Grief And Spiritual Healing

Every one of us deals with loss at some point in our lives. A family member, a friend, even our beloved pets. We may be angry or depressed long after the loss occurs, and ask ourselves why it happened. As we work through the stages of grief, keeping a sense of spirituality is essential.

It’s natural to ask our higher power for answers. We have to keep the lines of communication open. In doing so, we work through our grief and learn more about ourselves. This is called “soulwork,” or “soul-searching.” It should not be confused with connecting to our loved ones on the other side, though this may be part of the journey. Expressing grief is the most important thing we can do.

Whether it’s through journaling, prayer, meditation, or other means, grief is such a powerful and primal emotion that it can’t be ignored. To do so is dangerous. A grieving person needs to be as angry, sad, or confused as they need to be. It’s all right to hit safe objects such as pillows or stuffed animals, cry, or scream. Tell the universe or your higher power how you feel. They are listening! Your angels or spirit guides will also be able to help you through this process. Remember, they can’t help if you don’t ask.

You will lose someone you can’t live without,and your heart will be badly broken, and the bad news is that you never completely get over the loss of your beloved. But this is also the good news. They live forever in your broken heart that doesn’t seal back up. And you come through. It’s like having a broken leg that never heals perfectly—that still hurts when the weather gets cold, but you learn to dance with the limp ~ Anne Lamott

Try to stay in the moment and remember that grief is a journey, not a destination with an end goal. Your journey won’t be the same as anyone else’s. The road may have setbacks and detours. Along the way, take time for yourself and do things that will help you heal spiritually such as yoga, walks in nature, and spending time with friends. If you wish, a companion or support group may also be a benefit during your grieving.

The main question many of us ask in our grief is whether we’ll be able to see our loved one again. Though it seems like a cliché, they never truly leave us. Life is an eternal, undying circle. Those on the other side send subtle messages to us all the time: a favorite song heard on the radio, a gentle breeze, a funny story we read in that morning’s newspaper. This may not be the kind of communication we hear about in stories of séances, but it is very real.

On the flip side of this idea, if we remember our loved ones, they can never die. Remember that this particular lifetime of theirs will be one of countless others. Chances are, we’ll see them again! In almost every world culture, there is a tradition, and in some cases a holiday, of remembering those who have passed on. If it is your inclination, consider starting a personal tradition of remembrance, perhaps the loved one’s birthday or another special date. Like our angels and spirit guides, they will be with us. Not like Hollywood’s idea of “ghosts,” but as eternal spirits who can never die so long as we remember them.