As a bereaved mom for the past 17 years, I have learned that grief is so much more than the crushing emotions that typically define this experience. It’s an ongoing process that unfolds and reveals new challenges and new learning, with each year.

As we approach the end of another year, I want to take a moment to express my heartfelt gratitude for your continued support and trust in my Reiki and meditation practice.

Ever since I wrote my book A New Normal, A Grieving Mother’s Journey from Loss to Healing, I have felt compelled and called to embark on a career of Grief Counselling. In keeping with my holistic approach, I intend to incorporate Reiki, meditation and Hypno-therapy, as an adjunct to conventional therapy. I’m excited for this new chapter in my career and know that this is part of my soul’s journey.

The second Sunday in May is celebrated as Mother’s day, but there is also a lesser known day of recognition in May for mothers.  The first Sunday in May is International Bereaved Mother’s Day.  This day is dedicated to all mothers who have lost a child, including those who suffer loss from miscarriage and infertility.

Serendipitous meetings occur more often than one would think, as I’ve had several experiences . . They serve as reminders that our loved ones without a doubt exist beyond what our eyes can see and its comforting to know that our love that was shared never dies.

It’s hard to believe that we’re in the final days of 2023, but nevertheless here we are! Some of you may be feeling good riddance to a difficult year and some of you may be wanting time to just slow down so that you can savor every last minute of this year.

Meditation is my “go to” when my feelings and thoughts are overwhelming. I begin with the “I am” meditation, where whatever I see, hear or feel, I acknowledge that I am that very thing.   I am the warm sunshine I feel on my face, I am the sound of the water running in the nearby creek, I am the winding path that I’m walking on, I am the magpie calling out, and so forth.   I remind myself that separateness is only an illusion, everything is energy, and energy cannot be destroyed, it only changes its form.

Meditation helped me to find my way back to my true self and to move forward on my bereavement journey.  Whether you are grieving the loss of a loved one, a marriage, a job, or perhaps your life just hasn’t turned out as you expected, meditation can help you to find your way back to your center. 

Over the passing years my meditation practice has helped me to recognize that March 13, 2008, is just one day in our existence and the sadness of this one day will never define or cancel out the 24 years of wonderfulness that we had with Sara prior to March 13.   I’ve become resolute in making sure the sadness of that day does not outweigh all the joy and happiness that Sara brought into our lives. 

Thirteen years ago, was the last time I saw my daughter Sara. Little did I know that 2 days later she would be in a motor vehicle accident and she would be gone forever.

Our last day together was nothing short of magical.

I’ve learned that grief is multi- dimensional. It’s not only those feeling of being frozen in time and trudging through a life sentence. The sadness and pain of grief demand to be felt and must be experienced fully without being denied or covered up. Once you allow the ugliness and hurt of the experience, the beauty and love that has always been there is revealed to you.

In this blog I’m going to answer the second question I’m most often asked and that is “how have you managed to move forward following the death of your daughter?”

The healing community that I am apart of was integral to my survival. I can’t stress it enough that if you have any healing skills, humbly offer them to the grieving. My greatest sense of comfort and peace came from my Reiki students & peers, who repeatedly sent myself and my family distance Reiki. Our Reiki connection would allow them to intuitively know when I needed help and their treatments and prayers, saved me in my darkest moments.  If you’re not a part of the healing community, a simple prayer for peace is most beneficial too.

Over the past 18 + years that I’ve been providing Reiki treatments and Hypnotherapy sessions, I’ve learned that the environment that I do this work in, is an important partner in the healing work being done. Whether you work in the healing arts or would like your own special area of your home to meditate & pray, giving your care and your attention to the space so that it works with you, will enhance your sacred experience.