Returning – A Grief and Praise Ritual
for these times
We live in a time of great loss and destruction, with so much to grieve—and so few spaces to truly let it out.
Our society lacks rituals and spaces for collective mourning. We’ve lost our natural connection to the elements—earth, water, fire, and air—and to the wisdom of our bodies.
Grief needs a container. It needs to be held by community so that it can move through us, making space for what wants to emerge.
We offer this ritual during the potent time of Rosh Chodesh Elul—a sacred Jewish portal of remembrance that invites us to return to ourselves, the earth, and the body. We will gather in community and journey through the landscapes of the heart, tending to what lies beneath the surface. We will compost what no longer serves us and use it to nourish the seeds of our deepest gifts to the world.
This day will weave together somatic and nervous system practices, solo time in nature, witnessing and being witnessed, song, and a community grief ritual.
Our body of work is rooted in Jewish lineage and inspired by the teachings of Joanna Macy, Malidoma and Sobonfu Somé, Francis Weller, and Authentic Movement.
We honor our ancestors and give deep gratitude to the Indigenous peoples across the globe who continue to keep spirit- and land-based wisdom alive, reminding us what it means to be in right relationship with each other and the Earth. If you feel called, we welcome you—regardless of religion or identity.
Ritual Details
Date: Saturday, August 23th, 2025
Time: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Place: Boulder, CO (up Magnolia, address given upon registration)
Price: Sliding scale of $150-$400
~We are committed to making this work accessible to all. If cost is a barrier, please reach out, we have a few reduced sliding scale available for some work trade~
About The Facilitators
Maya Golan, MA, LPC
Finding self-fulfillment and deeper meaning has always been a driving force in Maya’s life. She is drawn to the nuances of human expression and the subtleties in how people relate to their thoughts, feelings, and each other. This sensitivity is at the heart of her work as a somatic therapist, movement teacher, and group facilitator.
Maya is bilingual (English/Hebrew) and bicultural (Israeli/American), with a rich background in theater, yoga, dance, and Contact Improvisation. Her journey through expressive arts and embodiment practices has taught her to listen deeply—to the body, to the earth, and to what lives beneath the surface. These practices have also cultivated her intuitive and relational skillfulness: the capacity to attune, to stay present with complexity, and to support more authentic, connected ways of relating.
She sees movement as a doorway to insight, healing, and transformation, and brings this approach to her work with individuals, couples, and groups.
Rooted in the fields of movement and psychotherapy, Maya holds space with warmth, clarity, and presence. She is especially passionate about supporting people on the path of returning—to themselves, to their bodies, and to a deeper sense of belonging in the world
Rivi Marcus
Rivi offers grief rituals, community facilitation, and one-on-one mentorship rooted in somatic and earth-honoring practices. She creates spaces where grief is welcomed as a necessary part of being alive, not to be fixed or rushed, but to be witnessed, honored, and shared. Her work is deeply inspired by the teachings of Joanna Macy, Malidoma Somé, and Francis Weller, and guided by a commitment to restoring communal ways of tending loss.
Rivi invites us into deeper relationships — with ourselves, with each other, with our ancestors, and with the living world. She brings a steady presence and an open heart to the sacred work of grief, holding space for what is heavy, beautiful, and true in these complex and tender times.