“As we let go of grief, we create more space for love…” 

For many, stepping into the New Year feels fresh and new, fuelled by a powerful momentum towards the beginning of the new. However, for some, the festive season brings an accumulation of unfulfilled and unrealistic expectations. Families coming together often triggers deep seated emotions and unresolved issues. For many this can be a challenging time.

Before fresh new beginnings can happen, the old needs to be released to create spaciousness. Between the ending and the beginning lies a powerful transition time. It is in the transition time that deep seated release and healing can happen with just the right amount of gentle support.

BEGINNINGS AND ENDINGS:
These are everywhere all around us, in our bodies, our lives and in the natural world. . I am getting ready to move house, to make a leave-taking. This house has been my haven for three years. So much life and healing has happened here. So many departures and arrivals. I have let go of old dreams and wishes. I have healed much of my personal griefs here. In the space of healed loss, I have welcomed in much love, friendship and self-growth. I have supported so many of my own clients through the process of grieving and loss…

A NEW LIFE BECKONS:
A new life now beckons. A new adventure. A new love. New dreams call to be fulfilled. At the same time, I recognise the sadness inherent in leaving behind a place I feel a deep connection to. These feelings are soft now, like misty mornings. The blackbird in my garden is singing his usual sweet song, reminding me that, although still deep in winter, spring will follow on in the natural rhythm of the cycles of the year.

GRIEF IS NATURAL:
Grief is also part of the cycle of change: a natural human response to loss. We may have an unconscious attachment to grief itself, believing that to let go of grief is to let go of that which matters to us. As we are asked to surrender to the passing of someone or something we hold dear, sadness is inevitable. But when old griefs are unresolved, fresh raw grief can act as a trigger to all the unresolved griefs of a lifetime. Sometimes this can touch generational and karmic grief.

THE GRIEF WINDOW:
This is sometimes called The Grief Window. When we welcome it, rather than seeking to deny it, it can become a place of opportunity. It contains a vulnerability from which we may heal, transform and grow. This can require courage, but to ignore it is to risk more suffering. When we continue to hold onto the patterns of the past because they have become familiar to us, we simply create more pain by our resistance.

THE HURT CHILD:
Often The Grief Window is created from all that we did not receive as a child, from the potentials that we feel we have lost, as well as from actual losses in our lives. Within many people lies a hurt grieving child who may have felt abandoned, neglected, rejected, abused, shamed, punished unworthy, unwelcome, unsafe and unloved. Often this grief lies buried beneath anger. A Grief Window may have opened within you, the loss of a lifetime may be with you. Begin to simply acknowledge the feelings and let them go softly, gently. They will release and flow into ease over time. Moving through grief is a process: denial, anger, grief, bargaining, acceptance and self-forgiveness.

LOCKING INTO GRIEF:
When we are locked into grief, we remove ourselves from the flow of life. Our world grows smaller. Our hearts shrink in self-protection. Ultimately, suppressed grief can cause dis-ease in the body, particularly the lungs. The grieved one would never have wished that for us.

A SIMPLE MEDITATION:
Gently close your eyes. Feel yourself connect with the ground beneath you. Let your breath begin to deepen and slow. Imagine yourself surrounded by soft blue light. Gently begin to breathe in this calming blue light. With each breath, breathe out any sadness, grief or heartache. Breathe in love and let it soothe you, bringing a sense of peacefulness and release.

Let yourself grieve for that Hurt Child within you, knowing they are now being held safe in your adult consciousness.

As you breathe, begin to create spaciousness as your chest gradually opens. Into spaciousness can step love and inspiration.

Into that spaciousness allow something new to form. New ideas. Fresh ways of thinking. A shift in perspective on your loss… As we let go of grief, we do not lose that person, but enable a greater purity of love. Love is infinite and eternal. We are the vessels through whom it flows. When we are locked into grief, the flow ceases. Our world grows smaller. Our hearts shrink in self-protection.

Come back to your breath any time your feelings become a little too much. Come back into the soft gentle blue light, watch as white clouds move, change shape, disperse.

Breathe in compassionate tenderness for yourself.

Breathe out any pain or loss or anger into the calm, quiet, gentle blueness of light.

Continue to breath gently for a few more minutes. Then become aware of your body and your connection to the ground below you. Open your eyes and come back to the room.

CREATING SPACE FOR MORE LOVE:
To move through loss, begin to recognise that you are creating space for something better. Trust you can flow forward, that life will support you. If you are grieving lost love and connection to others, gently remind yourself that anything and anyone we have loved will always be part of you.

In moving through grief, you hold life less tightly. You reclaim your ability to live lightly. Then you will naturally breathe more deeply. As you move through grief, you create space for more love.

To receive the Breath of Life Healing Journey Meditation to download and listen to, click on the link below:

Or if you would like to be supported through the process of grieving, contact Elizabeth for a free 20 minute Discovery Call: