{"id":382,"date":"2021-01-11T05:13:38","date_gmt":"2021-01-11T05:13:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/plentifullifecounselling.com.au\/wp\/?p=382"},"modified":"2021-01-11T05:13:41","modified_gmt":"2021-01-11T05:13:41","slug":"a-reflection-for-the-new-year-with-grief","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/plentifullifecounselling.com.au\/wp\/a-reflection-for-the-new-year-with-grief\/","title":{"rendered":"A reflection for the New Year with grief"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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A new year invites us to reflect and consider what has been and what may lie ahead. As the first blog of 2021 I thought it was appropriate to encourage that reflection with two contemplative poems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first is a Jewish meditation before Kaddish. Kaddish is the ritual for mourning used in Jewish Culture. This meditation is particularly beautiful and is often quoted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When I die give what\u2019s left of me away<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To children and old men that wait to die.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And if you need to cry,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cry for your brother walking the street beside you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And when you need me, put your arms around anyone<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And give them what you need to give me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I want to leave you something,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Something better than words or sounds,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Look for me in the people I\u2019ve known or loved,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And if you cannot give me away,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At least let me live in your eyes and not in your mind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can love me best by letting hands touch hands,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And by letting go of children that need to be free.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Love doesn\u2019t die, people do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, when all that\u2019s left of me is love,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Give me away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another beautiful poem that is aimed at parents on the death of a child is written by John O\u2019Donohue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

No one knows the wonder<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your child awoke in you,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your heart a perfect cradle<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To hold its presence,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Inside and outside became one<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As new waves of love<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kept surprising your soul.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now you sit bereft<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Inside a nightmare,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your eyes numbed<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By the sight of a grave<\/p>\n\n\n\n

No parent should ever see<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You will wear this absence<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Like a secret locket,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Always wondering why<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Such a new soul<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Was taken home so soon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let the silent tears flow<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And when your eyes clear<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Perhaps you will glimpse<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How your eternal child<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Has become the unseen angel<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Who parents your heart<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And persuades the moon<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To send new gifts ashore.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Grief is not an easy place to be. But there are always moments when the sun peeps through and you glimpse hope. It is these times that are often places where such poems seem to fit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you would like to talk to me about how I can help you with your grief, please contact me on 0409396608 or nan@plentifullifecounselling.com.au<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you would like to learn more, I write a regular newsletter with interesting information, tips, information on courses, and the occasional freebie. At the moment I have a free mindfulness meditation for anyone who signs up to my newsletter. This meditation offers a way to safely explore your feelings and learn to be okay with them. If you would like to subscribe please click on the link here: http:\/\/eepurl.com\/g8Jpiz<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A new year invites us to reflect and consider what has been and what may lie ahead. As the first blog of 2021 I thought it was appropriate to encourage that reflection with two contemplative poems. The first is a Jewish meditation before Kaddish. Kaddish is the ritual for mourning used in Jewish Culture. This … Continue reading A reflection for the New Year with grief<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/plentifullifecounselling.com.au\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/382"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/plentifullifecounselling.com.au\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/plentifullifecounselling.com.au\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/plentifullifecounselling.com.au\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/plentifullifecounselling.com.au\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=382"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/plentifullifecounselling.com.au\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/382\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":384,"href":"https:\/\/plentifullifecounselling.com.au\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/382\/revisions\/384"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/plentifullifecounselling.com.au\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=382"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/plentifullifecounselling.com.au\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=382"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/plentifullifecounselling.com.au\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=382"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}