Inspired by the work of Francis Weller and the First Gate of Grief — Everything we love, we will lose.

“My grief says I dared to love, that I allowed another to enter the very core of my being and find a home in my heart. Grief is akin to praise; it is how the soul recounts the depth to which someone has touched our lives. To love is to accept the rites of grief.” – Francis Weller

As we arrive at the threshold of spring, this community ritual invites us to gently acknowledge the layers of grief that may have surfaced during the darkness of winter.

Together, we will draw upon the energy of the Spring Equinox. A time of balance, transition, and renewal, to meet what has stirred within us, and to allow space for safe release as we step into the next phase of growth.

This First Gate — Everything we love, we will lose, speaks not only to the loss of loved ones and companions, but also to:

 

Illness

Changes in identity (such as becoming a parent, perimenopause, menopause, empty nest, and retirement)

The life we once knew

Accumulated losses held quietly over time

Prolonged illness, for example, can bring grief for the version of life we once lived. This gathering offers a space to meet and release the emotional impact of such experiences, so that we may carry both grief and gratitude in equal measure, while remaining open to the life that is here now.

Whether your loss is recent or many years old, you are welcome.

You may be carrying grief that is ready to be witnessed, held in loving presence, so the heart may remain soft and open.

Outline of the Day

Opening Sharing Circle

Conscious Breath & Movement with Hannah, accompanied by holy oils

Embodied Movement & Journaling with Lorye

Fire Ritual to support release

Guided Community Grief Ritual led by Lucy, supported by Aramaic prayer and chanting with Bella Aurisha and friends

Grounding Vegan Soup to close

Practical Details

Arrival: from 12:00pm

Start: 12:30pm prompt

Please bring a photo or small item for the community altar that represents the grief you are carrying.

Teas, spring water, and light refreshments will be available throughout the day.
You are welcome to bring additional snacks to support your energy.
Soup will be served after the ritual.

Together, we gather as communities once did, to grieve, to witness, and to honour that grieving is a natural part of living.

With love,
Lucy, Hannah, Lorye & Marisa

 

We are grateful for our growing community and for the presence of Ellise Toop, Yana Neison, Marcie Briscomb and Melanie Philip, who will also be supporting the space so you can feel truly held during our time together.

PLEASE NOTE

This is a community grief-tending space, not a therapy group.

You are responsible for your own wellbeing during and after the gathering, including seeking any additional support you may need.

If you are currently experiencing acute mental health challenges, we warmly encourage you to consult with a qualified professional to assess whether attending feels supportive and appropriate at this time.

WHAT IS ARAMAIC? 

Aramaic is one of the original languages spoken in Mary Magdalene’s time and before.The Aramaic language does not have separation and when we begin to bring Aramaic into our lives through prayers and mantras our brains begin to change because there is no separation in Aramaic between the physical and the spiritual. Everything is automatically healed when we speak Aramaic as there are no dualities. Aramaic highlights that everything is one.

Meet Your Guides …

HANNAH GRACEFUL DAWN

Hannah is of a strong Welsh lineage and is a teacher of the Holy oils of the tradition through ministering the holy oils through awakened love and rites of passage . She is a lifelong student of conciousness through the path of the mystic and has had many strong teachers along the way. She is trustee of the Sacred Death centre. She has founded the Temple Of the Myrrbearers Avalon through her River of Eternal Love myrrh bearing school and has co founded the Sunheart temple school with her twin sister. And has also launched a sacred Groves Avalon podcast She lives and serves in Avalon and her school is currently at Goddess House. She is a mother of 3 homeschooled amazing young people . And is part of a sanctuary project in the mountains of Portugal with her Twin Sister www.templeofgracefuldawn.com

LUCY LORD

Lucy is a Grief Recovery Specialist, grief tender, and the founder of the Sacred Death Centre in Glastonbury, a community organisation dedicated to supporting people through the thresholds of death, dying, and grief. Her work is rooted in the belief that grief is not a problem to be fixed, but a deep human process that deserves time, space, and reverence.

After working for many years in the corporate world, Lucy’s life changed direction through a series of profound personal losses. These experiences brought her to the Grief Recovery Method, which became a pivotal turning point in her own healing and the foundation of the work she now share with others. Over the past years, Lucy has supported many individuals through this evidence-based programme, helping them to gently meet and integrate the emotional pain they have carried.

Recognising that how we die shapes how we grieve, Lucy trained with Felicity Warner as a Soul Midwife, deepening her understanding of the end-of-life journey and the importance of compassionate presence.

