collaborators
The people featured here are independent practitioners, artists, facilitators, and collaborators who work with Hearthwood on particular gatherings, projects, and offerings. Inclusion on this page does not imply employment, representation, or endorsement of every aspect of one another’s independent work.
ahlay blakely
(she/her)
Grief Ritual Facilitator
ahlay founded Hearthwood Sanctuary in 2025 as a home for grief literacy, collaborative ritual, and art in service to the living world. Her work brings together grief, song, ecological belonging, and creative practice in response to the personal and collective realities of our time.
Linda Thai
(she/her)
Psychodrama Facilitator
Linda Thai LMSW is a trauma therapist specializing in cutting-edge brain- and body-based modalities for complex developmental trauma. As an educator, she adeptly communicates on trauma, attachment, and the impact of oppressive systems. Passionate about healing trauma, Linda is redefining what it means to be wounded and whole and a healer.
Laurence Cole
(he/him)
Grief Ritual Facilitator
Laurence has been dedicated to communal grief work since the early 1990s, creating ritual spaces where grief can be witnessed, expressed, and held together. Through song, poetry, movement, and ritual, his work reweaves connection and belonging while reawakening our ancient birthright to make meaningful sound together.
Briana Herman-Brand
(they/she)
Grieving White Supremacy Facilitator
Briana has been working with youth and adults for over 20 years at the intersections of healing and justice. She provides facilitation, training, and counsel in the realms of conflict transformation, embodied trauma healing, social justice leadership, and youth empowerment.
BJ Star
(they/she/he/girl!)
Young Adults Residency Facilitator
BJ is Executive Director and Facilitator at The Wildfire Project. For nearly two decades, BJ has supported emerging leaders and movement organizations as they deepen their power and strengthen their capacity for collective eco-social-political change. BJ serves on the Advisory Board for Grieving White Supremacy and is the founder of Black Folks Dinner Seattle and First We Grieve.
Rain
(she/her)
Admin + Apprentice
Rain supports Hearthwood Sanctuary with administration both remotely and in person, and an apprentice within Hearthwood’s grief and ritual work. Rain is in devotion to those at thresholds, including wilderness rites of passage, birth work, and grief tending as well as in devotion to beauty-making and web weaving. Rain is honored to be at the bridge between the griever and the ritual.