Hello and welcome to this guided meditation to help you to find a measure of ease and comfort in your grief and your grieving.
My name is Kate from Home To You Healing and Home To You Meditations.
If grief is the price that we pay for love,
Then when we lose someone we love,
There will be great grief.
Grief itself is a normal part of the cycle of life.
We are born,
We live the life we live,
We die and those left behind mourn the loss of us.
All of us will face grief many times in our lifetimes if we're lucky to have loved.
The nature of the connection and the dynamics in our different relationships will of course determine the intensity,
The depth and the impact of a grief after a great loss.
There's no road map.
What may comfort you may not work for somebody else and what may have helped you to cope previously with another grief may not help with this one.
I am no stranger to grief.
I know the feeling of being unable to breathe from the sheer heavy crushing weight of loss.
To feel that pain so intensely in your heart that it's physical.
To wake up to a new day with a moment of bliss only to remember the devastation.
To feel bereft,
Cheated,
Lost,
Lonely even whilst in company.
To feel like life is empty,
Pointless,
Dark and unbearable.
But I also know that there is still light and hope and that it is possible to find comfort and joy in your day despite this pain.
Look for it and you will find it.
Babies,
Children and pets are always great bringers of comfort as their love is pure and completely unconditional.
If you can spend time in their company,
Being in nature also helps.
Allow its peace to enfold you.
Spending time by the sea,
A river or laying in the fields,
A forest walk or simply sitting in your garden can be healing.
There is a time to cry and that's okay.
It is important and necessary.
Crying is healing and it can be a release.
Go with how you feel on any given day.
If it's good,
Be thankful and do not feel guilty for you still have a life to live.
That day,
Cut yourself some slack,
Be gentle with yourself,
With trusted friends,
Rest,
Try to eat nourishing food,
Go for a walk,
Breathe.
There is more than one way to grieve but you need to find what works for you.
It is wise however to try to implement some coping mechanisms to help you to function insofar as you can whilst you're in the grip of grief and in the aftermath of a great loss.
Use what works best for you.
Walking or some form of exercise,
Yoga is particularly good as it works on all the different levels.
Listening to or playing music,
Journaling,
Talking with family,
Trusted friends,
A counsellor or find a support group in your area and sometimes going back to work can be helpful as it's a distraction.
Whatever you choose to do is totally okay for you because only you can find your way through this and remember that you are a resilient soul.
It is truly amazing what we can survive,
Surmount and move forward from.
Wiser,
Stronger,
More loving and compassionate if we choose to and yes you do have the power to choose how you move forward from here.
It's not going to be easy but you can do it.
Take your time to grieve,
To mourn,
To remember,
To heal and to adjust to your new reality.
Talk to your loved one for they are so close.
Join me on a journey to the sacred garden of remembrance,
A beautiful magical place to meet your beloved.
So let's get comfortable,
Either lying down or sitting up in a supported position.
Make sure that you will not be disturbed for just a little while.
If you would like to,
You can hold something that belonged to your loved one an item of clothing,
A piece of jewelry,
Even a picture just to help to strengthen the connection but this is not essential.
So close down your eyes,
Mentally scan your body for any areas of tension or tightness and using your breath,
Breathe deep into these areas.
Allow your body to just soften and relax.
Take a nice big deep breath down into your belly.
Breathe in and breathe out.
Breathe in and breathe out.
Breathe in and breathe out.
Breathe in and breathe out.
Let go,
Breathe naturally now.
Notice any thoughts,
Feelings or sensations that arise and without judgment or attachment,
Simply allow them to just drift by.
Imagine that there are beautiful golden roots coming from the soles of your feet and your sacrum,
Winding down through the ground,
Through all the layers of the earth,
Down,
Down,
Down,
Deep into the heart of Mother Earth.
Big,
Thick,
Heavy roots anchoring you at the center of the planet.
You are grounded,
Safe,
Solid,
Calm and relaxed,
Connected to the earth and all that there is.
All is well.
Imagine now that you are walking in your favorite place.
This is the place that you have known forever.
Maybe this place holds memories of walks with your loved one.
It feels safe here,
Familiar.
Look down at your feet as you walk.
Notice the surface beneath you.
Feel the sun warm on your back as you hear the birds twitter and sing overhead.
Your heart begins to lift a little.
Just ahead on the pathway,
You see to your left an old stone stairway.
And as you arrive beside it,
You can see that it leads below to a beautiful garden.
Stepping onto the staircase,
Feeling the stone solid cool beneath your feet,
You inhale the sweet scented air,
Laden with the smell of flowers from this sacred garden.
And as you descend step by step,
You are feeling more relaxed.
Wiving onto the soft grass,
Gazing around you in awe at the beauty before you.
Everything seems so vibrant,
Alive,
Vivid.
As you walk,
You notice the flowers of all colors.
All of your favorites.
Roses,
Lilacs,
Daisies,
Jasmine,
Sweet pea,
Wisteria,
All beautiful.
Butterflies flitting amongst the flowers.
And you can hear the hum of the bees busy at work.
As you walk deeper into the garden,
You pass lovely hedges of honeysuckle and wild rose.
You can hear the soothing sound of a nearby stream.
And as it comes into sight,
You notice under the shadow of an old oak tree,
Seat.
Sitting down,
You gaze at the water,
Silver in the sunlight,
Rippling over the stones on the stream bed.
It's so beautiful here.
You feel completely at peace.
Close your eyes and lift your face towards the sun,
Breathing in this beautiful place,
Feeling content.
At home,
A gentle touch on your shoulder,
Opening your eyes,
You turn to see your beloved.
Smiling,
Looking at you with such love that no words are needed.
Gaze into that familiar face,
Drinking in every single feature and wrap your arms around them,
Feeling the closeness,
Inhaling their scent as you surrender to this comforting embrace.
Feeling all those old familiar feelings.
You are safe.
You are loved.
You are now connected.
You both sit on the wooden seat now,
Happy to be together in this special,
Sacred place.
Feel your hands touch,
Feel the love that you have for each other.
Still strong,
Vibrant,
Alive,
Bonds of love that are forever.
If there's anything that you wish to tell your loved one now,
Take this opportunity to do it.
Pour out your heart,
Don't hold.
Feel yourself lighter,
Freer,
For you have released so much.
Now your loved one has a message for you.
Relax and listen to what they want to tell you.
This has been a beautiful visit,
Spending time with your loved one,
Connecting your hearts,
Your souls.
But it's time now to leave the garden,
Always return here to connect with your loved one.
Anytime that you wish,
Press a kiss gently to their forehead and sense and feel the kiss returned to you.
Smile as you say goodbye and make your way back through the garden.
Feeling more at ease now,
Noticing the flowers and the butterflies all around you,
Next to you,
Smiling,
As you reach the stone staircase and climb back.
Looking back down,
The garden's still there,
Awaiting your return,
Whenever you need to visit.
Now it's time to come back to the present,
And you head for home,
Walking your families.
Look down at your feet,
Taking one step at a time,
Becoming more every step,
Aware,
Fully awake,
Present.
Bring your attention now to your body and your toes,
Your fingers,
Stretch if you wish.
Notice the sounds in the room,
And slowly,
And in your own.
I wish you comfort and ease.
Use this practice as it helps or find other meditations that resonate with you.
I am sending you all my love.
Take care of yourself,
For you are precious,
And you still have a life to live.
