Life, Grief, Trust

From 7 - 13 March 2027 with Fenja Ellen and Marieke Noordanus

For lovers, grievers en the broken hearted:: this retreat is for those who have lost someone or something.

A loss that has touched you in the depth of your soul. An absence, whether recent or long ago, that has shaken something within you - and that can no longer heal quite the same way.

This retreat is also for anyone who believes that every breaking open holds the possibility of a new beginning. That every loss carries the potential to awaken another way of living - another way of loving, of relating, of belonging.

For those who want to learn to live with the great missing while at the same time learning to hold life again - in a different form.

A person sitting on a beach at sunset, with the full moon visible in the sky above the horizon.
  • Black and white portrait of a middle-aged woman with shoulder-length hair, resting her head on her hand and looking directly at the camera with a calm expression.
  • A woman with shoulder-length hair is sitting outdoors, wrapped in a striped blanket, with rocky terrain in the background.
Life, Grief, Trust

From 27 September tot 2 October, writer and DJ Marieke Noordanus and Fenja Ellen are hosting the retreat Grief, Life, Trust. Come to Southwest Morroco, at the foothills of the Atlas Mountains overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, for five days of stillness, spaciousness and rest.

THE GIFT OF GRIEF

A tree with twisting branches and sparse leaves in a desert landscape, with sunlight shining through the branches, rocky ground, and distant trees.

The deep transformation that may emerge from grief goes hand in hand with ‘deep missing’. When those two elements - the loss and the willingness to allow it - are present, something powerful arises: a force that resides in the dark.

Not the darkness we so often associate with what is dark or evil, as something to turn away from, but that place without form. The formless. In our daily language we have few words for this force, but perhaps it is the womb of existence. The creative life force.

In our daily lives, however, in the balancing act between work and living there is often little room for this force to emerge; to do its incredible healing work. In the space and rhythm of the Moroccan la vie en Berber, you are invited to make space. For yourself, for this force and for your heart.

In the healing light of the moon and stars, with the sun warming your soul and the vast horizon opening your gaze, you can catch your breath. Let go. And remember again who you are and why you are here.

Aerial view of a landscape with sparse trees, dry land, farm buildings, and a large body of water with mountains in the background.
A bedroom with a large bed, beige bedding, four pillows, a wooden side table with a vase of flowers, a wall-mounted light fixture, wooden ceiling beams, a closet door, and a wood-paneled floor.

"In Lakota Sioux tradition, a person who is deeply grieving is considered the most awake (holy, sacred), because they stand at the threshold of the spirit world, having lost all emotional defences. They are thought to hold deep natural wisdom, and their prayers are seen as especially powerful.”

About Fenja en Marieke

We would have preferred to meet under different circumstances. But life had this plan.

We both lost someone - and that loss changed our lives forever. Marieke lost her daughter. Fenja the love of her life. And with that loss, the life as we knew it disappeared too.

What began as a shared experience of grief grew into a shared exploration, a friendship and an understanding of what we call the gift of grief.

The gift of grief is not finding our way out of sorrow, but about honouring its transformative power. It’s about allowing it to become a force that carries you into life again. This quest takes us towards trust and purpose in reality as it is, while opening us to the possibility that the very feelings we would rather not feel may hold the key to living fully .

  • A Vacation Plus

    In this retreat, Fenja & Marieke create the space to connect with a deeper part of yourself. This is not group therapy, nor is it about grieving together. It is a shared space where you can encounter life, death and the transition you are moving through from a different perspective. Slow down, feel and listen to what is unfolding within you. Regard it as a place for your individual process, where rest, space and surrender can open into inner strength, new possibilities and new forms of creation.

    Join us for this vacation plus. A combination of retreat and Holiday with like-minded souls.

  • Going Inward

    During this retreat, Fenja works with meditation, contemplation and abundant time in Nature to explore what happens when we stay close to the places where life has become difficult or painful. Nothing needs to be fixed or figured out. You can simply stay with what is here - feel it, witness it, listen to it. From that place, intelligence will flow.

