Mother’s Grave RETREATS
Retreats are currently on hiatus.
A huge thank you to all our 2022 and 2023 retreat participants! What a blast!
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Are you grieving the loss of your mother?
Are you angry, sad, nostalgic, frustrated, guilty, broken-hearted, confused … basically, all of the things?
Do you wish there was a place you could go—a relaxing, safe, beautiful place—where you could explore these messy feelings with some incredibly supportive, kind, and hilarious people who’ve also lost their moms (to death or estrangement) and really get where you’re coming from?
And have a ridiculous amount of fun while you’re doing it?
Then come to one of our retreats, and burn stuff in a fire with us.
You won’t regret it. I swear on my mother’s grave!
Who ARE this retreatS for?
While grief is something everyone navigates, a Mother’s Grave Retreat is specifically for you if:
you’ve lost your mother—either to death or estrangement—and have complex feelings around that loss;
you’re yearning for a safe space to talk, process, and heal with other people who are going through the same thing;
you want to escape to a relaxing and beautiful place in nature while you do that difficult but rewarding work;
you are 21 or older and identify as female or non-binary;*
…oh, and you’re reeeeallly down to burn some stuff in a fire pit.
*Yes, we know grief affects people of all ages and genders, but this retreat is limited to 21+ and female- or non-binary-identifying folks. Don’t worry—we’re working on expanding future retreats to include EVERYONE! Meanwhile, if you have any questions about why we’ve set these parameters, please give us a shout at hello@danablack.org.
What’s included?
4 days and 3 nights at a peaceful lakeside resort
Your own adorable cottage (private OR shared with one other guest)
All home-cooked meals, snacks, and beverages included
One-on-one body work with a licensed physical therapist
Group and solo activities curated by our expert team of artists,
healers, clinicians, and all-around great humansAwesome personalized swag
Hot tub time
A sense of community, healing and rest
Lots of laughter
(And as a bonus, we throw in free campfire smells.)
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Delicious Homemade Meals
An amazing on-site cook will provide three nutritious and tasty meals each day. We’ll also provide plenty of snacks, LOTS of great coffee, tea, and other beverages (alcoholic and non-alcoholic!) throughout the weekend.
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Lovely Lakeside Cottages
Picture it: Adorable, Pinterest-lookin’ cottages refurbished by a strong, beautiful, sassy woman who inherited the property after her father passed; an incredible host who makes sure that all her guests feel at home.
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Fun, Healing, and Creative Activities
Making mandalas on the beach, collaging, storytelling, kayaking, journaling, floral design … we’ve got a weekend jam-packed with solo and group activities to sample, with plenty of rest and reflection time in between.
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A Safe, Supportive Community
Come as you are! Come messy and raw and wherever you are in your grief journey. This is a judgment-free zone where you’ll be surrounded by awesome people who truly get it—and will support you every step of the way.
Where we’ll stay
After my mother passed, I discovered the Cypress Resort & Marine in Antioch, Illinois, and it quickly became a place I would seek solace. It’s an escape from the city, it’s adorably decorated, it’s on the water, and best of all the owner (and renovator!), Amanda, is incredible. She’s a great friend, loves nature—and she’s super-cute in overalls.
For four days and three nights, it’s all ours—the cottages, the beach, the vintage boat house, the lake, the chickens (yes, chickens) … and so much more.
Race you to the water!
“The retreat reminded me that my relationship with my mom never dies. The amazingly supportive staff guided us through a weekend of insightful, meditative activities where I learned new ways to analyze and cherish the mother/daughter dynamic we shared during her life.
I gained so many tools for nourishing my inner child: a newfound respect for my boundaries, techniques for restorative rest, and a community of new friends.”
- Suzanna, 2022 retreat participant
Meet Your Host:
Dana Black
Hey, friends. I’m Dana. I’m a podcaster, public speaking coach, actor and only child.
My mom’s name was Shirlee Jo Black. She was a biology teacher, a lover of Chico’s, an incredible party host, a lover of handwritten notes and 3M Post-Its. She could decorate a mean Christmas tree and she wrote her name on everything (even hammers!).
She also died alone in her sleep at 67. But really? She had died years before that; a slow death from neuropathy, addiction, and depression.
Meet the amazing retreat team!
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Isabel (She/Her)
“My mother's death in 2007 and my husband’s death in 2019 have shown me that conversations and contemplation about death and grief are essential to navigating life. I’ve had a lifelong interest in making things, and enjoy the perspective gained through collage, mosaic, gardening, and other arrangements of natural elements.”
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Jill (She/They)
“I am a clinician, an educator, a healer, and a consultant. I am a therapist who sees a therapist, whose therapist sees a therapist. Oh, I also play drums in a few bands!”
