Waves of Grief™
Ocean Medicine. Community Connection. Ritual.
Waves of Grief™ aims to foster a sense of comfort, community and connection while creating new meaningful experiences. Our programs are rooted in mindfulness and nature-based rituals, that support individuals moving through grief. The ocean is rich in metaphor for healing and provides a unique container for holding both personal and collective grief in a non-traditional setting. These programs provide a safe space to gather in community and tend our grief while interacting with the ocean in whatever way feels most supportive.
Waves of Grief™, Santa Barbara, CA
Join us every Second Sunday of the month
9:30-11:30AM at Leadbetter Beach
Look for the white tent with the TwoCan banner between the parking lot & the point.
Waves of Grief is a community drop-in space, held at the beach up and down the coast of California and beyond to normalize grief and heal in community, in and around Mother Ocean. TwoCan Retreats has partnered with the Waves of Grief Collective™ to help extend their reach and spread waves of love and compassion to our beautiful community in Santa Barbara, California (and Santa Teresa, Costa Rica, annually).
Mike & Stacy McCrory, founders of TwoCan Retreats, Regional Directors & Clinical Consultant for Waves of Grief Collective™.
Waves of Grief is for anyone navigating personal or collective grief. All grief is welcome, along with all forms of water engagement. Joy and laughter are also welcome as we build community together.
The ocean provides a beautiful container that inspires us to be fully present, embody our grief and share what’s on our hearts. We honor each person's practice with kindness and compassion, without judgment or fixing.
We begin with a 10-15 minute mindful walk along the shore, followed by brief a grounding practice, a poem or passage, and time to share or simply witness. We close with a flower ritual and an invitation to dip, swim, paddle out, or simply observe from the beach.
Mike and Stacy McCrory are partners in life and co-founders of TwoCan Retreats, as well as Regional Directors for the Waves of Grief Collective™. In addition to leading grief retreats in Costa Rica and weekend retreats Santa Barbara, they host monthly Waves of Grief community gatherings at the beach in Santa Barbara.
After the loss of their oldest son in 2016, they committed themselves to creating spaces where grief can be met with honesty and compassion. Their work invites participants to carry their loss while continuing bonds and engaging more fully in life after loss.
The Waves of Grief Collective™
Our Mission, Origins and Impact
The Waves of Grief Collective™ is a community of leading surf therapy practitioners and clinicians connected by our love for the ocean, working together to reduce the feelings of loneliness and isolation that accompany grief and loss. The ocean is our source of healing, connection and flow.
In 2022, Waves of Grief™ was sought after by the US Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy, and presented at the International Surf Therapy 2022 Conference. Now with seven sites and partners, in community we continue to offer accessible surf therapy programs to support individuals, families, and communities navigating grief.
There are so many ways you can get involved and show your support!
Whether you're interested in volunteering, donating, or participating in our programs, there are many ways to get involved with Waves of Grief. Together, we can continue to create waves of positive change.