Exhale | a grief retreat
A Weekend Retreat
A Sacred Journey Through Loss & Renewal
“Grief is not a disorder, a disease or a sign of weakness. It is an emotional, physical and spiritual necessity, the price you pay for love. The only cure for grief is to grieve.”
Dr. Earl Grollman
OCTOBER 30 - NOVEMBER 3, 2025 | DOE BAY RESORT, ORCAS ISLAND
“I know now that we never get over great losses; we absorb them, and they carve us into different, often kinder, creatures." - Gail Caldwell
If you've found your way here, something has drawn you to the sacred path of grief and healing. Perhaps you're carrying a fresh wound, navigating the terrain of an old loss that still aches, feeling the weight of gestures broadly everything, or simply feeling called to create space for the grief that lives in your body. Whatever brought you here, I'm genuinely grateful our paths have crossed.
Through my own journey with loss, I've learned that grief isn't something to overcome but rather a sacred territory to be honored and tended with reverent care—like a garden that needs both sunshine and rain to flourish. It asks us to slow down, to listen deeply, and to remember the wisdom that already lives within us.
Join me for a transformative journey through grief and renewal on the stunning shores of Orcas Island. Nestled among 38 acres of waterfront wilderness, Doe Bay Resort offers the perfect sanctuary for our intimate grief retreat—where the natural rhythms of the ocean, the whisper of cedar and fir trees, and the majestic views of the San Juan archipelago create a container for deep healing work.
Retreat Experience
During our time together, we'll engage in somatic practices, expressive arts, carefully crafted rituals, and community sharing—all designed to honor grief as a sacred space worthy of our attention and care. We'll explore grief not as something to overcome, but as a profound teacher that can deepen our capacity for joy, connection, and authentic living.
The unique setting of Doe Bay, with its natural soaking tubs overlooking the water and peaceful forest trails, enhances our journey by connecting personal grief to the larger rhythms of the natural world—reminding us that loss and renewal are woven into the very fabric of existence.
Our Journey Will Include:
Somatic Healing Practices to help you connect with the wisdom of your body and nervous system as you navigate grief's landscape with more ease and self-compassion
Expressive Arts & Ritual inviting creative pathways to give shape to experiences that often defy words, honoring transitions through meaningful ceremony
Nature Connection remembering the healing power of the natural world as a mirror and witness to our grief process
Nourishing Community gathering in circle to share stories, break bread together, and remember that while grief can feel isolating, we were never meant to carry it alone
Deep Rest & Integration recognizing that grief requires energy and offering gentle spaces to replenish your spirit and integrate your experiences
“Grief is not a problem to be solved, not a condition to be medicated, but a deep encounter with an essential experience of being human.” - Francis Weller
Is This Retreat For You?
This retreat welcomes all forms of grief—deaths and losses, transitions and endings, ancestral sorrows and collective pain, climate grief and "I don't know why I'm sad but I am" grief.. There's no timeline for grief, no "right way" to navigate its territory. Whether your loss happened recently or decades ago, whether it feels raw or familiar, like a tidal wave or a subtle undercurrent, your grief is welcome here.
You might be called to this retreat if:
You're seeking a compassionate community to witness and hold your grief
You're longing for meaningful rituals to honor whatever you’re holding
You're ready to explore grief not just as pain to endure, but as a transformative teacher
You feel drawn to connect with others who understand that grief is a sacred part of being human
The beauty of this work is that it meets you exactly where you are—no prerequisites, no expectations, no need to have your grief "figured out" or neatly processed, just an invitation to show up as your whole, authentic self. All parts welcome.
"Grief is a sacred practice that enlarges our capacity to be fully human and helps us become more receptive to the mysteries of life and death." - Joanne Cacciatore
The Setting
Doe Bay Resort on Orcas Island offers a profound container for our grief work, where the natural beauty and rhythms of the San Juan Islands support our journey of healing. Doe Bay isn't just a place—it's practically a co-facilitator of our retreat. This 38-acre waterfront wonderland on Orcas Island feels like it exists in some magical pocket dimension where time moves differently and cell service is questionably reliable (consider yourself warned).
The resort features:
Those Famous Soaking Tubs & Sauna overlooking the Salish Sea (where some of the best conversations happen)
Meandering forest and coastal walking trails perfect for forest bathing or private crying sessions (both equally therapeutic)
A Beautiful Yoga Studio where we'll gather for our indoor practices
Minimal WiFi which I count as a feature, not a bug.
Your retreat investment includes:
3 nights accommodation at Doe Bay Resort (4 nights for those choosing the extension)
All organic, locally-sourced meals
Access to Doe Bay's waterfront soaking tubs and sauna (a spiritual experience in itself)
All retreat activities, materials, and facilitation
A retreat zine and welcome gift (I love putting these together!)
Take-home practices for continuing your grief practice at home
Accessibility Matters: Sliding scale and payment plans available. I really don’t want money to be the reason you can’t access this, and money conversations don't scare me — let's talk about what's possible.
Space is limited to 16 participants to ensure an intimate container for our work together. Early registration is recommended.
Booking will open in May or June when I get back from traveling in Peru
Where You'll Rest Your Head
Shared Room
For the social ones.
$1,250 $500 deposit to reserve your spot; remainder due October 1st.
*All Cabins share bathrooms and kitchen.
Private Room
For those invested in a quiet and relaxing weekend.
$1,650/2,150(double occupancy)$500 deposit to reserve your spot; remainder due October 1st.
*All Cabins share bathrooms and kitchen.
Private Yurt
For those who’d like a little more space and distance.
