Hi,
I'm Hetty and I'll be guiding you through a meditation that honors the deep,
Unique bond that you shared with your companion.
These minutes are dedicated to that love and the waves of grief that can sometimes be overwhelming in their absence.
They're here to support you,
Allowing you to honor your pet,
Your friend,
And the memories that remain.
Take a moment to gather a few things that bring comfort,
A place to lay down or sit up comfortably,
A blanket,
A bolster for under your knees,
An eye cover,
Tissues,
And a favorite photo of your companion.
Feel free to pause this audio as you gather your things.
Once you're in a comfortable position,
Allow yourself to settle in,
Moving your body and finding a position that feels right for now.
During the meditation,
It's okay to shift or move any time,
Giving your body what it needs.
Grief can make it hard to breathe deeply,
So start by filling your lungs slowly,
Breathing in deeply,
Holding for a gentle pause before releasing slowly.
Do this a few times,
Slowing down your exhalation a little more with each breath.
Now,
Allow your breath to flow naturally,
Breathing in right and breathing out here.
Grief is a path unique to each of us,
Layered and unfolding in its own time.
Be gentle with yourself as you navigate this journey,
Knowing that over time,
Your heart will find a new rhythm.
Let the muscles in your face soften,
Your forehead,
Your eyes,
Your cheeks,
And your jaw slightly open.
Bring your attention now to your bottom ribs,
Feeling them flare out to the sides on the inhalation and contract in on the exhalation,
And just notice that sensation for the next few breaths.
And as you start to relax,
Your thoughts will come and go.
And when a thought takes you somewhere,
That's okay.
Gently come back to your breath,
Silently repeating right on the in-breath and here on the out-breath.
Grief is,
In many ways,
Love without a place to go.
Each breath honors this connection,
And you'll notice that it's slowing down now.
Your body is starting to feel a little bit heavier,
And you welcome taking a journey to a place where you can let your feelings express themselves free and open.
Imagine walking along a forested path.
The temperature is just right,
And you can barely feel the air on your skin.
A gentle breeze carries toward you,
A lush fragrance,
And the wind rustles through the foliage,
And sunlight warms your face.
You feel yourself lifted and you almost float down the path toward a garden in the distance.
You come to a short iron gate,
And it is latched.
You open and step through the gate,
Pausing here for a deep breath,
And to take in the beautiful flower garden.
Grassy paths wind their way throughout,
And you marvel at the variety of colors and shapes of the flowers that are thriving here.
The fragrance is intoxicating.
A soft light appears ahead of you.
You instantly feel warmth and a gentle anticipation.
Through the light,
You see your beloved companion coming toward you.
You meet,
Embracing each other,
Feeling the familiar comfort of their presence.
When the initial excitement subsides,
You look into their eyes and sense that they have been expecting you.
As you hold them,
Your mind drifts back to the day your life changed forever.
You were unknown to each other at first,
And over time,
Trust budded and grew between you,
And you learned to live life in new ways.
They became more than a pet.
They were your friend when you needed them.
Every day was an adventure together.
Routines were set.
Rules were taught.
Some were learned,
And some never sank in.
That was their unique character.
They made you laugh.
The sounds you became used to,
Like jingling collar tags,
Lapping at the water bowl,
Zoomies around the house,
Their breathing and snores,
And the clicks of their nails on the kitchen floor.
To each other,
You were caregivers,
Teachers,
Family,
Friends.
In this flower garden with your companion,
The conversation starts without words.
You express to them what you hold in your heart.
They sense your feelings,
And now they have a message for you.
My voice will be quiet as you listen to the message that transmits from their heart to yours.
The light begins to fade as you come back to the sound of my voice.
Your visit has come to an end for now.
Can you realize that you can return to this place as often as you wish,
And this brings you a feeling of peace?
As you go back through and latch the gate,
You feel more at ease,
Reassured that whenever you want to visit with your special friend,
They will be waiting here.
You take a long,
Slow,
Deep breath,
And now you slowly make your way back up the path,
Taking in the beauty of the trees,
The smell of the leaves and the flowers drifting on the wind from the garden.
And you find yourself back to where your body is in this moment.
Feel the physical support beneath you.
Your awareness now drifts all the way down to your feet.
Circle your ankles a few times,
Point and flex your feet.
Now let the awareness float up through your legs,
Into your hips,
Your tummy,
Up into your chest and across your shoulders.
And now into your face,
Your jaw,
Your eyes still closed and still soft.
You're starting to become more alert and awake as you remember these moments of connection with your companion.
Grief is hard work and it's different for everyone.
Grieve in your own way and on your own timeline.
Be easy on yourself as you learn a different way of living.
You will not forget,
But time does heal.
Your life has become fuller,
Your heart warmer.
You became a better person,
A better version of yourself with your companion in your life.
And when you're ready,
Slowly open your eyes just a little and cast a gentle gaze into the room as you acclimate to the light in your surroundings.
Slowly make your way to your photograph.
And connect eye to eye with your loved one,
Saying silently to yourself,
Until we meet again.
I hope you enjoyed these few minutes to connect with your special companion.
I'm sending you more peace and comfort.