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Julia (She/Her)
"I believe in artistic expression as one of our strongest communication tools as humans, whether it is through flowers, visual art, movement, or a song that touches your soul. Currently I work as a professional floral designer and instructor. I am also a licensed clinical professional counselor and I enjoy practicing and leading guided meditation. One of my favorite things is connecting people through creative experiences.”
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Heather (She/Her)
"I help people share their stories and put language to their pain. Discussing grief and mental health doesn’t have to always feel scary. There can be room for joy and even levity inside of the vulnerable, messy parts of grief. We hope this retreat proves it!”
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Sara (She/Her)
“I can’t believe I get to use my 20 years of experience as a licensed physical therapist in therapeutic, clinical, energetic, and restorative approaches to provide healing to you all.
I am deeply passionate about the mind/body connection and helping to provide balance and relief from daily stress, as well as continued comfort from injuries and emotional/mental trauma. I look forward to getting to know you on and off the table.”
Questions? Answered!
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Nope! No therapy involved. There are trained clinicians and healers on our team, but this retreat is about collaborative exploration, curiosity, and reflection. While you may walk away with some useful tools and techniques for working through your feelings, we’re not offering professional therapy here. Just a safe space to grieve without judgment.
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No. Nope. Nothing fancy. (Although the lakeside cottages are incredibly adorable.)
But if you want to spend some personal time doing yoga out by the water, or sneak back to your cabin for some meditation, please do! We know those practices can be incredibly healing, and we want you to feel relaxed and grounded.
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If you are exposed to COVID-19, are showing symptoms, or are just feeling ill in general within 72 hours of the retreat, please stay home. We will issue a 50% refund of the total payment if you are unable to attend due to illness, and/or a COVID related illness or exposure.
While we will not be requiring proof of vaccination at this point in time, we are asking everyone to self-test the morning you depart for the retreat.
We deeply encourage you all to gauge your own personal risk tolerance and, during the retreat, take any safety measures that make you feel more comfortable. We would be happy to speak with you in more detail if you have further questions: hello@danablack.org
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We get it. Everyone will most likely be nervous going into the weekend (us included)! Just know that this retreat is specifically designed for a bunch of strangers to learn about—and with—each other in a safe, supportive environment. You’re going to be in some of the most loving (and expert) company a person could ask for.
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You know yourself best, so you might want to equip yourself with a few tried-and-true coping/calming techniques you can use in those first few uncertain moments—or any time during the weekend, if anxiety sneaks up on you unexpectedly.
Here are a few breathing exercises recommended by Jill, a clinician and one of our retreat team members:
1) Box Breathing: Breathe in for 4 counts. Hold for 4 counts. Exhale for 4 counts. Hold for 4 counts. Repeat.
2) One-Nostril Breathing: Close one nostril and breathe in. Change nostrils so that the other is closed and breathe out. Breathe in; switch nostrils so that the other is closed; and breathe out. Repeat.
3) 2:1 Breathing: When breathing, your exhale breath should be twice as long as your inhale (e.g., if you breathe in for 4 counts, exhale for 8).
Our retreat team is also deeply familiar with mental-health-related work and will be there to support you in whatever way you need.
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Think of this retreat as a choose-your-own adventure: There will be lots of group and solo activities offered, and it’s up to you which ones you engage in (and to what extent). Nobody’s going to force you into anything. This weekend is meant for you to escape and process on your own terms, so if that ends up meaning a lot of alone time, go for it.
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Not unless you want one! Most of the cottages are single-occupant, with a kitchen, bedroom, sitting area and bathroom.
Two of the cottages have two private bedrooms with doors, with a shared bathroom and common space. Let us know on the registration page if you are up for sharing one of these cottages, and we’ll pair you up with another awesome retreat guest!
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Shared cottages have their own bedroom with a door, so you’ll have your own private space to get away from them if you need to! And if personality clashes or other conflicts arise, our staff is committed to finding a solution for everyone involved. That said, think of this like summer camp: Navigating new people and new places is all part of the experience.
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Although we know that grief affects people of all ages and genders, this retreat is limited to people who identify as female- or non-binary.
Don’t worry—we’re working on expanding future retreats to include EVERYONE!
Meanwhile, if you have any questions about why we’ve set these parameters, please give us a shout at hello@danablack.org.
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This retreat is limited to people who identify as female or non-binary and are 21 and over, because there will be alcohol on the premises.
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If you cancel before or on Thursday, June 1st, you will get a 100% refund.
If you cancel after Thursday, June 1st, your payment is entirely non-refundable for the 4 day/3 night retreat.
If your cancellation is due to an emergency or COVID-19 related illness after June 1st, we will honor a 50% refund.
Email Dana directly regarding any cancellation or issue that may arise before the retreat: dana@danablack.org.
Thanks!
Talk to us!
Do you have questions about the retreat that aren’t answered here?
Is something holding you back from attending—something we can possibly help you with?
Send us an email! We’d love to hear from you, and it’ll help us make future retreats even better.