Healing Grief and Loss: Restoring the Fabric of Life

Aug 22nd, 2022 - Aug 28th, 2022 | Wild Mountain, Colorado | Nancy Jane, Bettina Straub
The land around us (and within us) teaches with each passing season, and with each flood, drought, fire and storm, that out of change, crisis and a dying to what was, there appears a new story of form and adaptation. And that how we respond and integrate change into the fabric of our ongoing story colors the character of what comes next.
Meredith Little, co-founder, School of Lost Borders
During the cycle of our life, we may experience a loss so profound that it tears at the fabric of our hearts and the world as we know it. A loved one’s passing, a family member’s suicide, a life-changing health crisis, or physical – emotional trauma plunge us into the disorienting territory of profound grief that may last for years.
The raw vulnerability inherent in such experiences calls for more than just the passage of time for us to heal. We need supportive relationships, community, and conscious honoring of our sorrows. Walking through the dark passages of grief, we notice how we are forever changed by heartfelt love and loss.
As we join together in giving space to our grief, we also sense in our bones that the ordeal of loss or death has opened in us the possibility of a new life. We may have a deep ancestral knowing that ceremony held in wild nature can help us honor a profound, mysterious transformation process. Sitting with the cycles of nature we are reminded that death is also a journey of renewal and emergence. Together, we can restore the fabric of our lives and open the door to new strengths, gifts, grace, and even gratitude.
Grief is praise, because it is the natural way love honors what it misses.
–Martin Prechtel
Program Overview:This 7-day program provides an opportunity to explore grief and loss within a safe, ceremonial space. We invite you to join us if you feel ready to fully grieve and honor your losses, opening to new insights in this renewal process. The framework of the Four Shields, along with other rituals and practices, will support this life-affirming restoration. On day five, participants will undertake a 24-hour solo with optional fasting. Upon return participants will share their stories and have them mirrored by the guides.
Program Questions Contact: Nancy Jane at [email protected]
Additional course details & Materials

Our location is private land bordered by National Forest at 9000’ in central Colorado: vistas, rocky outcrops, and stillness. We encourage people to arrive at 9:30am on August 22. The ceremony will end by noon on August 28. More logistical info will be sent when you register for the program. ADDITIONAL FEES: Land Use Fee $80.
You will be responsible for bringing your own food and equipment, though we can provide some gear if needed. We ask everyone to come prepared to live self-sufficiently. You will need to bring shelter and clothing suitable for a full range of inclement weather.
To address safety concerns during the pandemic, please contact us regarding our current Coronavirus protocols as well as any current travel restrictions. These protocols may affect how you are able to travel to the program. Please note: As of November 2021, unvaccinated international travelers are not currently permitted entry to the USA as per current CDC Guidelines.
All participants must submit the required health questionnaire and liability form.
If you have questions about the enrollment process contact us at [email protected] or call 760-938-3333.
A recommended reading list will be provided.
Wild Mountain is land of the Tabeguache Ute people and other Indigenous tribes who traveled through this area of the Colorado Rockies. The Ute lived and hunted in this abundant land of elk, buffalo, deer, and bear before white settlers came and forced them onto reservations in southwest Colorado and Utah.
To learn more about our commitment to regenerative relationships please visit Cultural Relations.