This week, I bring you a special treat! This post was written by my dear friend, talented crystal healer and artist Dina, the MetaphysicalMom. She recently lost two of her furry children and was generous with her time and with her soul to share with us today.
I’ve made the joke many times that our house was an assisted living facility for senior citizen animals; two fifteen- year old chihuahuas and one nineteen year old cat are certainly no spring chickens. Even though you know the life expectancy of an animal- it isn’t easy watching them age, watching their personalities change, and watching them slow down.
The past month has been ridiculously hard for our family- we lost one of the chihuahuas and the cat. Where once we had a robust home (feeding time was always a laugh) now there’s only one set of paws underfoot.
How to cope with the lost of a pet (or any other cherished loved one)? How do we go on without their love? In many cases, we even have to live with some guilt and shame. Did we pay enough attention? Did we show them enough love? If only we had another day.. another hour.. another chance for a hug or kiss.
It’s too easy to stay in that place of guilt, of shame, and of heartbreak. So, how can we transition through the stages of grief and what tools can we use to cope?
Emotions are absolutely necessary and important to feel. First- we must grieve and feel it all. The good memories, the bad ones, the shame, the guilt; whatever comes up. We don’t want any of these feelings to be stuffed into our body. Use must feel them, discuss them with a friend. We must go through them even when the natural reaction is to run away from them.
When we don’t resolve or give closure to an event in our life- like the loss of a loved one- we continue to hold onto the energies generated by the emotional response to it. These energies may stay stagnant- but they eventually will resurface. So, the best course of action is to feel and process immediately, no matter how painful.
Thankfully we have resources to turn to: meditation, exercise, crystals and essential oils. All of these can help move emotion through our bodies and aid their processing.
My favorite healing modality is crystals; wear them in jewelry, carry them in a pouch, or hold them in meditation. Allow them to open up those parts of you that are holding onto, and not fully processing, emotions.
Some recommendations for grief, shame, and heartbreak are:
Obsidian- a powerful emotional teacher. It allows one to understand shame and our shadow self- allowing it to evolve and be illuminated.
Danburite- soothes the heart and sends the message that all is well; it brings forth the frequency of comfort and angelic rescue.
Rainbow Moonstone- this beautiful stone aids in clearing the emotional body and eases emotional trauma and grief.
Pink Tourmaline- assists in releasing stress, worries, depression, and anxiety. It helps those that are “emotionally numb” recover their passion and zest for life.
Remember to not judge yourself. When processing loss and experiencing trauma we must lean into our feelings and not judge ourselves. Be kind and patient to yourself and those going through the grieving process.
Dina, you are a true treasure. Thank you for sharing your story and knowledge with the Believe in Bunnies world. Love you.
You can connect with Dina and her wonderful healing work at CrystaliciousNYC.