Living, Dying, Music, and Mystery – A Retreat Exploring the Threshold

“Everyone knows everything sings and dies. But could it be, too, everything dies and sings….”
— Galway Kinnell

We live in a culture that often turns its face away from the one certainty we all share. Yet, when we lean into the mystery of the “Great Mystery,” we often find that our lives become more vivid, purposeful, and harmonious.

Join singer, songwriter, and master facilitator Barbara McAfee for a soulful investigation into the thin places where life and death meet. This is not a clinical seminar, but a communal ritual—a space to metabolize our grief and celebrate our vitality through the ancient tools of song, story, and silence.

The Journey Together

Through the lens of “conscious dying” and the restorative power of voice, we will create a brave container to explore the ultimate threshold. Whether you are navigating a personal loss, facing your own mortality, or simply seeking a deeper connection to the pulse of life, this retreat offers a sanctuary for the heart.

During our time together, we will:

• Share Sacred Stories: Unpack the wisdom gained from our encounters with loss and the insights that emerge from the “threshold.”
• The Medicine of Melody: Sing simple, nourishing songs that require no musical background—only a willing heart. We will build a “living hymnal” of songs to carry
  home.
• The Art of the Good Death: Explore what it means to prepare for a graceful transition, integrating the practical with the poetic.
• Embodied Presence: Savor curated poetry and deep silence that awakens the spirit and grounds the body.
• Ancestral and Land Connection: Take time on the land to listen for the deeper wisdom that only the natural world can provide.

What to Expect

Expect a weekend of “deep play”—an alchemical mix of beauty, laughter, tears, and delicious surprises. You will leave with a renewed sense of what it means to be fully alive and a collection of songs to support yourself and your loved ones through the transitions of life.

Scholarship Assistance

If you require scholarship assistance, please contact rick@couragerenewal.org before registering.