket on this event page to complete your registration.
$200.00Tax: +$6.00 ProcessingRemaining Balance Ticket
This purchase, in addition to your Deposit Ticket, completes your payment and registration for Sacred Tending: A Grief Retreat. Scroll down to select the type of ticket (Standard, Supporting, Supported) you'd like to choose.
From $300.00 to $800.00- $550.00Tax: +$16.50 Processing
- $800.00Tax: +$24.00 Processing
- $300.00Tax: +$9.00 Processing
Full Balance Ticket
This purchase completes your payment and registration for Sacred Tending: A Grief Retreat. Scroll down to select the type of ticket (Standard, Supporting, Supported) you'd like to choose.
From $500.00 to $1,000.00- $750.00Tax: +$22.50 Processing
- $1,000.00Tax: +$30.00 Processing
- $500.00Tax: +$15.00 Processing
Guaranteed Single Room
This ticket includes your full tuition fee and a single occupancy room. Please note that this ticket does not guarantee a private bathroom.
$1,250.00Tax: +$37.50 Processing
Total
$0.00