Grief is the price we pay for love. How we experience loss is a natural response to significant changes or events in our lives—most often the death of a loved one. However, we can also find ourselves grieving the end of a relationship, a job or even the abstract loss of identity. Grieving is not always for the deceased and can manifest in a multitude of ways not at all limited to sadness, anger, guilt, and physical symptoms. Grief is, indeed, a spiritual experience. 

Most of us are familiar with the five stages of grief, as outlined by psychiatrist Elisabeth Kübler-Ross: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. These stages are not necessarily experienced in a linear or sequential order. 

Grief is a complex and individual process, and individuals may move back and forth between different stages or experience them in staggering differences of order. Not everyone will experience every stage or may experience them in varying intensities. The stages serve as a general framework for understanding the emotional responses to grief, but they are not meant to be rigid or prescriptive. In fact, we can actually revisit the beginning stages of grief many years after the initial event took place. This can be brought on by unusual or unsuspected subtleties such as the temperature outdoors, the lighting in a room or a certain scent. 

A very common type of grieving process is where one can go between a sense of healing and progress to then what may feel like backsliding. This is often referred to as "complicated grief". This particular type of grief I am very familiar with as it can span many, many years.

It’s characterized by a prolonged and intense grieving process with periods of progress and healing followed by setbacks and often intense sadness and struggle. It can be a challenging and complex process to navigate, and try as one might, we cannot do this alone.

Simply put, there is no right way to do this. What worked for countless others did not work for me. The adage of time heals all wounds, and platitudes such as they are in a better place were painfully empty.

As a grief doula, my approach to helping clients navigate their grief is firmly rooted in both elemental ideals and modern modalities. I believe in the healing power of connecting with nature and the elements, practicing mindfulness and rituals in natural settings, and engaging in activities that promote grounding and centering. In essence, I believe in elemental healing. 

From our Mother Earth we receive stability, grounding, growth, and abundance. The ideal related to the element of Earth is to cultivate a strong foundation, remain rooted in your values, and nurture your personal growth.

From the air we receive communication, intellect, freedom, and inspiration. The air doesn’t seek to fix our hurt, but to let it move. The ideal related to the element of Air is to cultivate clear and effective communication, embrace intellectual curiosity, and seek inspiration in all aspects of life.

From fire we revitalize our passion, creativity, transformation, and energy. Fire reminds us that grief and anger and gratitude can all exist within a moment. The ideal related to the element of Fire is to embrace your passions, unleash your creativity, invite change and transformation, and harness your life force. 

And finally, from water, we learn to temper our emotions, trust our intuition, and lean in to our innate ability for healing. We learn to trust our own fluidity. The ideal related to the element of Water is to honor your emotions, prioritize self-care, and come to understand how we are either fighting or flowing with the flow of life.

I explore modern techniques such as meaning making, story-telling, and reclaiming creativity and even your identity in support your healing process. I will help you truly celebrate your smallest victories. I want you to tune in to your beliefs and values and remember your innate coping skills for understanding and managing your very unique journey. 

Through an integration of elemental ideals, relying on the wisdom of the natural world and modern modalities, you will find your way home to yourself by honoring your unique experience with your loss. My purpose is in providing a safe and supportive space for all exploration and healing. I believe in guiding you back towards a sense of peace, self-love and yes, even joy.