Have you noticed the theme of death showing up lately? From TV series on zombies and vampires to experts like the Griefwalker, Stephen Jenkinson, giving lectures and presenting movies on grief, it seems death is everywhere.
Maybe it’s because Halloween is just around the corner? Or is something else happening at a whole other level of awareness? We do live in the nuclear, radioactive age where total destruction and death is a looming reality. How do we live life and grieve death?
SEASONS
Moving through the seasons often reminds me of the fragility of life. After a whole month of sunny, above seasonal temperatures, with potted plants on the porch and flowers in the garden still blooming, I was awakened by the sound of rain and snow outside the bedroom window on Sunday morning. Inevitable in this part of the world, where we live so close to the mountains, but the contrast between extended warmth and the predicted cold somehow made the transition more poignant this year.
Then, while walking to my friend’s place for Sunday brunch with all my amazing gal pals, the rain changed to sleet, which changed to snow and, by evening, heavy snow and plummeting temperatures. The blue heads of the Bachelor’s buttons and the yellow heads of the Calendula drooped with snow and cold, both surrendering gracefully to the demands of approaching winter, where everything here dies and lays dormant until spring returns. Would that I could so graciously accept the coming cold!
Turns out that our gal pal conversation turned to the loss of pets, lingering grief of parents who died years ago, conversations about aging parents, how to express sadness, how to cry, how others respond to our grief or not, and how we face illness and the shock of an unexpected diagnosis with our children and grandchildren. I am grateful for my friends; we can talk about these kinds of things like life, death, aging, and illness. We have been together now for 20 years…longer when you measure in friendships that now span over 30 years! In the midst of the grief, life!
DEATH and LOSS
I was reminded of an entire special edition of the National Post on Saturday, October 26, 2013, given to the subject of death, dying, rituals, and spiritual ideas of possible afterlife. The most unusual rituals for me were the tattooing of loved one’s ashes into the skin and the burial of ashes under the sea. As humans, we need to grieve — and it would seem we are finding very creative ways to do that!
HOMEOPATHY and GRIEF
One of the topics not covered in mainstream news is how homeopathy can help support a person or family when grief seems to permeate and hold fast. Grief is an individual experience. When we allow ourselves to grieve and to take the time we need to grieve, we move through it, as hard as it is. But sometimes, it is hard to move forward when the grief is overwhelming. Long-term chronic illness can take its toll.
Sudden, unexpected shock of death or even a loss of a relationship or family member while all are still living can be just as overwhelming. Grief, in short, can affect our health and emotions. Sometimes the support of friends, family, a counselor, or minister/faith can help us through this journey, but sometimes, you can also turn to homeopathy to help give you the physical and emotional support needed to navigate the experience of death and loss.
THE WELL-KNOWN REMEDIES
Rather than ‘reinventing the wheel,’ I am now going to send you to a website with an excellent article on homeopathy and grief. In it, Bob Leckridge, former GP and now practicing homeopath at the Glasgow Homeopathic Hospital in Scotland, talks about grief and the top homeopathic remedies often used. Remember, though, that homeopathy can be individualized. If you find that you cannot find your situation covered by these well-known remedies, you can see your homeopath, who can listen carefully and compassionately to find the exact remedy that is homeopathic for you and your grief.
As sobering as it is to talk about death, grief, dying, and loss, this is also the season in North America where our children and grandchildren dress up and have a fun evening of candy and treats. I guess that is the challenge, isn’t it? How do we live fully present to life, treats, and fun in the midst of death, grief, and loss in our daily lives? Maybe the flowers know more than we humans about seasons and surrender…trusting in the return of spring, seeds, and regeneration. Something to consider as we all share this human journey…together.
