From Grief to Growth: The Journey Behind Harvest Migration
The seeds of the upcoming Harvest Migration were planted many years ago, in a moment of deep loss. I had just lost my pregnancy, and a kind, nurturing functional medicine doctor suggested I plant a tree to honor the life that had been and was no longer.
Sitting in her warm, earth-toned office, this idea felt grounding—a way to memorialize what was gone while staying connected to life. Outside of her calm presence, though, the reality of my grief felt far too heavy. I was paralyzed, unable to act on the suggestion.
Where would I plant it?
What kind of tree?
How do you even plant a tree?
Each question pulled me further into the quicksand of my sorrow, and soon, I found myself back in bed, enveloped by grief and loss.
I often think about this unplanted tree. Every time I see a new sapling, I wonder if someone else planted it in honor of their grief. It's a constant reminder that rituals while deeply healing, especially ones honoring life transitions, are not always easy to execute.
Six years have passed, and I’m still exploring how to create space for rituals that honor these significant life shifts. We experience changes—both joyful and painful—that reshape who we are. But where is the room to grieve, celebrate, and learn from these transitions?
How do we ensure we aren’t dragging unresolved pain, anger, or outdated roles into the next phase of our lives?
More recently, two profound life shifts—retiring from a 20-year career in nonprofit management and healing work through plant medicine—illuminated my desire to create a space for others to navigate transitions. In January, I “retired,” but retirement didn’t feel like the right word. I wasn’t ending something so much as reshaping it, stepping fully into my role as co-owner of Hey Birdie. But still, I needed and wanted to mark this transition.
I thought about throwing a retirement party, but it didn’t feel right. I considered retreating into nature alone, but that didn’t resonate either. What I truly wanted was space and time—a moment to pause, reflect, and compost the lessons and experiences I had gathered over two decades into rich soil for new growth. I needed to honor both the ending and the beginning.
In the plant medicine space, change often happens quietly, subtly—a new story, a reframed belief. During a recent ceremony, I asked, "How do you know when a story or a process is complete?" The facilitator responded, "It is similar to when you know a season is changing. You experience a change in temperature."
That insight was beautiful yet elusive. Much like planting the tree, the awareness of change fades as life rushes forward. So, how do we hold onto that awareness? We practice. We embody. We share.
That’s where the Harvest Migration comes in. This program creates a container where you can be fully present with your transitions. Over six weeks, through movement, breath, sound, and community, we honor the seasons of our lives. By the end, you will harvest the practices that resonate with you, so the next time life shifts, you have the tools to navigate it with grace, clarity, and empowerment.
As you embark on this six-week journey, we, your Birds, will be your Flight Guides. More importantly, we will be flying in V-formation alongside you, holding space, witnessing, and growing together. Just as birds take turns leading and drafting in the wind for one another, we will move together as a community, absorbing the benefits of being present with each other’s unique processes. This isn’t a solo journey—it’s one of connection, vulnerability, and collective support. And in that, we all soar higher.
