Grieving Fire Ritual - Transfoming grief and loss into lifeforce

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"We grieve the loves we’ve lost. We grieve our abilities vanishing through illness or age. We grieve the loss of faith in our religion. We grieve our children leaving home. We grieve the paths we didn’t walk. We grieve the family we never had. We grieve the suffering of the planet. But while grief may look like an expression of pain that serves no purpose, it is actually the soul’s acknowledgment of what we value. Grief is the honour we pay to that which is dear to us. And it is only through the connection to what we cherish that we can know how to move forward. In this way, grief is motion.Yet in our culture, we are deeply unskilled with grief. We hold it at a distance as best we can, both in ourselves and in each other, treating it as, Joanna Macy says, like “an enemy of cheerfulness.” There is unspoken shame associated with grief. It is sanctioned in very few places, in small doses, for exceptional occasions such as death and tragedy. Beyond that, it can feel dangerous and weak. Perhaps because we fear we’ll drown in our despair, or because it means falling apart in a world which values ‘holding it together’ above all else. But grief plays an essential role in our coming undone from previous attachments. It is the necessary current we need to carry us into our next becoming. Without it, we may remain stuck in that area of our life, which can limit the whole spectrum of our feeling alive." Took-pa Turner

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This winter, as nature turns inward and the light grows softer, we warmly invite you to join us at the Grieving Fire Ritual in Portugal.

The fire will be our companion as we come together to explore themes of loss, grief, and farewell. In this shared space, rituals, music, stories, and the strength of community will support us. Our team of around twelve people will accompany you with experience, mindfulness, and open hearts – each bringing unique gifts from fields such as grief support, ritual work, music, and the language of nature.

At the fire, you are welcome just as you are. Tears, silence, words, or simply your presence – all have a place here. We believe that grieving in community offers hope, courage, and new life energy, something we often struggle to find when we are alone.

During the gathering you can expect times of being with the fire, shared knowledge about grief, small group moments, music, and impulses that encourage us to embrace grief as a natural part of life. We see grief not as a problem to be solved, but as a process that transforms us – just as the fire transforms what passes into warmth, light, and fertile ground for what is to come.

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Basic Information

Date: 5 - 8 of Dec 2025 / Arrival 14:00 Begin 16:00 / End around 14:30 

Location: Madre Selva 1 h Drive from Lisbon

Food and Accommodation:

Madre Selva is a living altar nestled in the beautiful Sintra Mountains, offering a natural and nurturing habitat. The Ritual Workshop takes place mainly outdoors, while Madre Selva also provides cozy shared beds in yurts. If you prefer, you are welcome to bring your own tent or van.

Throughout the gathering, we will provide three simple vegan/vegetarian meals each day, along with tea to nourish and support you.
 

Costs (including food and accommodation): 

(8 Places) Temple Yurt / Dormitory  730€

(6 Places) Big Yurt     770€

(4 Places) Small Yurt   780€

Camping/ Van     730€

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If cost is a barrier for any reason, please don’t hesitate to reach out — we’re open to finding a solution together. We offer several discounts: 

As part of our commitment to equity and repair, we offer alternative pricing for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC). If this applies to you, please feel free to reach out — we’d be honored to connect.

 

For Portuguese People we offer a 30% discount: 

(8 Places) Temple Yurt / Dormitory  510€

(6 Places) Big Yurt  540€

(4 Places) Small Yurt  550€

Camping/ Van  540€

We offer one scholarship that provides a 30% discount. It’s available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Flexible installment plans are available upon request.

Important information

Important InformationThe mourning fire is an experiential space and not a therapy. It is a drug-free space and assumes that you can enter this experiential space on your own responsibility and can maintain your presence. The Grief Fire touches on issues of loss and can also touch on trauma. If you have any concerns, please discuss this with a therapist beforehand. This is not a suitable place for people with bipolar disorder, psychosis and trauma, unresolved trauma or mental health issues, nor should you have used or worked with drugs before.If you are unsure, please clarify this with your doctor or therapist beforehand.I reserve the right to talk to you again (in person or video call) and to exclude or cancel your participation if necessary.

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Cancellation conditions

As the amount will not be refunded in the event of illness or other reasons, you can take out seminar cancellation insurance. If you are unable to attend, the amount will not be refunded.If you wish, you can take out insurance here. For example here: https://www.ergo.de/de/Produkte/Reiseversicherung/Seminarversicherung)

Do you want to register?

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