Her grief-tending work is further grounded in the teachings of Francis Weller, whose wisdom on community grief and the necessity of ritual informs her approach. His reminder that “grief and gratitude are two sides of the same coin” sits at the heart of her work.

You are welcome here exactly as you are, With your story, your tenderness, and the truth of your heart.   www.lucylord.co.uk

LORYE KEATS HOPPER

Lorye is an elder, empath and ex-nurse. She has studied wisdom

teachings for many years, and is trained in the creative healing

arts. Her main focus has been working with women’s circles, and

empowering young adults.

MARISA ARIANA

Marisa’s earlier career was as a qualified mental‑health nurse; she was registered and practiced for 28 years, working in both community and inpatient settings. She trained with Kristoffer Hughes on his Death Midwifery course, with William Bloom on Passing Over, Creating a Graceful Death, and Transfer of Consciousness, and with Felicity Warner on her Soul Midwives training. She also attended workshops with Stephen Jenkinson, who was her initial influence when she began this work. Marisa has served as a facilitator for Death Café Glastonbury. Previously, she volunteered at Weston Hospice as a companion and with Marie Curie as a helper and companion, providing emotional and practical support to adult in‑patients in their final days or hours of life at Musgrove Hospital. She completed her funeral celebrancy training with the Fellowship of Professional Celebrants in early 2015. Marisa strongly believes that people can reclaim these powerful rites of passage, and she will respectfully assist and accompany a dying person on their journey—whether at home, in a hospital, or in a hospice—and help create a funeral that is as individual as the person. She has attended many grief‑tending circles, both large and small, and enjoys being a participant and space‑holder. She also welcomes opportunities for a circle to be offered in the community, as this is a profoundly effective way of working with grief.

BELLA AURISHA 

Bella Aurisha is a channeler, ceremonial singer & sound Healer. The healing energy is very present in her music. Her voice through her songs has been described as a healing catalyst, & people often feel inner peace & change after listening to the songs. She has studied & chanted aramaic mantras for several years & she deeply feels the calling to share the healing energies of this powerful & ancient language. She composes/channels her own music for aramaic mantras & if you want to listen, you can find her music on all major streaming platforms.
www.unityrosetemple.com 
www.bellaaurishamusic.com

A Community sharing circle for Honouring Loss

We warmly invite you to join our Circles of Grief session. A gentle and supportive space to explore your personal experiences of grief and loss in all their forms. Whether your loss is recent or many years ago, this gathering offers a compassionate place to share what may be laying heavy on your heart.

Our intention is to create a loving and safe environment where everyone feels comfortable and supported to meet whatever arises during the session. This group will run monthly.

We are honoured to offer this collaboration between The Sacred Death Centre, Amy Lou Martin, and Emmelaine Leighton-McCardell.

 About the Facilitators

Amy Lou Martin – End of Life Companion, Soulmidwife
“My name is Amy, I live in Street, Somerset, with my fiancée and two sons, who are 12 and 5 years old. I am currently training to become a Soul Midwife and Psychopomp (Guide of Souls) practitioner.
Through various trials and traumas in my life, I have come to this work from a place of deep spiritual peace and acceptance. The journey from life to death is fascinating to me, and it can be a beautiful one, if we allow it to be. I hope to help ease this transition for those going through it, whether themselves or with a loved one. Through the Circles of Grief sessions, we can honour those we have loved and lost, allowing the light of our loved ones to shine through the pain. My prayer is for that light to become more present for all those living with grief in their hearts.”

Emmelaine – Psychotherapist and Nature Therapist

My name is Emmelaine and I am a psychotherapist and nature therapist in the local area, with experience in holding space for individuals and groups across all walks of life.
I am passionate about bringing people together to explore shared experiences and experiences within the collective. I feel that we all deserve a place to express both our personal and shared experiences around grief and what it means to be in relationship with it.
I believe that when we allow ourselves to feel deeply and authenticity, we also open our hearts to what is beyond, and being able to assist the facilitation of this feels like deeply important work that I am honoured to participate in.

Event Details

Sunday 7th December
2:15pm – 3:45pm
Avalon Room, The Courtyard, 2–4 High Street, Glastonbury BA6 9DU

We look forward to welcoming you into this loving space of remembrance and connection.

With love,
Amy & Emmelaine

Please Note

This is a community grief sharing circle, not a therapy group. You are responsible for your own wellbeing during and after the gathering, as well as for seeking any follow-up support you may need.

If you are currently experiencing acute mental health challenges, we warmly encourage you to seek guidance from a qualified professional to assess your capacity to attend and to ensure you feel safely supported.

