Sorrow's Healing Ground:
Practicing the Sacred Work of Grief in Community
with Carl Bello and Carrie DeMartini
August 21 - 24, 2025
“Life is growth in the art of loss.”
- John O’Donohue
Retreat Overview
We all are faced with loss, including the death of a loved one or a beloved pet, loss of health, a relationship, a home, or a dream. These are the losses humans have faced since the beginning of time. Add to these the increasing destruction of the natural world and a diminished sense of community coherence, and the losses can feel overwhelming. They are wounds to the soul.
During this retreat, we will gather in the beautiful Cumberland Hills and form what Michael Meade calls an “instant village,” creating a robust container where we can metabolize and transmute our losses in ways largely inaccessible in modern culture.
Who This Retreat Is For
This retreat is for anyone who is aching with the impact of personal and collective losses and who hungers for a safe, contained, and sustainable outlet for processing their grief.
We were never meant to carry the burden of grief alone, in isolation, or to “get over it” in any amount of time. Perhaps you live alone, have relocated, or lack a community that is willing to hold sacred space for one another, participating in rituals that compost collective energy in nourishing ways.
In this space, we gather to re-connect and re-member that which has always been part of humanity’s shared, soulful experience.
About Your Facilitators
Carl Bello, DVM, LPC
Carl is a psychotherapist, veterinarian, and soul activist. He is passionate about the life of the soul and the repair of our world.
He has studied grief ritual practices under Francis Weller and Laurence Cole, heavily influenced by Malidoma Some and the Dagara people of West Africa as well as Martin Prechtel.
Carl has facilitated grief rituals in North Carolina, Idaho, and Tennessee.
He currently has a private psychotherapy practice in Knoxville, TN, and continues his 30+ year career as a veterinarian in Seymour, TN.
Carrie DeMartini
Carrie founded Wishing Well Center, which cultivates soulful living and dying.
She is a credentialed educator as well as a certified End-of-Life Educator and Sacred Passage Doula through the Conscious Dying Institute and has worked as a hospice direct patient and grief support volunteer for more than 15 years.
She believes being present to our mortality and processing our collective grief in a safe community inspires richer and more meaningful lives.
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What You Can Expect
Our 3 nights and two-and-a-half days together draw on the teachings of our mentors (Francis Weller, Malidoma Somé, Martín Prechtel, Laurence Cole, and others).
Our time together will be spent in:
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Shared song, poetry, drumming, and movement.
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Writing practices.
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Journaling and creative art experiences.
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Talking in the larger Circle and small groups, composting our grief together.
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Embracing the wisdom of our ancestors and time-honored rituals.
The land itself is healing, and there will be ample time to explore the 160 acres of forest cocooned within the Powell River. Our weekend will culminate with a grief elegy on Sunday morning.
You will discover that it is in coming together and sharing our losses in the midst of beauty and the Sacred that we find a deeper sense of our humanity and connection - and greater compassion for one another and the earth.
Meals
Three freshly prepared, mostly gluten-free meals will be served daily. Meals will be non-vegetarian with a vegetarian option available at each meal and may include organic eggs and dairy.
Tea, coffee, lemon ginger water, lemon balm tea, and snacks will be available throughout the day.
Accommodations
We offer a variety of cozy lodging options.
Click the photos below to explore each one.
FAQ's
Below are some frequently asked questions that might
help you gain a better picture of what to expect.
Is there anything I should do to prepare for the retreat weekend? Historically, humans have always participated in some type of preparation(s) before entering liminal ritual space. While we don't provide specific instructions or prescriptions for things you should do, certain processes can support your experience in the days leading up to the retreat weekend. ●Nourish your body with good food. ●Consider making space for periods of intentional silence to energize the inner-landscape and minimize outside distractions and mental chatter. ●Get plenty of rest. ●Think about meaningful objects, mementos, or tokens that you'd like to bring with you and add to the communal altar. If possible, treat the day or two before/after the retreat weekend as equally sacred*. This will help your body, mind, and spirit prepare to sink into the experience - and it equally supports your gentle re-entry into "normal life." *Consider taking advantage of Well Being Retreat Center's offer to come early or stay a night afterward to soften your entrance and exit
What will the schedule be like? Will there be free time? We don’t provide a specific or detailed description of what we do ahead of time because there is something to be said about holding the Mystery. The general itinerary includes scheduled indoor sessions and indoor/outdoor activities (weather permitting), balanced with meals and free time. The unscheduled time will allow you space to hike, swim, relax in the beautiful forest, or retreat to your cabin/tent.
What should I plan to wear throughout the weekend? August is hot in east Tennessee, so check the weather forecasts, which may include rain. Most of our sessions will be indoors, but we still recommend having layers that accommodate whatever weather is predicted for that weekend. That said, these are the East Tennessee mountains, and the weather is unpredictable - despite what the meteorologists predict.
Will there be food that accommodates dietary restrictions (gluten-free, dairy-free, vegetarian, vegan, etc.)? Well Being Retreat Center’s food is absolutely delicious and lovingly made to accommodate all of the most common food sensitivities or restrictions. Every meal offers vegetarian, vegan, dairy-free, and gluten-free options without prior notification required. If your dietary restrictions or preferences are beyond that scope, feel free to email Heather Noland (registration@wellbeingfoundation.org). Also, every cabin has a refrigerator and small kitchenette, so you are always welcome to prepare your own meals and snacks.
Is there a recommended reading or resource list? While nothing is "required", we draw deeply from Francis Weller's "Wild Edge of Sorrow", and Martin Prechtel's "Smell of Rain on Dust" for those who are interested.
Do I need a grief ritual? We have learned through our mentors and personal experiences that in modern America, we lack an adequate sacred container to metabolize the losses common to all humans. When this is lacking, all sorts of things can go wrong - and it certainly becomes more challenging to tap into the more pleasurable experiences of joy, fulfillment, and unconditional love. Our passion and goal is to provide both the container and the guidance and instruction so you can experience this for yourself during the retreat and integrate these practices into your own life. Only you know for sure if you need a grief ritual, but if you feel a tug in this direction, the answer is probably “Yes!”
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For questions about the retreat or retreat structure please contact either Carl or Carrie at their emails provided below.
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Carl Bello: carl.e.bello@protonmail.com
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Carrie De Martini: carrie@wishingwellcenter.com
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For questions about facilities or accommodations, email Heather at registration@wellbeingfoundation.org
Questions?
Registration & Payment
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Please register with Well Being Retreat Center for your tuition, lodging and meals using the online form below.
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After previewing your form, scroll to the bottom and click Submit to be taken to the payment page. Full payment is required at time of registration.
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Cancellation & Accommodations Policies can be found HERE