a place of respite
Maitri: Loving-Kindness
If you are grieving the loss of a child, or loved one, Maitri Guest House welcomes you. Here, you can find rest, support, and gentle companionship as you walk your own path of grieving.
Respite: A short period of rest or relief from something difficult.
When the pain of loss can feel like walls closing in, we offer a place of quiet respite to grieve, a verdant forest to breathe in, and the waters of Puget Sound to help you navigate your path.
Our Story
After our 22-year-old son, Alex, was killed by a drunk driver in 2009, our family experienced crushing grief. Four months later, someone we barely knew offered us a stay at a beautiful coastal setting in Northern California. Driving out of town to the coast from Calistoga, our small hometown, where every sight and encounter reminded us of Alex, was both comforting and difficult. Each thought of Alex brought a pulse of love, yet every reminder also brought a surge of pain.
Being away from home for the first time since Alex died allowed our grief to expand. The vast ocean, the star-filled sky, and the openness of an unfamiliar place encouraged a quieting of my mind and a gentle shift in our journey of learning to do this life without our son.
Upon returning home, Lydia, Alex's mom, envisioned that someday we would create and build a space for others grieving the loss of a child: a place of respite and renewal.
That “someday” is now. Our new home in the Pacific Northwest, on ancestral lands of the Suquamish tribe, includes Maitri Guest House, a sanctuary for those navigating grief. We offer a comfortable, peaceful environment for individuals, couples, or families to stay, surrounded by nature and tranquility. Maitri Guest House is located in a small town on the Kitsap Peninsula in NW Washington state.
What we offer
• Accommodations: Private bedroom (queen-sized bed + single sofa bed) and bathroom with shower
• Kitchenette: Sink, mini-fridge, microwave, electric kettle for tea, Kerug coffee maker
• Breakfast: Simple, wholesome breakfast provided daily
• No Cost: There is no monetary cost for lodging or hospitality. Travel expenses may be covered by the foundation - contact Lydia here maitriguesthouse710@gmail.com for more information
• Nature & Setting: Walk in the woods, sit and experience the forest, swim in the clear waters of Puget Sound
• Support Services: Access to massage, sound healing, meditation, and more (as available by local resources)
“Every part of this soil is sacred in the estimation of my people. Every hillside, every valley, every plain and grove, has been hallowed by some sad or happy event in days long vanished.”
Please reach out to learn more about staying at Maitri Guest House in Indianola Washington.
We would be honored to hold space for you.