About The Retreat
FAQ
The Soft Return: A Journey Through Grief
to Joy and Rest
a 3-Day Retreat for Black Women | November 13–16, 2025 | Hope Springs Institute, Peebles, Ohio
Join Us On Retreat this Autumn
Release what's heavy. Return to yourself. Reclaim rest and joy as sacred birthrights.
You don’t need the world’s permission to stop. You just need to remember—you were never meant to live in a state of constant override.
This is an invitation.
A daydream.
A sacred imagining.
A collective call-in to imagine what could be
if Black women shaped the systems, the stories, the future.
So come—
let your shoulders drop
let your breath deepen
and dream with me.
What You'll Experience
Movement practices for grief release
Connection and community care
Sound baths, fire circles, and sacred rest
Nature connection on sacred land
A loving, trauma-informed container held by Black women
Retreat Flow + Location + FAQ
Thursday
Arrival + Opening Circle
Friday
Rest + Reflection
Saturday
Grief Release Ceremony + Joy Circle
Sunday
Integration + Return
Location
Hope Springs Institute is a quiet, restorative retreat center in the hills of Peebles, Ohio, just two hours from Columbus. Expect cozy rooms, nourishing meals, and soul-holding land. We're encouraging single rooms for this experience, but if you'd like to share a room with a sister or friend, please reach out and let us know. We'll do our best to accommodate.

FAQ — What You Might Be Wondering

What’s included? Your registration includes: All meals and private accommodations Retreat sessions, guided rituals, and gentle movement practices A virtual pre-retreat gathering circle to connect and prepare A virtual post-retreat integration circle for continued supportTravel is not included. What if I’ve never been to a retreat before? That’s more than okay. No previous experience is needed. You’ll be welcomed with care and gently guided every step of the way. Do I have to share my story or emotions? Not at all. Sharing is always optional. This space honors your boundaries and your pace. You are invited—not required—to be open. Can I come even if I’m not actively grieving? Yes. If you're carrying heaviness, feeling emotionally tired, or simply longing for deep rest and reconnection, you belong here. Is this retreat trauma-informed? Yes. The retreat is facilitated by trained, trauma-informed Black women who center care, consent, and embodied safety. Will I have a private room? Yes. Each participant will have her own private room to rest, reflect, and retreat in peace. What if I have dietary restrictions? Hope Springs provides nourishing meals with accommodations for most dietary needs. You’ll be able to share your preferences after registration. Is this retreat religious? No. While the space is spiritual and honoring of ancestral wisdom, it is not affiliated with any specific religion. All beliefs and backgrounds are welcome. What is the refund policy? All payments are non-refundable. However, you may transfer your spot to another approved participant if you’re unable to attend. How do I get there? Hope Springs is located in Peebles, Ohio. Travel details and optional carpool coordination will be shared after registration. What should I pack? A detailed packing list will be provided closer to the retreat date to help you prepare with ease. What Happens After I Register? Once you register, you’ll receive a welcome email with your next steps, including: A Retreat Intake & Intentions Form to help us understand your needs and intentions An invitation to a Pre-Retreat Group Gathering, which will take place approximately 4–6 weeks before the retreat The option to schedule a 1:1 call with Tecca for private support or questions We believe the retreat begins the moment you say yes. These touchpoints are designed to help you arrive with intention—feeling informed, supported, and gently welcomed.

Do you hear the call?
You've been carrying so much— Grief that's personal, inherited, or ever-present. You keep going. But your body is asking for softness. Your spirit is calling for rest.
We have all been trying to survive in systems designed to confuse us. Trying to find belonging in structures never meant to hold us. Trying to succeed in spaces that were rigged from the very beginning.
To my sister reading this—
You are not too much.
You are not too tired to dream.
You deserve to belong in a world shaped by your softness.
This retreat is for you if…
  • You're emotionally and physically exhausted
  • You crave rest but haven't experienced it yet
  • You're grieving—someone, something, or your past self
  • You long for a healing, Black-woman-centered community
  • You want to feel lighter, clearer, and more joyful
About the Retreat
The Soft Return is a sacred 3‑day retreat for Black women, held at Hope Springs Institute in rural Appalachian Ohio.
This is a journey—where grief becomes the pathway to joy and rest. Through movement, ritual, nature, and community, you'll gently release, reconnect, and return to yourself.
We'll be held on private land, fed three delicious meals a day, and given ample space to rest before the bustle of the holiday season.

Why Gather Here? Why Grieve Together?

Because Black women are sacred.Because we deserve soft places to land. This retreat was created with you in mind—the version of you who’s been holding it all together while quietly unraveling. The one who needs space to grieve, not in isolation, but in the presence of other Black women who know what it means to carry so much in silence. We are gathering now because the world keeps asking us to override ourselves.And yet, your nervous system is asking for something different: A place to rest.To cry.To express and move through grief openly, without shame.To be your full self, without apology. Grief is another way Black women are expected to show up selflessly. We are rarely asked if we’re okay. Our sorrow is often overlooked. We’re expected to carry on, smiling, leading, pushing through, while silently holding so much. And in our grief, we often feel isolated, invisible, and alone. This retreat is a space to bring all of that.To be held in community with other Black women who understand the weight you’re carrying.To rest without obligation.To grieve without having to explain.To begin softening what has been braced for far too long. The Soft Return is not just a retreat. It’s a reclamation.A remembering.A sacred pause in a world that never stops asking for more. It is a nervous system whisper after too many screams.It’s what your body has been quietly asking for: slowness, breath, and space to feel.A soul recalibration for women who have survived through tension and are ready to return to themselves through tenderness. You don’t need any experience.Just a willingness to show up as you are.

Investment + Sliding Scale
Choose the tier that reflects your current capacity:
$1,230
Abundance Tier
$1,080
Sustainer Tier
$980
Community Tier
Payment plans available through October 15
If your heart is still lingering with the idea of the retreat, I’d love to connect and support your yes—if and when it comes.
If you feel called to support another Black woman to attend this retreat, you can donate directly to Hope Springs Institute. Use the drop-down to select “Program Scholarship Fund” and mention The Soft Return Retreat in the memo box.
Meet Your Host
Tecca Thompson, The Rested Black Woman, is a certified somatic practitioner, trauma-informed space holder, and rest doula. She creates sacred spaces for Black women to grieve, rest, and return to themselves.
Her work blends grief recovery, nervous system healing, and community support. Tecca offers grounded, intuitive guidance, making space for authentic healing without rushing the process. Her mission: ensuring Black women don't carry the world's weight alone.
Your Invitation
Try this breath mantra:
Inhale: I
Exhale: remember
Let the breath be slow and quiet. Practice it three times and notice if anything softens.
This is more than a break. It's a journey back to yourself.
Come grieve. Come rest. Come be held. You don't have to carry it alone anymore.
With Softness,
Tecca
Still have questions?