A term that so beautifully captures the element of magic within the spaces of Magnolia Harbor.

While at dinner with Dr.Jordan and Kelley, I shared the sentiment of it feeling odd to say there is an element of magic that happens during our therapeutic retreats for traumatically bereaved humans.

Odd because we are holding deeply intense and sacred space for these humans to connect and share about the most traumatic losses of their lived experience in their lifetime.

The connection and shared intuitive knowing that one's shattered and broken heart from such a loss can see and understand another's shattered and broken heart without saying a word.

There is an implicit understanding and shared connection that transcends words. And while there is no loss or grieving process identical for any two humans, there are similarities enough that one can see themselves in another.

And it is that seeing one's self in another AND being compassionately held in a community that so deeply understands and sees the shattered and broken pieces of a heart impacted by traumatic grief that brings the element of tragic magic.

Tragic circumstances are what bring traumatically bereaved hearts to Magnolia Harbor.

There is a weaving of connection filled with love, compassion, and acceptance of every single piece of a shattered and broken heart that unites the humans in our community.

That connection is so profound because what so often happens in the spaces of traumatic grief is A LOT of secondary loss from changed (or entirely severed) social relationships with folks deeply in the folds of the fabric of our social network.

When discussing this connection--the almost other-worldly force of nature uniting bereaved hearts that is akin to a magical force far greater than any one element of this carefarm--our beloved and brilliant colleague, Jordan Harrold, said: "It is tragic magic.

And that, carefarm frens, is how the term tragic magic was coined.

Tragic magic exists at Magnolia Harbor Carefarm.

The Widows and Kiddos Retreat is a tragically magical approach in showing up with grieving widow/ers, parentally bereaved children, and the parent child relationship.