"The work of the mature person is to carry grief in one hand and gratitude in the other and to be stretched large by them. How much sorrow can I hold? That’s how much gratitude I can give." -Francis Weller
Apprenticeship
In Grief Ritual Facilitation
Do you feel called to deepen your connection to the sacred and the greater web of creation? Are you longing to cultivate a richer, more personal relationship with sorrow and grief? Do you wish to expand your toolkit with rituals and practices that warm and tend to grief? Are you ready to step into the role of facilitating grief rituals, holding space for others with care and reverence?
If these questions stir something within you, we invite you to step into The Art of Vesseling, a sacred apprenticeship in grief work. Designed for those who feel called to guide others, this intimate journey blends mentorship, guided exploration, and hands-on practice. Together, we will deepen our understanding of grief as a communal and transformative process—crafting rituals, holding space with reverence, and weaving connection with the land, elements, and community. Offered exclusively to those who have previously attended a retreat with Samantha and Summer, this apprenticeship provides a grounded, embodied path for stepping into the role of facilitator with wisdom and care.
The first step on this journey is to attend a weekend retreat with us. This immersive experience allows you to engage firsthand with our approach, ensuring that it resonates with your own path and values. It is an opportunity to participate in the rituals, connect with our community, and explore whether this apprenticeship is the right fit for you.
The Art of Vesseling:
Apprenticeship for Grief Ritual Facilitation
Cohort 1: Spring and Summer of 2025. Full.
Cohort 2: Fall and Winter of 2025. One more spot.
Cohort 3: Late Summer and Fall 2026.
Registration will open in November of 2025.
Subscribe to the Embodied Intelligence Newsletter for apprenticeship updates,
or reach out directly to Samantha DiRosa or Summer Estes.
Facilitators
Samantha DiRosa, MFA, RYT, is a university art professor, yoga instructor, ritualist, and budding art therapist based in Greensboro, North Carolina. She brings 20 years of facilitation and teaching experience in the realm of higher-education, alongside an artist’s sensitivity and depth of insight, to her work with groups. Having trained with Francis Weller, author of The Wild Edge of Sorrow, and Joanna Macy, author of Active Hope, she believes in the power of ritual and ceremony to transmute sorrow and loss into the healing of individuals, communities, and the Earth. Samantha lives with her daughter and her pack of non-human companions in the Piedmont region of North Carolina, the occupied lands of the Keyauwee and Saura Peoples. When she is not teaching, she maintains a small private coaching / consulting practice and spends time connecting with her Celtic and Sicilian ancestral roots.
To learn more about Samantha click here
is a lifelong student passionate about creating transformative spaces. She is a wife, mother, licensed psychotherapist, breath facilitator, Enneagram teacher, mystic, inquisitive seeker, intuitive healer, soul activist, and founder of Embodied-Intelligence. Summer integrates perennial wisdom teachings with contemplative, somatic, and mindfulness practices, engaging in the practice of inquiry as a student of A.H. Almaas Diamond Approach. She loves facilitating learning and healing environments where participants can connect with what is alive and authentic within.
With over 18 years of experience in leading workshops, groups, and retreats in the healing arts, Summer has served on the faculty of The Second Breath Center, a wisdom school in Greensboro, NC. She is drawn to embodied wisdom and has delved into teachings of embodiment experts, indigenous wisdom, and breathwork. Summer's journey has been enriched by diverse teachers and writings of mystics from various traditions, shaping her understanding and approach to her work. Some of her teachers include, Francis Weller, Dr. Daniel Foor, Dr. Tara Brach, Richard Rohr, Malidoma Some, Rev. Cynthia Bourgeault, and Dr. Gabor Mate.
To learn more about Summer click here and her statement on grief tending click here.