In the Shelter of Each Other:
the Sacred Work of Grief in Community
with Carl Bello and Carrie DeMartini
March 7 - 9, 2025
“The deeper the sorrow, the greater the joy.” William Blake
Today, the losses we face are manifold; loss of a loved one, beloved pet, divorce, illness, relocation are a few that most recognize. But what about lost relationships, dreams, species, destruction of the natural world, loss of a civil and compassionate society, wars, economic disparity, racial tension? How do these untended losses affect us? We currently experience higher rates of depression, anxiety, chronic disease, loneliness and addiction than any time in history and one large reason for this is that we have lost the capacity, container, and community in which to mourn these losses.
For many who are not consciously aware of these losses, we do our best to distract and yet slip in to what Thoreau called, “lives of quiet desperation”, surviving on food, alcohol, spending, perfectionism, etc., and the current Netflix offering. Our souls were made for authentic relationship in community, meaningful engagement in the world, and deep enjoyment of beauty, and it withers when these needs are lacking. But we are not without help.
About This Retreat
We will gather together in community in the beauty of the Cumberland Mountains and drawing on the wisdom and practices of several ancient traditions we will share in the communal cup of sorrow. We will learn that in doing so, we can find the gratitude, joy and connectedness that our souls long for.
We will engage in writing practices, poetry, talking circles, song and movement surrounded by the beauty of the mountains and under the bright stars.
You will learn by experience that the soul was made for more than survival and that our grief can be transmuted in to something deeper and more human when given the proper container.
About Carl Bello, DVM, LPC
Carl is a psychotherapist, veterinarian, and soul activist. (https://carlbello.net). He is passionate about the life of the soul and the repair of our world, and synthesizes his understanding of psychology, indigenous practices, mythology and ritual in this process. He was first introduced to grief ritual practice in the tradition of the Dagara people of West Africa by Francis Weller and has participated in ritual and received training by him as well as by Malidoma Some' and Laurence Cole. He has facilitated grief rituals in North Carolina, Idaho, and Tennessee and seeks to offer the power of these practices in to his community.
Carl has a private psychotherapy practice in Knoxville, TN., with a particular interest in Jungian psychology and the relationship between soul and body. He continues his 30+ year career in caring for animals as a part time veterinarian in Seymour, TN.
About Carrie DeMartini
Carrie De Martini founded the Wishing Well Center, which provides end-of-life (EOL) education, preparation, and planning for the healthy and those facing terminal diagnoses. She is a credentialed teacher, certified End-of-Life educator, and Sacred Passage Doula (Conscious Dying Institute).
After 10+ years serving hospice patients, their families, and caregivers - and facilitating grief support sessions and courses with individuals and groups - feels being present to our own mortality and processing our collective grief in a safe community inspires more rich and meaningful lives.
You can connect with her via email: @wishingwellcenter.com.
About Well Being Retreat Center
There will be time to enjoy the 160 acres of scenic Tennessee land and the 2 1/2 miles of Powell River frontage.
Meals will be freshly prepared, mostly gluten-free, vegetarian fare with a vegan option. There are a limited number of private cabins. The Tiny Houses and two of the four earth-sheltered cabins by the river are listed as "Private Cabins." For pictures of the lodging options, go here. Cabinettes have bathroom facilities in the Conference Building, a short walk away. There is also a low cost option for AT Shelter camping by the river with bathrooms and hot showers nearby.
Well Being Retreat Center offers a conducive environment for this event:
quiet natural spaces & delicious healthy food.
Tuition, Accommodations, Meals, and Lodging
Total cost for this 2-night weekend workshop ranges from $465 - $695, depending on the lodging option selected. This includes your tuition, meals, snacks, and lodging for the weekend which begins at 4 pm on Friday and ends with lunch on Sunday..
Well Being's Accommodation Policies for this Event are HERE
Contact & Questions
If you have any questions about the content of the workshop, contact Carl at:
E: carl.e.bello@protonmail.com or call him at 336-405-8005
You may also contact Carrie at:
carrie@wishingwellcenter.com or call her at 865-221-0468
If you have questions about facilities or accommodations,
email Heather at: Registration@wellbeingfoundation.org
or call Patty at: Tel: 423-626-9000; Text: 408-510-0660
Please register for Tuition and Accommodations, meals, and lodging with Well Being Retreat Center using the online form below.
After you "Preview Your Submission," scroll again to bottom of page to "Continue to Payment." (The Payment screen takes a few seconds to appear.) Your registration is complete when payment is made.