Bark Mill Farm Retreats Presents:
Our Beautiful Impermanence:
A Weekend of Conversation
on Death and Dying
Friday October 9 - Sunday October 11
Chelsea, Vermont
Join End-Of-Life Doulas Dr. Lucy Mize, PhD in Public Health Leadership, and Annie Moyer, Master of Divinity in Buddhist-based chaplaincy, for a facilitated discussion on death and dying. With nature’s cycles, ancient wisdom, literature, and the arts as our muses, we will use curiosity and compassion to discuss the many aspects of death and dying in this intimate weekend retreat for 5-10 guests. We will gather in a country farm house built in 1797, located in Central Vermont surrounded by a pond, large gardens, walking trails, and the great peace of a New England autumn.
Weekend Sketch
FRIDAY EVENING OCTOBER October 9
Arrive and settle by 6p
6p - 7:30p: Welcome Dinner
7:30p - 9p: Death Archetypes. An assessment tool and follow-up discussion designed to provide insight into how you approach death and dying.
SATURDAY OCTOBER 10
8a -9:30a: Breakfast
10a - 12p: The Language of Death. Activity and discussion focused on word framing, cultural preferences, and conversation-shaping.
12p - 1:30p: Lunch
1:30p - 3:30p: Survivorship. Activity and discussion about all the human, non-human, and circumstantial deaths that have shaped us throughout our lives.
3:30p - 5:30p: Free Time. Choose your afternoon’s delight – contemplation, nature walk, nap, read, or sightseeing
6p - 7p: Supper
7:30p - 9:30p: Living in Dying – How Will You Go? Envision scenarios and prioritize wishes for your own or a for a loved one’s death. If weather permits, our session will be around a bonfire by the pond, as there is nothing like gazing at the stars to give a sense of how small human life is!
SUNDAY OCTOBER 11
8a -9:30a: Breakfast
10a - 12p: What Our Body Houses. Somatic movement led by a local trauma-informed healing artist and dancer to make the final connection between mind and body, heart and soul.
12p - 1p: Lunch and Closing Ritual.
Onward: Guests are welcome to remain on the farm and spend the night to continue enjoyment of the setting. All departures to be completed by mid-day Monday.
Lodging
Our beautifully restored 1797 farmhouse has five rooms available for the retreat, which can be booked as singles or doubles. Bathrooms are shared. There is one downstairs bedroom for anyone with mobility concerns.
Meals
All meals will be prepared and served onsite, with vegetarian options available. Fruit, tea, and snacks will also be available throughout the weekend.
Transportation Options
Self-Drive: The village is about three hours from Boston, five hours from New York, and nine hours from the Washington, D.C. area.
Fly: Burlington, Vermont, is the closest airport. With car rental, it is a 1.25 hour drive to Chelsea. From Boston, it is a three-hour drive. United, American and Southwest all serve Burlington.
Train: Service from Washington, New York, and Boston. The closest train station is Randolph, Vermont. The organizers can either send a car for pickup or an Uber can be arranged ahead. It is about a 35 minute drive from Randolph.
Rideshare: This will depend on who registers for the retreat. We are happy to connect those who wish to rideshare.
Important Considerations
This is not a grief support experience. While Annie and Lucy are professional facilitators and experienced guides in compassionate settings, they are not licensed psychotherapists, and it is outside of their scope to clinically support any deep bereavement or acute death trauma. Because of the intimate nature of the weekend, it will be helpful for us to know a bit about why you’re choosing to participate. Creating a safe container for all participants is our highest priority.
Please fill out this short, required questionnaire to ensure so that we may best serve the group with support, nurturance, and care.
Program Cost
Your fee of $1500 includes lodging, all meals, and the full weekend program. Travel to and from Vermont is not included.
Your Guides for the Weekend
Lucy Mize has a Doctoral Degree in Public Health Leadership and an ACC certified Executive Leadership Coach. Her dissertation topic was on End of Life Doulas in Vermont, and Lucy has completed the End of Life Doula program at the University of Vermont. Her interest stems from the early days of the HIV epidemic in the US, when she was working as a clinician as many young men died in the wards.
Annie Moyer has a Master of Divinity in Buddhist-based chaplaincy, and is an interfaith hospital chaplain. A former high school English teacher, Annie has also taught yoga for over two decades and led many yoga retreats and weekend workshops, and is the co-owner of Sun & Moon Yoga Studio. Annie is an End of Life Doula through the University of Vermont.
Together, they will bring their experience and passion to lead this retreat.