$1,850/$2,350(double occupancy) $500 deposit to reserve your spot; remainder due October 1st.
*Yurts have power and heat but share a communal bathroom and kitchen a short walk away.
I'm Chelsea, a trauma-informed facilitator, spiritual counselor, and fellow walker on the path of grief. My approach weaves together somatic healing, nervous system regulation, and ritual practices that honor both our individual experiences and our collective need for witnessing and support.
My path to this sacred work has been shaped by my own encounters with grief, loss, and transformation—experiences that continue to teach me about the profound capacity we each hold to be present with what hurts and what heals. After completing my spiritual counseling training with The Sacred Community Project and years of holding space for individuals and groups navigating life's thresholds, I believe deeply in the restorative power of gathering in community to honor our losses.
What I know to be true: grief needs witnesses. It needs to be held, honored, and tended with reverence. And when we create sacred space for grief to be expressed, we often discover unexpected gifts of connection, meaning, and even joy waiting on the other side of our pain.
I'm honored to walk alongside you on this journey.
I can't wait to meet you.
About Me (Your Grief-Loving Guide)
Ready?
If you've read this far, there's probably a reason. Trust that little voice inside that whispered "maybe" when you first landed on this page.
Spaces are limited to 16 participants. If you're feeling called to this work, I encourage you to reach out.
Join the waitlist
"In every moment, grief and joy exist side by side, reminding us that our capacity for one is measured by our willingness to embrace the other."
Daily Flow
Our days together will follow a gentle rhythm, balancing structured practice with spaciousness for integration and rest.
"Grief is not just a series of events, stages, or timelines. It is a wilderness—a vast, inhospitable landscape through which we must journey." - Kathryn Schulz
DAY ONE (Friday, October 31): Tending the Soil
7 AM - 8:30 AM | Gentle Movement on the seaside & Walking Meditation |
8:30 AM- 10 AM | Breakfast
10:00 AM - 11:30 AM | Morning Circle: Entering Grief's Territory | In the Yoga Studio, we'll explore the Five Gates of Grief (Weller) and do some Somatic Grief Mapping: Guided practice to locate grief in the body, exploring pendulation between grief and resource states (Levine).
1:00 - 2:30 PM | Lunch
2:30 PM - 4 PM | Free time
choose your own adventure
Soak: Schedule soaking tub time overlooking the Salish Sea
Wander:Self-guided trail walk through Doe Bay's forest paths
Restore: Rest, read, personal integration time or book a massage through Doe Bay
4 PM - 5:30 PM | Expressive Arts Session: The Language of Loss: Creative exploration through writing, drawing, or crafting in the Yoga Studio.
6 PM | Dinner
7:30 - 8:30 PM | Samhain/Ancestral Remembrance Ritual: Special ceremony at the fire circle (weather permitting) or in the Yoga Studio, honoring ancestors and those we've lost.
ARRIVAL DAY (Thursday, October 30): Planting the Seeds
Begins at 3pm - Afternoon 3:00 - 5:00 PM | Arrival & Check-In: settling into your cozy nest and take some time to orient yourself to this beautiful sanctuary.
5 PM - 5:30 PM | Welcome Circle in the Yoga Studio: Introduction to the space & each other, Invocation and setting collective agreements for our time together.
5:30 PM - 6:30 PM | Opening Ritual: Honoring What We Carry: Creating our collective grief altar, calling in the directions and setting intentions for our journey together.
6:30 PM - 8 PM | Community Dinner: Our first shared meal Breaking bread and maybe some ice.
DAY TWO (Saturday, November 1): Weathering the Storm
7:00 - 8:30 AM | Gentle Movement : Resourcing Through the Body | Morning practice in the Yoga Studio focusing on nervous system regulation & practicing embodied techniques for grief resilience.
8:30 - 10:00 AM | Breakfast
10:00 - 11:30 AM | Morning Circle: The Paradox of Loss and Discovery | Exploring Schulz's concept of simultaneous loss and finding, the practice of "and."
1:00 - 2:30 PM | Lunch
2:30 PM - 4 PM | Free time
choose your own adventure
Soak: Schedule soaking tub time overlooking the Salish Sea
Wander: Self-guided trail walk through Doe Bay's forest paths
Restore: Rest, read, personal integration time or book a massage through Doe Bay
4:00 - 5:30 PM | Community Gathering: Shared Stories: sharing circle. Ritual Practice: Letter Writing & Release: Writing to what/who has been lost, followed by ceremonial release at the water's edge.
6:00 PM | Dinner
7:30 PM - 9 PM | Evening Breathwork & Yoga Nidra in the Yoga Studio | A journey through Conscious Breath followed by guided yoga nidra for deep relaxation.
DAY THREE (Sunday, November 2): Gathering the Harvest
7 AM - 8 AM | Gentle Movement : Resourcing Through the Body | Morning practice in the Yoga Studio focusing on heart opening & empowerment
8 AM - 9 AM | Breakfast
9AM - 11:30 AM | Morning Circle & Closing Ceremony: Carrying Forward | Ritual in the Yoga Studio to honor our journey, creating personal grief rituals to continue at home. Exploring how we carry grief rather than "get over it," working with the metaphor of grief as weather (Schulz)
12:00 PM | Official Retreat End | Where we marvel at how close you can feel to strangers after just three days | Tearful goodbyes: Where we start already planning reunions
Departures for those not staying an extra night.
EXTENSION DAY (Monday, November 3): Optional Lingering
Sleep in. Seriously. Because processing grief requires rest.
One last breakfast overlooking that gorgeous water
Reluctant packing and promise-making
