Grief Retreat: A Day for What Remains
Updated: Aug 11
Grieving together. Remembering together. Eating together.
On August 31, 2025, I had the honor of accompanying twelve people in my home region of Burgenland, Austria, through a Day Retreat. They came living with loss, the loss of mothers or fathers, grandparents, friends, or other people who mattered deeply to them. Goodbyes through separation also had their place here. The day was filled with everything that belongs to grief: tears and laughter, speaking and silence, eating together and making things. Everything was allowed. Nothing had to be pushed away.
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What Is a Grief Retreat, Exactly?
A grief retreat is a protected space, usually lasting a day or several days, where a group of grieving people come together to sit with their loss, supported by rituals, mindfulness practices, conversation, and shared moments. Unlike one-on-one grief companionship, a retreat happens in a group, and that's exactly where its power lies: people realize they aren't alone in their pain, even though every story is different.
A retreat doesn't replace grief companionship or therapy, it complements it. It offers an intensive, time-limited space where grief is given real room, often with a depth and connection that everyday life rarely allows for.
How the Day Was Structured
The day followed a carefully crafted arc that offered grounding while leaving room for whatever needed to arise:
Arriving in stillness and warmth: When you walk into a Day Retreat or any gathering, questions tend to come up: What will the group dynamic be like? Do I know anyone? Will I feel comfortable in this space? That's exactly why it mattered to me to give people plenty of time to consciously take in the space and settle in gently with the people around them.
Opening round: Each person brought something personal, an object, a memory, or a story connected to the person they loved, and shared it with the group. This created a beautiful foundation for the day, and it made room for the people who are so painfully missed.
Grief shaking meditation: Grief touches the whole person. Our bodies often carry more than we realize. In this meditation, the accumulated weight was allowed to be released and moved for a moment. Afterward, bodies felt noticeably lighter and freer.
Shared meal in the garden: The shared meal became an important part of the day. Food nourishes not just the body but also the soul. Around the long table in the garden, connection formed, sometimes in lively conversation, sometimes in comfortable silence. This togetherness reminded us that we are held, and that no one has to walk through grief alone.
Individual memory ritual: In a very personal moment, participants gathered their wishes and memories into a small pendant. This symbol became a precious companion, making the connection to the people they loved both visible and tangible.
Closing round: To close the day, each person drew a card from "what remains." I also gave each participant a candle, a handwritten card from me, a gift certificate for one to three grief companionship sessions, and cards and a sticker with the words: "how beautiful that we're alive at the same time." These gestures were meant to be a light for the road ahead, and a sign that each person's story was seen and honored.
A Grief Retreat: A Space for Grief and for Being Human
Grief is not a linear process. Sometimes it feels like a heavy stone in your backpack. Sometimes like a wave that comes out of nowhere. Sometimes like a silence that wraps around everything. We often hear things like "time heals all wounds" or "you need to let go," but who said there are rules? I don't believe in advice. I believe in deep listening. In spaces where everything has room. If you'd like to understand more about why grief resists any fixed pattern, Stages of Grief: What the Model Actually Gets Right and Wrong is a good place to start.
And so this grief retreat became a protected place where each person could be exactly as they were, with their own story, their own pace, their own pain. It wasn't about solving anything. It was about being present with what remains.
Rituals, Encounters, and Gratitude
Participants found new perspectives, discovered helpful tools, gathered moving insights, and above all, we saw each other and allowed ourselves to be seen: human, vulnerable, connected. Together we ate, created memory rituals, drew cards, and took home a candle as a symbol of love and remembrance.
Magical moments arose when the group entered the room: a light in people's eyes, gratitude in the stillness, a lightness that spread through the space. That was only possible because people trust me and believe in this work.
My deepest thanks go to everyone who supported this day, from the wonderful partners who contributed to the goodie bags, to my mom and my friend Sandra, who stayed up late with me preparing, cooking, and creating.
This retreat reminded me again: loss changes us, but when we face it together, we find grounding, understanding, and perhaps even a piece of peace.
Every Person Is Unique, Every Group Is Too
To prepare as well as possible for the day, I gathered key information from participants beforehand through a short questionnaire. This let me show up both for each individual person and for the group as a whole. I had a sense of what themes might be present and what I needed to pay particular attention to. Every person is unique. Every group has its own dynamic. With my intuition, inner steadiness, and deep sense of connection, I was able to create a space that participants experienced as genuinely valuable and meaningful.
How Participants Experienced the Day Retreat
Some of the feedback I received afterward shows just how much can shift when we open a protected space for grief together.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Theres does her work in an extraordinary way. You can feel immediately that she loves what she does. Her warm, calming, and empowering presence gives you exactly what you're missing in grief. In August I got to participate in one of her grief workshops, and what can I say, it was moving, energizing, and yet I felt genuinely connected to the other participants. It was a safe place to let yourself fall. If you're looking for someone who offers grounding and real understanding, Theres is exactly the right person Hanna
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ A beautiful and meaningful experience, every single time. I've participated in several meditations and a grief retreat with Theres and I'm always amazed. I don't know anyone besides Theres who can be with grief and emotions with so much empathy and still give you exactly the space you need. You learn something new every time. Sarah
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ The retreat on August 31 touched me in a way I can barely put into words. Since my father died on May 8, I've been carrying so many questions, thoughts, and feelings that often have nowhere to go. In your workshop, dear Theres, I felt that all of it was allowed to be there, without pressure, without judgment. You didn't just share knowledge. You shared something far more valuable: a way of being that is full of mindfulness, compassion, and openness. Your work matters so much. And it continues to live, quietly and gently, in my heart and in the hearts of many people. Susi
Heartfelt thanks to Martina Nell for the beautiful photographs that captured this day so perfectly.
Frequently Asked Questions About Grief Retreats
What exactly is a grief retreat?
A grief retreat is a protected space, usually lasting a day, where a group of grieving people come together to sit with their loss, supported by rituals, mindfulness practices, and shared conversation. It's not about "resolving" grief, it's about giving it real, intentional room.
Who is a grief retreat for?
For anyone who has lost someone they love, whether a mother, father, grandparent, friend, or through a separation, and who wants a protected space to share their grief alongside others. A retreat works well for both very recent losses and losses from years ago.
Do I have to talk a lot during a grief retreat?
No. There are moments for sharing, but no one is pushed to speak. Silence, simply sitting together, and quiet presence get just as much room as conversation does.
Does a grief retreat replace grief companionship or therapy?
No, a retreat doesn't replace one-on-one grief companionship or therapy, it complements it. It offers an intensive, time-limited space for shared grief work, often with a depth that everyday life rarely makes room for.
How often do grief retreats happen, and how do I sign up?
Retreats happen at irregular intervals. The easiest way to hear about upcoming dates is to reach out directly, I'm happy to let you know as soon as a new retreat is being planned.
Would you like to join the next grief retreat, or do you have questions about it? Feel free to reach out, I'd love to hear from you.
A grief retreat like this would be exactly what I need. The mix of connection, rituals, and simply having space for my own grief sounds incredibly healing. I really hope there will be another one.