Over the last four years, my life has changed almost entirely.
There was a divorce, a cross-country move, the deaths of both of my parents, years of caregiving and rebuilding, and this year, the loss of my beloved dog—the companion who had been with me through every other grief. By May, I found myself in a place I could no longer simply "push through."
That was when I learned about cumulative grief: the profound exhaustion that can happen when losses, transitions, and upheavals pile up faster than we can process them. I had recently started weekly therapy, but I realized I needed something more concentrated, so I attended Heather's grief retreat in Mt. Shasta. It was exactly what I needed.
For several days, I was surrounded by wonderful people who understood that grief is grief. No one compared losses. No one expected anyone to be okay. We simply witnessed one another. Heather's program of gentle Yoga, group sessions, and intentional activities in the beauty of Mount Shasta, was a lovely balance of healing, resting, and simply being. It struck a balance I hadn’t felt for a very long time.
One of the most important things I learned is this: grief demands witness. Whether it comes from one devastating loss or years of accumulated change, it asks to be seen.
If you are carrying a grief that feels heavier than you can hold alone, please know there are people and places that understand. And I can say with certainty that Heather Moyer's Deep Grief Retreat is absolutely one of those places. I am deeply grateful I went.