Good Grief Retreat

Good Grief- Retreat 

Weekend for people of colour 

A dynamic blend of offerings,

September 6-8 - 2024

Welcome to this dynamic blend of offerings over the course of 3 days designed for 15 people in Sussex for 3 days. We begin with an optional walk in the South Downs National Park at 2 pm on Friday the 6th, followed by an official check in at 6pm. Whether you need time off to rest and reflect or join in the activities. We orchestrated a week of learning about the stages of grief, Mindfulness workshops, breakout rooms, discussions, chanting and singing.We all need to grieve, time out and experience a time to reflect, rest and recover. This year we have dedicated a safe space for people of colour to pause. To shed sorrow and recover the joy of life.

In our world, there are so many things that cause us pain and sorrow. With the world as it is today self-care and honouring our grief has never been more critical, but it is also a natural response to loss, but there are also many layers which we are all carrying today.

When we lose someone, It strikes in direct proportion to love: the more we love a person or a thing, the more we experience grief when we lose it. Big griefs: our dear ones die; our relationships end; our jobs disappoint us. Everyday griefs: a friend lets us down; our children struggle; we feel the loss of roots and community; we are beset by anxiety and fear about the state of the world. Some days life is just hard. Grief that is held down or suppressed blocks joy or happiness; and – worse – we may feel anger, rage and frustration. Or sometimes we just feel numb. It’s tiring to keep all these feelings in, and grief is a lonely business. Hope you join us for this rich blend of grounding and up lighting gatherings.

Weekend elements include the following: For preventative medicine, grounding and self regulation:

Vipassana is a buddhist based practice based on mindfulnessness, but you don't need to be Buddhist to practice. It helps with developing discernment, clear insight, focus and energy in the body. To gain awareness and perspective on the actual nature of how objects arise, the conditions that sustain them and our ability to be fixated or overwhelmed by them. These sessions are desinged to slow the body down, notice our default thinking, and create a sense of spaciousness and discipine in the practice.

1. What is Vipassana ?

Vipassana meditation is a form of mindfulness that comes from the original teachings of the Buddha but can be found in all cultures. Vipassana, meaning "to see things as they really are," like all meditation techniques is open to people of all faiths or none and all nationalities and ethnicities. Vipassana requires no belief system as it's a non-sectarian practice. The goal of the practice is the equivalent of a mental detox; and the development of values such as compassion and equanimity, and the increase of empathy. One of the benefits of the day is the opportunity for silent practice under the trees.

2. What is overtoning?

Overtoning is a practice of chanting or harmonic singing where we make a sound and modulate the voice so that we can produce other sounds or notes simultaneously. This helps the body to resonate the primordial sound of OM. This is applied to the Shakras of the body, and is a helpful way of bringing our attention to the sensations of the body. This helps with grounding and self-regulation.

3. The benefits of chanting (optional) 

Om Ah Hum Vajra Guru Padma Siddhi Hum

This is one of the most important Buddhist mantras. It is very useful both for learners and for the most advanced practitioners. In this mantra the whole universe is like a crystal (in some translations – a pearl), which is inside my heart (or inside a lotus flower – representation of the 'I'). This mantra is chanted, meditating on the connection between us and the universe, with a sense of altruism, love, and dedication. The main benefits of chanting is that it has a way of detoxing the mind.

4. What is standing and walking meditation?

Standing meditation is a powerful method of healing the body from injuries and chronic illness. It increases vitality, internal strength and fitness, as well as overall body power. Standing meditation makes use of five very specific postures to deeply release long held stress and tension. The legs, spine and shoulders become very strong yet relaxed. Unnecessary tension is released from the joints and muscles, making them more flexible and elastic. Standing meditation makes use of specific relaxed abdominal breathing and mental imagery, and awareness of the inside of your body

About the presenters: 

William Fley

William has practised various Buddhist traditions for over 20 years.  William is a practising bereavement, end of life care and emergency services,  and founder and director of the "Mindfulness Network for People of Colour", a community interest company based in the UK which aims to bring awareness of transgenerational trauma through mindfulness-based interventions.  William continues to pursue his passion for eliminating cultural and other barriers to accessing mindfulness by encouraging cultural awareness and responsiveness. Winner of the 2023 'Faith and Belief forum' and 2024 invite to the Kings garden party at Buckingham palace. 

Karlet Manning- CEO of Gracefully Prepared - Funeral Director and Grief & Loss Coach, is dedicated to transforming how people perceive grief and approach discussions about death.

Creating a supportive space, Karlet guides individuals through their grieving journey, helping them comprehend the definition of grief and loss. Beyond traditional coaching, she fosters healthy conversations, aiming to diminish the negative impact of grief. Her approach encourages individuals to scrutinise myths and misinformation surrounding grief, expanding their knowledge and finding solace in their journey.

Karlet Manning's comprehensive approach empowers individuals to regain control, manage emotions, and navigate the intricate aspects of grief and loss in both personal and professional spheres. Additionally, her own experiences with bereavement, including the loss of her beloved mother & brother and exposure to a community affected by guns and gang violence in the 90s in Manchester, further enrich her understanding and empathy in supporting others through their grief.

Talibah Rivers -  Is a Singer, Choir leader and Sound Reiki healer,  she is an accomplished vocalist

with a passion for Jazz. She has a strong belief that singing should be for everyone and

loves helping people find the confidence to express themselves and to enjoy singing whether

they are in tune or out. She has facilitated workshops for the Lambeth Country Show online

and in person and hosted Sing, Play, Release singing, meditation, and movement

workshops she devised for well-being and social prescribing for the Royal College of

General Practitioners. Singing gets your endorphins flowing. These are the brain’s feel-good chemicals, one of the many reasons why singing with others has been shown to increase life satisfaction. Choir

members leave sessions feeling uplifted and experience a positive shift in their mood after

joining in.

The joy of Tunelessness

Singing is beneficial for everyone, research has shown that it can release tension, reduce anxiety, and promote a sense of balance, whether singing loudly or humming softly. The good news is that the benefits are achieved whether you are singing in tune or out.

Singing from a playful foundation

To sing from a foundation of play includes warming up the body while focussing on having fun, in addition to warming up the voice, it creates a sense of openness without the stress of producing perfect notes.

Altogether now

Singing together in a group can achieve marvellous results. Singing in a group promotes a sense of well-being and raises our endorphin levels, and studies have shown that the heart rates and breathing patterns of the group becomes synchronised. This fosters a sense of connection and unity.

Cost: The cost for the retreat is £250 for a shared room or £350 for a single room.  We are currently raising funds to provide bursery for maragnized communities and those who require finanical assitance in attending the retreat. Please send us an email detaling a need for a bursery. 

Refund Policy: As a CIC (Community Interest Company), our commitment is paramount. Once your booking is confirmed, refunds are not available.

 However, you are welcome to transfer your space to another person. Your understanding of these terms supports our dedication to community initiatives and sustainability.