Grief.
We're feeling it from all angles.
The loss of a dear one.
The loss of a dream.
The loss of a promise.
The shock to our hearts.
Our entire system is palpable.
It's unfathomable.
We can't make sense of it.
How do we grasp a measure of understanding?
How do we comprehend moving any direction?
It's bleak.
The vision and eyes we used to look at the world through are clouded,
Dark,
Uncertain.
How do we continue on?
Let go.
Let go of any expectation of how it should be.
Breathe.
While we still have breath,
We have life.
This part of the journey calls for gentleness.
Community.
Grace.
Moving slow.
No to-do lists.
No agenda.
The body leads on this one.
What is the kindest possible way to move through,
To navigate,
And to experience this?
Does the body want to sleep?
Stay in darkness for a time?
Eat.
Fast.
Pray.
Experience despair.
Sob.
Scream.
Be alone.
Be surrounded by loved ones.
Does it want to dance?
Be in silence.
Crank the rock and roll.
What do you long to smell?
The essence of a loved one.
A fragrant,
Festive meal.
A blossom.
The earth.
Ocean.
Forest.
Fire.
What if this grief was an opportunity to deeply attune to the body's desires,
Moment by moment?
What if we as a community invited full expression of the body by our loved ones journeying through grief?
What if we answered every request with devotional service?
What if grief meant you could fully rest in community?
What if grief wasn't to be feared,
But embraced as a sacred and integral part of the journey of life,
Of humanity?
What if we recognize grief in our culture,
Embrace it,
Welcome it,
Experience it fully with all the supports we need to walk the journey?
What if we prepared for the inevitable experience of great grief in our most elevated and happier times?
How would we prepare?
It would seem that grief brings awareness deeply within our bodies.
Emotions arise that we may not be familiar with.
Heartbreak.
Anxiety.
Anger.
Disappointment.
Despair.
Apathy.
Depression.
Guilt.
Denial.
Heaviness.
Suffering.
Darkness.
Confusion.
Rage.
Our body systems may change,
Bringing insomnia,
Loss of appetite,
Pain,
Vomiting,
Scaly skin,
Weight loss,
Weight gain,
Increased appetite,
Headaches,
Migraines,
Muscle soreness,
Brain fog,
Vision disruption,
Dry mouth,
Cramping.
Whether we notice or not,
Many of these changes in emotions and body systems may be occurring.
What if we noticed,
Allowed,
Accepted,
Held space and awareness for these human experiences to move through us?
What if we didn't have a timeline?
What if we just allowed without judgment,
And our community held us?
Could we prepare by practicing this body awareness in our day-to-day lives?
If we took time to breathe,
Notice our breath,
Cultivate our relationships and connection to our breath?
What if we build resilience in our own beings of safety,
Taking care of our needs?
Could we cultivate the community we desire as a priority for when times are blissful?
Wouldn't that be the time when we could hold others in their grief?
This cyclical karmic exchange,
Sharing of resourcing,
Energy,
Love and acceptance.
Grief is a gift.
Let's open it in a good way.
A sacred journey to an unknown place we never even considered before.