  • Moving Outward

    Marieke invites you to experience where your creative power comes from. We are all born with our won form of genius - something no one else can say, make or do in quite the same way. It is not something to strive for or achieve, but something that can be discovered as you move with life. A journey of discovery through inspired writing, healing words, images, music and creative visualization.

A person reaching out their hand towards a butterfly over the ocean at the beach during daytime.
Sand dunes along a coastline with waves and foggy sky in the background.
Pink background with handwritten text that says, "The distance is only physical, my love."
Nighttime outdoor scene of an arched covered walkway with warm lighting, white columns, trees, and a sitting area with a bench.
A person standing in shallow ocean water near rocks at sunset, with a mountain in the background.
Person looking up at a starry night sky

Combine the depth of a retreat and the lightness of a vacation.

This intimate retreat brings together the best of both worlds: time away and time to go deeper. Each day follows a natural rythm of depth and space - a balance between inner practice, creativity and time to simply be.

There is room for whatever arises, but also plenty of time to enjoy the here and now: long meals, nature (and surf), silence, a good conversation or simply nothing at all. A place where inner work and relaxation naturally strengthen one another.

Life, Grief, Trust

The details

7 - 13 March 2027

Arrival Day: Sunday 7 March

The retreat starts: Monday 8 March

Closing: Friday evening 12 March

Departure Day: Saturday 13 March

The Daily Rythm

In the morings, we begin together with a guided practice - a moment to arrive, slow down and open into the day from within. Through meditation, contemplation and stillness, there is space to listen to what is alive in you. This is followed by creative practice - through writing, images, music and imagination - opening up space for expression, discovery and your own creative power.

The afternoons are free and creative. Follow your own rhythm: go into nature, walk, surf, read or rest. Ther is also space to spend time with us, together or one-on-one.

In the evenings we come together again for a practice of stillness. A moment to let the day settle, slow down and connect with nature and the energy of the night - with the fire, the stars and the darkness.

A village scene during dusk with traditional white buildings, some with illuminated windows, and a tree in the foreground with bare branches, under a darkening sky.
A lone tree with sparse leaves standing on rocky ground with a village below and hills in the background under a partly cloudy sky.
A bathroom sink area with a white vessel sink, a gold faucet, a small candle, and a round mirror with a wooden frame on a textured white wall. A wooden door frame is visible in the background, along with a wall-mounted light fixture and some framed pictures.
View of a sandy beach with a surfer carrying a surfboard, seagulls on the shore, and the ocean in the background, seen through a wooden structure with palm leaves.
Rustic interior with white brick walls, wooden beams, and a mix of patterned and solid cushions on built-in seating, and a simple wooden table.
A white building with a wooden door and a window next to it, under a bamboo and driftwood pergola, casting shadows on the wall, with a lemon tree in the foreground and blue sky in the background.

The Location

Along the monumental Moroccon coast, surrounded by ancient Argan trees, Wilde Tigmi offers an intimate getaway celebrating the spirit of the Amazigh people and the Atlantic Ocean.

The Berber home has six thoughtfully designed rooms arranged around a central courtyard. Four rooms have private bathrooms, while two share a shower and toilet.

For Life, Grief, Trust, the following rooms are available. There is space for max. 6 participants.

  • Oceanview Suite - private bathroom & terrace

    €1399,- all inclusive

  • Oceanview Double - private bathroom & terrace

    €1199,- all inclusive

  • Gardenview Twin - shared room, private bathroom & terrace

    €950,- all inclusief, single occupancy €450,- extra

  • Simple Twin - shared room (2 people), shared bathroom €700,- all inclusief

    Prices are for the full retreat and include breakfast, lunch and dinner. Fresh fruit, tea and water are available throughout the day. Dietary requirements can be shared with us in advance.

Want to join or receive more information?

Get in touch by email - or easiest of all, via WhatsApp.

WHAT'S APP MARIEKE
WHAT'S APP FENJA