Navigating The Sacred Journey Of Grief

As a psychic medium, I have spent decades bearing witness to the immense and complex journey of grief.

Over the years, I’ve learned that grief has many faces and forms. It is not only about death and dying. It can arise from various types of loss, such as the loss of a pet, the end of a relationship, a change in life path, the loss of a job, or moving away from a beloved home.

My clients often tell me, “My heart has a hole in it,” or “It feels like my heart has been torn apart.”

These aren’t just metaphors. Grief can feel so intense that it seems like a physical injury — like a ‘heart attack’ of the soul. Grief reverberates through our heart, mind, body, and spirit, leaving no part of us untouched.

One of the most important truths I’ve learned is that grief is deeply personal. No two people experience it in the same way. There is no “normal” way to grieve or a fixed timeline.

Some people begin to feel a little lighter after a few weeks or months, while for others, the sorrow lingers for years or even decades. And that’s okay.

Grieving means you loved deeply, cared sincerely, and connected profoundly. It is not just about saying goodbye, but also about building a new relationship with their absence — one that carries forward the love in a different way.

Grief is both a natural emotional response and a sacred process. In spiritual terms it is a profound journey of the soul — a process of transformation rather than just sorrow. It goes beyond emotional pain; it touches the deepest parts of your faith, beliefs, and connection to something greater than themselves.

The risk of love is loss, and the price of loss is grief – But the pain of grief is only a shadow when compared with the pain of never risking love ~ Hilary Stanton Zunin

In many spiritual traditions, grief is seen as a passageway to wisdom and growth. Some believe it is the soul’s way of deepening its understanding of love and impermanence, urging one toward acceptance and renewal. Others see it as a sacred experience, where the presence of loss is also the presence of something meaningful — whether it’s the continued love of those we have lost, or the realization of life’s interconnectedness.

There’s also a mystical aspect to grief: in moments of deep sorrow, some people find themselves more spiritually aware and attuned to signs, dreams, or feelings that transcend logic.

We must also remember that we grieve not only what we’ve lost, but also what never was. When a marriage ends, for example, people may mourn the dream of what they hoped the relationship could have been rather than accepting its reality. This, too, is valid as a form of grief.

The Five Stages Of Grief

In her groundbreaking book On Death and Dying (1962), psychiatrist Elisabeth Kübler-Ross introduced the now-famous Kübler-Ross model, which outlines the five stages of grief.

Denial – This is the initial reaction to loss, where we struggle to accept reality. It serves as a psychological defense mechanism, creating temporary emotional numbness to protect against overwhelming feelings.

Anger – As reality sets in, emotions shift to frustration and resentment. We may direct our anger toward ourselves, others, or even the situation itself, searching for something or someone to blame.

Bargaining – In an attempt to regain control or undo the loss, we may try to negotiate with a higher power, ourselves, or even other people. Common thoughts include “If only I had done something differently…” or “Maybe if I change, things will get better.”

Depression – The weight of the loss becomes fully felt, leading to deep sadness, withdrawal, and contemplation. This stage is often marked by feelings of hopelessness, loneliness, or reflection on what has been lost.

Acceptance – Over time, we reach a place where we no longer resist the reality of the loss. This doesn’t mean forgetting or feeling “okay” about it, but rather integrating the experience into life and finding ways to move forward.

It’s however important to recognize that grief is highly individual — there is no fixed timeline, and healing unfolds in different ways for different people. The five stages are also not strictly linear; we may experience them in varying sequences or revisit certain stages more than once. Grief can ebb and flow like the ocean. One moment, we may feel acceptance; the next, we may find ourselves engulfed in sorrow again.

Triggers, such as a familiar song, a certain scent, or a meaningful place, can suddenly bring us back to the depths of our pain. However, these moments also present opportunities for healing. They are sacred reminders of our ongoing connection to those we’ve lost.

Moving forward after loss doesn’t mean forgetting. It means learning how to carry the love in a new way. One way to begin is to give yourself permission to grieve in your own time, without judgment.

Grief is like the ocean; it comes on waves ebbing and flowing. Sometimes the water is calm, and sometimes it is overwhelming. All we can do is learn to swim ~ Vicki Harrison

Navigating Grief On Your Own Terms

Below are some guidelines to help you navigate grief on your own terms:

Honor your feelings – There is no correct way to grieve. Allow yourself to feel whatever emotions arise, whether they’re sadness, anger, relief, or even moments of joy. Don’t suppress your emotions. Grief needs to move through you. Cry if you need to. Laugh when you can. Feel it all.

Grieve at your own pace – Grief doesn’t follow a timeline. Take as much time as you need, and don’t feel pressured to “move on” before you’re ready.

Embrace change – Loss often reshapes life in unexpected ways. Allow yourself to evolve, even if it feels unfamiliar at first.

Seek purpose and meaning – Whether through spirituality, creativity, therapy, or volunteer work, finding meaning in loss helps to guide you through the pain and toward healing.

Reach out and stay connected – Even if you prefer solitude at this time, maintaining connections with supportive people can provide comfort and perspective. You don’t have to grieve alone. Reach out to friends, join a support group, or talk with someone who understands.

Create rituals – Establishing personal rituals — such as lighting a candle, writing letters, visiting a significant place, scattering ashes — can help keep your connection to what was lost.

Be creative and stay busy constictively –  crafts and hobbies can be powerful tools to process grief. Take up painting, drawing, pottery, sculpting, woodworking, DIY projects, knitting, crochet, calligraphy, or journaling.

Honor your memories by sharing stories. Look at pictures. Celebrate birthdays or anniversaries in your own way.

Listen to your body – Grief isn’t just emotional; it’s physical too. Eat nourishing food, rest often, and try to gently move your body, even if it’s just a short walk.

Practice self-compassion. Grieving is hard work. Be gentle with yourself. Don’t expect to “bounce back” quickly. There will be difficult days. Treat yourself with the same kindness and patience you would offer a loved one.

Avoid making big decisions. Avoid major life changes in the immediate aftermath of a loss. Give yourself time to stabilize.

Spend time in nature or with animals. The natural world and furry pets can be deeply grounding and soothing for a grieving soul.

Avoid major life changes. If possible, limit big decisions in the immediate aftermath of a loss. Give yourself time to stabilize.

Consider a mediumship reading. A session with a trusted psychic medium can convey messages of love, peace, and closure from departed loved ones. This connection can heal a broken heart.

As a medium, I have often had the privilege of facilitating reunions between clients and their loved ones in spirit. These experiences can be profoundly healing. Spirit often shares messages of encouragement; they want us to live, find joy, and embrace peace. They remind us that they are not truly gone—they have simply stepped into another room.

Grief is a transformative journey. It reshapes who we are and how we see the world. However, it also has the potential to lead to profound spiritual awakening. May you give yourself the grace to mourn and the courage to heal. Always remember that you are not alone.