Provide Comfort and Keep the Energy Moving
“The pain of grief is just as much part of life as the joy of love: it is perhaps the price we pay for love, the cost of commitment. To ignore this fact, or to pretend that it is not so, is to put on emotional blinkers which leave us unprepared for the losses that will inevitably occur in our own lives and unprepared to help others cope with losses in theirs.”
Dr Colin Murray Parkes, a psychiatrist at St.Christopher’s Hospice
In our line of work, it is not unusual to provide support to someone who is actively grieving, and like all emotions, grief is meant to move through us, not get stuck in our energy field or our physical body. Understanding that we are vibrational beings facilitates healing that is not entirely mainstream but never the less, invaluable to support those in our care.
Simple awareness of my own energetic body, coupled with some non-invasive techniques enabled me to truly understand the healing process and navigate my last placement with compassion, love and a better, in-depth understanding of grief.
I thought that it may be interesting to share this, albeit in an informative way, while simultaneously referencing the spiritual energy centres within the human body. When these are open and aligned, our energy is constantly free-flowing allowing prana or life force to surge through them and in so doing creating a healing space for physical, emotional, and psychological healing.
Chakra Work for Grieving Clients
Root Chakra (Earth Element) I am…
The loss can shake your client’s basic security in the world. It is never easy when you lose your support system – the person who was always there as a source of comfort and who gave you purpose. Suddenly the world feels unsafe and although you may have been relieved from the anxiety around their illness you feel lost and alone. Positivity and excited anticipation about the future is key to working with this chakra.
Sacral Chakra (Water Element) I feel…
Undeniably their feelings are all over the place and they can exhibit a number of extreme emotions ranging from sadness to anger and everything in between. It is valuable to support your clients continued zest for and pleasure in life itself.
Solar Plexus Chakra (Fire Element) I do…
Your client may feel shame or regret as to how everything unfolded and may experience emptiness in the pit of their stomach. They may feel overwhelmed and doubt their efforts. It is critical to help them nurture self-love and accept all their parts – good and bad
Heart Chakra (Air Element) I love…
There may be feelings of inadequacy and your client may lack the ability to fully open up to the people in their lives. They find it especially difficult to give and receive love – this chakra has effectively shut down. Sharing love in whatever form is critical to slowly releasing the pain of a ‘broken heart”
Throat Chakra (Sound / Music Element) I speak…
In the later stages of grief, the bereaved person starts to need support with recreating themselves, their life and their new identity – basically a new landscape without their loved one. They need help stepping into their personal power but find difficulty expressing how they truly feel. It is an opportune time to discover a new freedom, growth and self-expression. Listening and facilitating communication is key to help heal this chakra.
Third Eye Chakra (Light Element) I see…
As we move up the body we are getting closer to communion with the divine and it is here that tremendous insight, perspective and wisdom can be gained from the passing of a loved one. Your client can be supported to explore what cannot be seen and encouraged to talk about the ‘bigger picture’ beyond the surface level – to see with the eye of the soul.
Crown Chakra (Divine Conscious Element) I know…
Supporting the seventh chakra will help your client gain the most spiritually from their experience – it opens up conversations about, and access to, higher consciousness. However, understanding that we all have our own interpretation of death, and knowing that grief has its own timeline, it is appropriate to always take cognizance of your client’s belief systems. If the non-material world comes up for discussion, and spiritual growth is evident, healing this chakra would involve providing a safe space for expression – working with them… as you stand in your truth and acknowledge theirs.
Grieving provides a powerful opportunity for spiritual growth and in some way prepares us for greater service to others. Profound loss tends to open and soften our hearts while deepening our connection with others. Often the non-material world becomes our focus and we tend to drop our facades, reassess our lives and start to consider what is truly important.
As carers, we understand that “Grief is merely Love with nowhere to go” and if called to do so, we have a responsibility to redirect, keep the energy of love moving and be extremely valuable in the healing process.
“You may not see your loved ones, but they are able to see you. You may not hear their precious voices, but they are speaking to you in your thoughts all the time. You may long to know if they are okay, but there’s no need to worry because they are in a state of total bliss. You may believe you didn’t have enough time to spend with them, but they can now be with you whenever they so desire. You may not realize when they are around you, but they are sending you“without a doubt” signs all the time. You may be worried that they are still in pain, but they are in a place of total peace, where suffering doesn’t exist. You may not comprehend why everything happened the way it did, but they are able to see the broader perspective and understand it all perfectly. You may think that they left this earth way too soon, but they know it was their time to make the transition. You may feel guilty about certain things you did or didn’t do to them, but they are able to see through your eyes and understand your actions completely, with no judgment. You may be preoccupied with how they died, but they want you to remember how they lived. You may be hesitant about moving on with your life, but they want you to step forward and be happy again. You may believe that you will never see them again, but you will join them again, many years from now when you leave your physical body. You may feel that a part of you died after they made their transition, but in reality life continues for both of you.”
Karen Noé – from “Your Life After Their Death: A Medium’s Guide to Healing After a Loss”
