A Ritual: Be With
The phrase “be with” is what has gotten me through some of my darkest moments this last year. I was cracked wide open to the grief of losing a relationship but also to all the grief that still lived within my mind and body that had been unattended to. The practice of being with something is to slow down, to honor and to give your presence to it. Within this time and space of my life, I now stood on the ground that left no other option than to “be with” my grief, truly and fully, for the first time in my life.
This practice to be with has transformed the way I live. When we let go of our resistance and slow down enough to tend to our grief, we meet ourselves with an open heart. By meeting ourselves in this space, we deepen our capacity to not only hold the discomfort of grief but to also hold a deeper love on the other side of it.
To “be with” is to meet this present moment with an open heart and a deep reverence. It is the resistance to feeling the grief that creates suffering as well as energetic blocks that keep us from experiencing the life we are living and the life we desire. When we are “with” ourselves in the midst of grief, we soften. This process is sacred and it validates the true expression of our hearts, our bodies, and our minds within the painful moments. The pain you are feeling from whatever loss you are experiencing is real and the more we can be with those feelings of loss, the more we open ourselves up to life, to actually living.
“Creating the intentional space and solitude to be with grief is one of the most loving and reverential things we can do.” - Mark Groves & Kylie McBeath
So, if you are moving through grief, may you take the time to slow down and be with your tender heart. The ritual below is something that you can practice in times you need to honor the grief moving through, you can return to this practice time and time again and make it uniquely yours.
A Ritual to “Be With”
Find a quiet space where you can be alone. Light a candle, sit outside, or go for a walk.
Ask yourself, “How does this grief desire to be expressed?” “If I was to really tune in right here, right now, how do I really feel?” Take a moment to pause, to listen. See what comes up. Maybe you feel called to journal and express through words. Maybe you want to turn on soothing music as you walk. Or maybe you want to just sit and drink coffee/tea and let the grief move through you as you release tears. There is no right or wrong way to do this. It is all about the intention you bring to the space you are in, and that you intend to “be with” your experience in this present moment, fully.
Before coming out of this ritual, allow a moment for reflection and integration. Become the witness to how you felt before, during, and after this ritual.
Sending you so much love and so much light.
May you create the space for your truth to be revealed, to be felt, and to be honored. For within this act of reverence, we come to know ourselves and life in a deeper way, a more loving and compassionate way.
And as always, Shar(e)on Lightly.
P.S. Please know that I am here to support you through moments that are difficult to be with. I offer a blend of yoga and life coaching and it looks a lot like a private yoga session, but in addition to exploring movements on the mat, we also coach on your difficult circumstances or emotions within life or grief.
If you are interested in learning more, click the button below to set up a time for us to connect!