Grief can take many forms and it can catch us completely off guard,
Bringing a wave of emotions.
Let's take this moment to honor those feelings.
As you navigate grief.
Consciously.
Find a comfortable sitting position.
Spine tall.
Back of the neck long.
Relax your shoulders.
Palms resting gently on your lap.
If it feels safe.
Gently close your eyes or simply soften your gaze towards the floor.
Take a deep breath in through your nose.
And let it go with a long slow exhale.
.
.
In the busyness of life.
We spend so much of our time holding things together.
Managing responsibilities.
And taking care of others.
For the next few minutes.
There is nowhere else you need to be and nothing else you need to do.
Whether you've practiced meditation before.
Or are new to it.
You are welcome here.
Meditation is simply the art of pausing and connecting within.
You are allowed to take off the armor.
You are allowed to leave the title or your role behind for this moment to sit quietly and to acknowledge the feelings and the loss you're carrying.
You are allowed to just be with what is.
Grief is a universal human experience,
Yet it is entirely unpredictable.
As author Elizabeth Gilbert reminds us,
Grief does not obey your plans or your wishes.
Grief will do whatever it wants to you,
Whenever it wants to.
In that regard,
Has a lot in common with love.
Grief can catch us off guard in the middle of a busy day.
A quiet moment.
Or an ordinary routine.
Whether you're navigating a personal loss,
A past sorrow,
Or the painful absence of a loved one or colleague or friend.
You don't have to resist it.
You do not have to judge it.
Is an expression of love.
And in that sense,
We can find the beauty in it.
It feels heavy.
It feels hard.
It feels so so sad.
And it's also a sharp lesson in what really matters and what doesn't in this life.
If the tears fall,
Let them.
If the anger rages,
Comfort it.
If the sorrow leads,
Feel it.
Take a deep breath in and say to yourself.
Is a natural emotion.
And on the out-breath.
Say it's okay for me to feel this way Keep following the breath.
In and out.
Saying to yourself.
Grief,
Is a natural emotion.
It's okay for me to feel this way Breathe in.
Breathe out.
Let it go.
Now bring your awareness to your body.
Notice where you are holding this weight.
Is it a tightness in your chest?
A heaviness in your shoulders?
And knots in your throat or belly.
Or tension in your jaw.
Let's consciously breathe into that space.
With each breath.
Inhale the essence of love.
And exhale the weight of grief.
And again,
Breathe in love.
Breathe out grief,
Tension,
Tightness.
Feel the interplay between these emotions.
For they coexist in a delicate dance,
Guiding us towards healing and acceptance.
The pain we feel is a direct reflection of the love that remains.
They belong together.
Staying connected to your breath.
If it feels right for you gently place your hands over your heart or wherever the grief feels most physical.
For you.
Give yourself permission to navigate this process one day,
One moment and one breath at a time.
You do not have to have it all figured out.
You do not have to carry it perfectly.
You get to simply feel and release.
Staying connected to your heart and inviting a gentle smile on your face.
Send a loving blessing to that special someone.
For their heart.
And the lasting impact.
They leave.
Take another deep breath here.
And a long nourishing breath out.
Breathe in love.
Breathe out grief.
Feel the support of the chair beneath you.
And the solid floor beneath your feet.
You are grounded.
And you are part of a wider human experience.
You are not alone.
We are all connected.
Grief is a natural emotion.
It's okay for you to feel this way.
Return to this space and practice whenever you need a quiet moment to consciously navigate grief.
Take a final deep breath here And a long breath out.
Release what no longer serves you.
When you're ready,
Gently wiggle your fingers,
Wiggle your toes and slowly open your eyes.
Thank you for meditating with me.
Know that I'm sending you so much love.
Namaste.
