GIVE IT TO THE WATER - A Spring Equinox Grief Tending Gathering

GIVE IT TO THE WATER
A Spring Equinox Grief Tending Gathering
Free Community Ritual on Cliftonville Beach, Margate

As the seasons turn and the light begins to grow, we gather by the sea to tend to grief together.

The Spring Equinox marks one of the great turning points of the year. On this day, light and dark stand in perfect balance. Day and night are equal, and the earth pauses briefly between winter’s inwardness and the outward movement of spring. It is a natural threshold — a moment of stillness before new growth begins.

Across many cultures, the Equinox has long been recognised as a time for reflection, rebalancing, and renewal. Nature is quietly preparing for emergence. Seeds stir beneath the soil, though little is yet visible on the surface.

For grief work, this moment in the seasonal cycle is profoundly meaningful.

Grief often asks us to pause — to honour what has been lost, what is changing, and what still needs care. Just as the earth does not rush its unfolding, we too are invited to acknowledge the weight we carry and give it space to move.

This gathering offers a gentle communal space to bring personal and collective grief to the shoreline. The sea has long been a place where people come to release, reflect, and reconnect with something larger than themselves.

Together we will hold a simple ritual of grief tending and seasonal transition , acknowledging what has been difficult in our lives and in the wider world, while also opening the possibility of tending ourselves with greater care as the year moves toward spring.

The Equinox reminds us that after a period of reflection, new seeds can be planted — seeds of compassion, self-care, and renewed connection.

We will gather to breathe, witness, and gently give what we are carrying to the water.

This is not about fixing grief or moving past it. It is about remembering that grief moves more gently when it is held in community.

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When & Where

📍 Cliftonville Beach via Newgate Gap, Margate
🗓 Sunday 29 March
⏰ 3:00pm – 4:00pm

At the bottom of Newgate Gap , turn left and walk along the beach toward the old Lido pool , where the gathering will take place.

Please note:
• The Lido ramp is currently not accessible , so access is via Newgate Gap.
• Please dress for all weather.

Children are welcome at their guardian’s discretion , as the gathering touches on themes of grief.

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What to Expect

• Gentle somatic grounding and grief tending practices led by Jo Miller
• Reflections on holding grief with care and compassion from Justine Robinson
• Community ritual of release and seasonal reflection by the sea
• Supportive space holding from members of The Samhain Society
• A quiet, welcoming environment for shared presence and reflection

This gathering will focus on grief tending and seasonal renewal , exploring how the turning of the year can support us in caring for ourselves and each other.

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A Free Community Offering

This gathering is a free community offering from The Samhain Society , held in the spirit of mutual care and shared humanity.

There are no tickets required — simply arrive and join us.

Even in uncertain times, one of the most healing things we can do is come together, honour what we feel, and remember that none of us has to carry grief alone.

🌊 Come as you are. Bring your presence, your breath, and whatever you are carrying.

Facilitators & Space Holders

Jo Miller
Jo is a trainee elder, somatic teacher, and engaged citizen with specialist interests in developmental, collective, and systemic trauma and shame. She is a Board Member and Senior Trainer at the Focalizing Institute, an international somatic training organisation. Having trained with leading voices in her field, Jo embodies both deep knowledge and an enduring devotion to learning.

Those who meet Jo often speak of her grounded presence, relaxed warmth, and unmistakable Northern roots. Now based by the blue sea in Margate with her two cats, Zac and Poncho, she holds a deep belief that intimacy with the body’s wisdom can gently transform both personal and collective worlds.

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Justine Robinson
Justine is a healthcare professional with over 14 years of experience in palliative care, supporting individuals and families through life’s most tender transitions. A practising Pagan for more than three decades, she brings a deep reverence for nature, ritual, and the cycles of life and death into her work.

Her practice lives at the meeting point of art, health, and spirituality. Justine is devoted to nurturing authentic community — creating compassionate spaces where people feel seen, heard, and supported as they explore healing, meaning, and belonging.

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