testimonials
"Before I met Jen and Micaela, I really had little to no skills set around how to be with my grief, or anyone else’s for that matter. My first encounter with them was partaking in a local, community-oriented circle around tending grief. This time was invaluable and completely changed my perspective on what grief was, the beauty and love therein, and how to relate to it in a much more healthy, respectful, shame-free, and grounded way. Jen and Micaela opened the door with their extraordinary capacity for loving the diverse flavors and textures of what this life offers, their undying compassion, and beautiful energy. They are a dynamic duo that I trust from the depths of my soul and feel daily gratitude for meeting them and having the privilege of sharing community. I would recommend their space-holding to anyone, as well as leaning into any and all solo or communal ways to be with grief. This work is truly amazing and soul reviving."
- Mouse Bird
“I felt seen, heard, and safe throughout the entire process. The environment you created encouraged vulnerability, which allowed me to open up in ways I hadn't anticipated. It was a profound relief to share my feelings and experiences with others who were equally willing to be vulnerable. Thank you for facilitating such a supportive space. It made a significant difference in my healing journey, and I deeply appreciate all the effort you put into making it happen for me.”
- Alison Magallon
"I was very nervous to join this series. I had no experience sitting in circles and sharing deep emotions in a group setting. Jen and Micaela did a wonderful job at creating a container and offering us teachings to be with heavy feelings; both our own and others. Learning to make space for these emotions that our culture frequently shuns and allowing others to witness me in those emotions has lightened my spirit and helped me to feel closer to myself and others. I feel immense gratitude for the things I learned during these four sessions and I view this series as foundational knowledge for future grief work. I can't recommend this enough!"
- Danielle Scribner
“My heart and whole self have never felt more safe than at the tail ends of a grief circle, when each and everyone person has been seen, just as they are in that moment, with no encouragement to change, shift, grow, mend, or modify themselves in any way other than in a way that might serve them, soothe them, or comfort them. This work doesn't build a new connection, rather it lights up the threads that were always there connecting us, so we can finally remember that we are not alone. ”
- Lucy B.
The Community Grief Lodge felt to me like a psychospiritual mineral bath. From the moment I walked in I felt included, seen, witnessed, and supported. That helped me be as vulnerable as my body would let me during my time there. 5 hours does not feel like enough time to scrub away all the tarnishes that grief leaves on my psyche, but it serves as a hygiene practice. Knowing that I can return regularly makes me feel secure, like I have community I can lean on when life is hard.
Tending grief in a community has been possibly the greatest practice I've found. Secular society does not know how to handle something so massive as grief, and the result in my personal experience has been burnout, addiction, misdirected cruelty to those I love. After attending several Community Grief Rituals in different ways, I know that I can't avoid these dark emotions. But I don't see them as negative anymore. I embrace my tears. Their coming feels more like my body trying to show me a part of myself being ignored. Thank you for providing this space for my community.
- J.P
"I hired Micaela for a family session to help with the grief from the recent loss of two family members. Going into it I was unsure how open some family members would be to accepting this help but was so happily surprised by the end result. Micaela met each person where they were at and made the session something accessible for us all to find value in, no matter the level or depth of our spirituality. She got us all talking about things I honestly didn't think we would ever be able to talk about. It was transformative and I was so impressed by what she brought to the table."
- Haeli Hagen