Join us for Deep Waters, a three-day ritual journey diving deep into the waters of grief. In this time of great global transition, the anniversary of Helene, and our personal heartaches, we gather to heal through practices of shared grieving and collective renewal.
This gathering invites us to reweave the threads that bind us to each other, to the land, and to those who came before. Within this village, we pledge our allegiance to the earth and call forth the greater ancestral and elemental powers to guide our individual and collective journeys.
Through live music, elder wisdom, ritual magic, and guided practices, we will build a sacred container to express what has been unspoken, release what has been held too long, and open ourselves to the gifts on the other side of sorrow. Expect deep connection activities, songs, silence, storytelling, and collective keening.
You’ll also find time to rest and replenish. Swimming in natural waters, shared meals, and quiet communion with the land offer nourishment alongside the depth of this work.
This ritual is open to all who feel called—whether you carry fresh grief, ancient sorrow, or heartache for the world. The village welcomes you, all of your parts, and all of who you are.
What to Expect:
Deep ritual space held with care and integrity
Deep connection to each other, the earth, and our ancestors
Elder wisdom and blessings
Live music and communal song to support emotional release
Opportunities for swimming, hiking, and nature immersion
Shared meals, deep connection, and time around the fire
Lodging and camping according to your need.
Let us remember how to traverse the deep waters, to weep in the arms of the Earth, and to rise again in the strength of the village.
Grief Work & Healing:
Aliveness returns when we are unburdened by the weight of Grief. According to Frances Weller, this Grief might include:
Losing the things we once loved (people, visions, opportunities, relationships, abilities, etc)
The parts of us that have never known love (shame, guilt, not-enough-ness, etc)
The destruction of our Earth home (Ecological Grief)
The things we didn't receive in this lifetime (village, ancestral lands, elders)
The inheritance of Ancestral Grief
We will journey through these "Gates of Grief," allowing plenty of time, space, and support for release and integration. These Grief rituals combine the elements of potent medicine-songs, authentic-relating exercises, poetry, storytelling, group sharing, somatic awareness, and indigenous wisdom. All of these pieces will be integrated into a strongly-held container for the Village to unburden itself and call forth the birthright of Joy.
Facilitators:
Josh Fox, is a seasoned ritualist, teacher, herbalist, and song-carrier. For over a decade, he has held space as a grief-, shadow-, and trauma-tender in his private practice and has offered hundreds of community healing circles throughout the Southeast. He is a co-founder and steward of Sun Song Community (Human Nature Preserve), and he is a lifelong student of medicine music, vision quest, Chinese Medicine, somatic therapies, Non-Violent Communication, and community living. His Village-building work with Grief has been greatly inspired by the work and rituals of Sobonfu Somé, Aixa Amankay, Frances Weller, Joanna Macy, and Martin Prechtel; and he has received direct ceremonial training with Laurence Cole and Kedar Brown.
Sharon Oxendine, is a proud First Nations woman and is enrolled member of the Lumbee Tribe in Southeast NC. Sharon has studied with Native and Indigenous Teachers for over thirty years. She established a created a Nonprofit Community Organization-Medicine Wheel Way in 2019. The land is eight acres located in Fairview, NC. The mission is dedicated to supporting BIPOC and Underserved communities in Nature Restorative practices. Sharon is a Sacred Pipe Carrier, and she works with her community in providing ceremonies celebrating life, transitions, rites of passage and soul retrievals. She has studied with many Indigenous teachers including the late Malidoma Some. She traveled to his village and studied with his Shaman teachers in 2009. Sharon has been initiated into the Medicine Lodge of J. Grate and she was named as an Elder by her community in 2009.
Location:
This gathering will be hosted at Sacred Mountain Waters in Marshall, North Carolina, approximately 45 minutes North of Asheville. Sacred Mountain Waters is a private retreat center nestled in a wide, Appalachian mountain valley and bounded by two miles of pristine rivers with more than 200 acres of forest and trails. Guests of the property are encouraged to enjoy the gifts of walking the land, visiting the many waterfalls, or diving into the natural swimming pond after cleansing in the sauna or soaking in one of the fresh water hot tubs.
You are welcome to choose from these sleeping possibilities:
Tent or car camping (included with ticket)
Request one of the limited indoor beds (costs extra, contact Shannon at
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MEALS:
One ticket includes 5 vegetarian meals. Our chef, Mirna, consistently delivers "beyond-organic" cooking where ingredients are sourced or wild-crafted as locally as possible. Upon registering, you'll be asked to fill out a form to accommodate any allergies or dietary needs. You are also welcome to bring any supplementary snacks (meat included).
A tea and coffee station will be available with hot beverages throughout the gathering.
Check out the ticket link for more information on pricing and available BIPOC and financial need based scholarship opportunities.
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