Grief Alchemy

Grief tending in community

9th - 13th April 2025

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

Open for booking

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.

– Helen

“I can’t describe to you what has happened to me since and because of our retreat in Cornwall. I keep referring to is as transformation, but actually I think it’s liberation.”

– Amber

“One of the most incredible experiences I have had in a long time, if not ever. Nici and her amazing team held a space that felt as safe as they come.”

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 £1500 and £2800 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 embodiment workshops (breathwork, gentle yoga or trauma/tension releasing exercises)

    • Introduction call with Nici before the retreat

    • A grief ritual

    • 3 beautifully prepared seasonal and organic meals a day

    • 1 integration group call after the retreat (17th April, 6-7.30pm BST)

  • 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.

    For those who wish to arrive by train a taxi will be included to and from Saltash.

Meet the team

“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

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 bodywork sessions

3.30pm – Embodiment workshop (TRE / Breathwork)

6.30pm – Dinner

8pm – Group integration

  • “One of the most incredible experiences I have had in a long time, if not ever. Nici and her amazing team held a space that felt as safe as they come. The work was orchestrated in such a way that it flowed naturally and allowed a group of strangers to be so vulnerable with each other, and be able to experience sharing in a community unlike any other. It felt almost other worldly, being able to retreat from the world that can feel so harsh sometimes, and be nourished and nurtured back to a place more peaceful and joyous. An unforgettable experience. I am so so grateful to Nici for doing this work and holding these retreats.”

    — Amber

  • “The grief retreat was truly life-changing for me - transformative and liberating. What I didn't expect was to feel more relaxed and cared for than I can remember ever feeling. Nici's attention to detail and capacity to be responsive, creative and unafraid of what was brought each day was exquisite, brave and tender, and I think these qualities were able to be mirrored beautifully by the group. I was hoping that my grief would be released from a stuck place to a flowing one and it absolutely was. The other wonderful discovery was that my love was too. I am profoundly grateful for this experience.”

    — Helen

  • “This retreat was more than I could possibly have hoped for. I found it profound and beautiful. Every aspect from accommodation and food to the essential workshops was so thoughtful.  The whole retreat was run smoothly and mindfully. Nici is an extraordinary person, holding the space with such warmth, natural ease and tenderness, and yet with clear boundaries. The workshops flowed easily from one to the other and the team was fantastic. This is not easy work and the way the whole retreat was run also facilitated participants helping each other. I cannot recommend Nici and her work highly enough.”

    — Asha

  • “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

  • “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

Accommodation and pricing

Booking process

  1. Send us your application form

  2. Schedule your one to one call

  3. Book your place on the retreat with 50% deposit