TRURO, N.S. – Following the death of her mother, Stacey Harrison went on a journey that helped her heal. Now she’s organizing a group trip to India to help others heal and to raise funds for the Colchester-East Hants Hospice Society.
“I always wanted to go to India,” said Harrison, executive director of the hospice society. “When my mom died, I felt it was the perfect time to work through some of my grief away from my normal routine. Going through things from a different perspective can be very helpful. It was life changing for me.”
Like her first journey, this year’s trip will be to Vrindavan, a town in northern India.
“It’s like walking back in the community where I stayed, with simple accommodations,” she said. “The host is a Canadian who lives there so she understands what Canadians are used to.
“The trip is limited to 10 people. We want to keep it intimate because it’s very personal, and they do an amazing job customizing it for people.”
The journey is arranged through a partnership with Balanced Soul Yoga and includes visiting temples and participating in sacred ceremonies.
“It was a beautiful experience and I experienced culture shock coming back home, when I went through Heathrow during the retail Christmas season,” said Harrison.
The trip is being planned for Oct. 25 to Nov. 4, and costs $2,450, excluding airfare. A portion of the proceeds will come back to CEH Hospice to support grief programming and services.
The first information session on A Journey for the Grieving Heart will be held at the hospice offices, 89 Queen St., on Jan. 22 from 6-7 p.m.
More information can also be obtained by calling the office at 902-893-3265 or emailing [email protected]