 

Sacred Endings – A One Day Workshop

A day to gently explore how we can approach death and funerals with greater awareness, care and meaning.

Together we will look at how to create a meaningful funeral, exploring the different options available including DIY funerals, direct cremations, the role of the celebrant, and how an end-of-life companion can support individuals and families during this tender time.

In the afternoon we will offer a short eulogy writing and sharing exercise, a reflective practice that gently invites you to become more comfortable with your own mortality while deepening appreciation for what you truly value in your life.

We will close the day by sharing simple end-of-life vigiling practices and a gentle sound journey.

Arrival: from 10:00am
Start: 10:30am
Lunch: grounding vegan soup will be shared
Close: by 5:00pm

A day of practical information, reflection and community as we open the conversation around death and sacred endings.

Your guides for the day…

Marisa Picardo

Marisa’s earlier career was as a qualified mental‑health nurse; she was registered and practiced for 28 years, working in both community and inpatient settings. She trained with Kristoffer Hughes on his Death Midwifery course, with William Bloom on Passing Over, Creating a Graceful Death, and Transfer of Consciousness, and with Felicity Warner on her Soul Midwives training. She also attended workshops with Stephen Jenkinson, who was her initial influence when she began this work. Marisa has served as a facilitator for Death Café Glastonbury. Previously, she volunteered at Weston Hospice as a companion and with Marie Curie as a helper and companion, providing emotional and practical support to adult in‑patients in their final days or hours of life at Musgrove Hospital. She completed her funeral celebrancy training with the Fellowship of Professional Celebrants in early 2015. Marisa strongly believes that people can reclaim these powerful rites of passage, and she will respectfully assist and accompany a dying person on their journey—whether at home, in a hospital, or in a hospice—and help create a funeral that is as individual as the person. She has attended many grief‑tending circles, both large and small, and enjoys being a participant and space‑holder. She also welcomes opportunities for a circle to be offered in the community, as this is a profoundly effective way of working with grief. www.rosemaryandyew.co.uk 

Lucy Lord 

Lucy is a Grief Recovery Specialist, grief tender, and the founder of the Sacred Death Centre in Glastonbury, a community organisation dedicated to supporting people through the thresholds of death, dying, and grief. Her work is rooted in the belief that grief is not a problem to be fixed, but a deep human process that deserves time, space, and reverence.

After working for many years in the corporate world, Lucy’s life changed direction through a series of profound personal losses. These experiences brought her to the Grief Recovery Method, which became a pivotal turning point in her own healing and the foundation of the work she now share with others. Over the past years, Lucy has supported many individuals through this evidence-based programme, helping them to gently meet and integrate the emotional pain they have carried.

Recognising that how we die shapes how we grieve, Lucy trained with Felicity Warner as a Soul Midwife, deepening her understanding of the end-of-life journey and the importance of compassionate presence.

Her grief-tending work is further grounded in the teachings of Francis Weller, whose wisdom on community grief and the necessity of ritual informs her approach. His reminder that “grief and gratitude are two sides of the same coin” sits at the heart of her work.  www.lucylord.co.uk

 

We warmly invite you to join us for Embracing Life ~ Empowering Death, a transformative and practical one-day workshop dedicated to exploring the stages of dying and the empowering practice of death planning. 

Through insightful discussions and practical tools, this workshop offers a compassionate space to deepen your understanding of life’s final chapter while empowering you to approach it with clarity, grace, and purpose. Whether you’re navigating this journey for yourself or supporting a loved one, this day will inspire and equip you with meaningful strategies for embracing life’s transitions.

We will cover the four stages of dying from the understanding of an end of life companion. How to create a circle of care when supporting a friend or family member at end of life and explore what a simple death plan might look like using a holistic approach.

This workshop is being offered as a collaboration between the Lucy Lord at the Sacred Death Centre and Tasha Kalisher – Soul Midwife www.tashakalisher.com 

Tasha is a soul midwife, shiatsu practitioner and qigong teacher. As a soul midwife, she provides care as a non-religious, non-medical companion and support for individuals with a life-limiting illness and their family and friends. Her support is tailored on an individual basis and includes talking through the natural stages of dying and offering ideas on how best to support someone, as well as visits and practical care. 

Sunday 24th May 10am – 5pm. Avalon Centre, King Street, Glastonbury, BA6 9JY

A simple and grounding vegan soup will be shared for lunch, other light refreshments will be available. Please bring any extra snacks you feel you may need throughout the day.