Grief

Grief is one of the heart’s natural responses to loss.
When we grieve we allow ourselves to feel the truth of our pain,
the measure of betrayal or tragedy in our life.
By our willingness to mourn, we slowly acknowledge, integrate,
and accept the truth of our losses.
Sometimes the best way to let go is to grieve.

It takes courage to grieve, to honor the pain we carry.
We can grieve in tears or in meditative silence, in prayer or in song.
In touching the pain of recent and long-held griefs,
we come face to face with our genuine human vulnerability.

Without a wise way to grieve, we can only soldier on, armored and unfeeling,
but our hearts cannot learn and grow from the sorrows of the past.
To meditate on grief, let yourself sit breathing into the area of your chest.
Take one hand and hold it gently on your heart.

As you continue to breathe, bring to mind the loss or pain you are grieving.
Let the story, the images, the feelings comes naturally.
Hold them gently. Take your time.
Let the feelings come layer by layer, a little at a time.
Let whatever feelings are there, pain and tears, anger and love, fear and sorrow, come.
Touch them gently. Let them unravel out of your body and mind.
Breathe and hold it all with tenderness and compassion.
Kindness for it all, for you and for others.

The grief we carry is part of the grief of the world. Hold it gently. Let it be honored.
Releasing the grief we carry is a long, tear-filled process.
Yet it follows the natural intelligence of the body and heart.
Trust it, trust the unfolding.

Adapted from: “The Art of Forgiveness, Lovingkindness, and Peace“ by Jack Kornfield