The Holiday Season and Grief - Ways to Heal

Gathering for the holidays has always incorporated faith, family and friends in observance and celebration. And every year at this time we are inundated with emotion derived from the loss of loved ones. We dwell on the memories of holidays past and become so busy feeling badly that we forget what the goodness of the season is all about. If it was important enough to remember sadly, then it’s important enough to remember fondly, because happiness with that loved one is what you are missing. That element gets in the way of healing and we can easily neglect to create new memories that could enhance the ones we embraced through family and tradition.

It is my understanding that our deceased loved ones want us to continue with their traditions and think of them fondly when we do. And the holiday season is a difficult time because we struggle with that, as though being happy would be a sin. They want us to celebrate. They wouldn’t want you to be unhappy and they certainly wouldn’t want you to struggle. It is my experience that they want us to create an awareness of our lives today, making them worth every moment so that we can still pass those moments onto the children of the future.

We do more honor to our loved ones by celebrating with them in mind by incorporating them into a new tradition, and a way to do more than “get through” the holidays.

Here are a few ways you might want to go about adjusting your thinking to help your holiday be a break from grieving, and at the same time, heal by making new memories.

1. Be aware of your use of holiday colors and share stories relating to them. For instance, one of my grandmothers was a seamstress who loved the color red. When I decorate with that color, I remember the red stocking she handmade for me, and the red satin ornaments on her tree! I make sure to share that story when I am with family and friends. That single act of sharing creates a fond memory for me and keeps my grandmother as a part of the festivities.
2. Light a candle at your holiday table in the name of those you wish to remember and toast them with the love and laughter of inclusion.
3. Be aware of the danger of dwelling in sadness because it’s easy to encourage more of the same. The next thing you know everyone around you will be depressed, too and a vicious cycle may unfold.

These are just a few ways one can deal with grief during the holiday season, while keeping our loved ones still closely involved in family tradition. It will promote joy and laughter for seasons to come.

How it Works for Me — Signs for a Medium

 

Since my mom passed almost twenty years ago, whenever I am in transition or have some milestone happening, I get a sign from her. And it’s never in question that the sign is from her because whatever it is will have her presence written all over it in some magical way.

For example, when she first died I was angry and missing her, telling my friends that I kept questioning God, convinced I’d never hear from her again. At the time this was first discussed, I was riding in the passenger seat of my friend’s car and she was driving. We were on our way to a media function in New York City and traffic was at a standstill.

“I miss my mother.” I said. I turned to my friend and my eyes caught onto something passed her, outside of the open window, and rested on something blue and white nestled in the corner of some buildings across the highway. 

“What’s that?” I pointed and squinted and now we were both staring at this.

My friend inched the car up so that we could get a better view of the little alcove and soon the morning sun lit it up to reveal a statue nestled inside. More than that, it was of the Blessed Mother, who was depicted in my Catholic religious upbringing, as wearing blue and white.

“It’s a sign that she’s OK!” I said, and we both smiled as the same thought came to mind, “

“You mean a sign from her, don’t you? Your mom?” my friend asked in further confirmation.

I shook my head. “Somehow it feels like it’s from someone else…”

“Who?”

As the car jerked forward in the traffic, I spun my head to my side of the window and, blocking my view through it, was the word: G.O.D. It was painted in large bold letters and emblazoned on the side of a truck that covered the entire window.

“I get it, I get,” and we both started laughing, so big a sign it was. Their acronym for GOD: Guaranteed Overnight Delivery.

Message received.

And that is how it works for me. I get a sign and it is often followed by grateful validation. I keep a journal of these personal paranormal experiences and I’ve allowed myself to become aware of everyday occurrences because they have transformed into magical messages for me.

Signs from spirit are everywhere. I believe we just have to be mindful enough to tune into them.

Previously published February 2018 on Medium.com

Back for More Spiritual Discussion

Hello, Everyone! Even though I moved the blog info and I now write them on Huffington Post, Medium.com and ThriveGlobal.com, people still visit here. So I decided to address some of the topics here again to reach those of you who have been writing privately so that we can share with others. The most popular topic seems to be my story regarding the hearing of chimes. I am going to be addressing some of the comments regarding this, so please check back often. And if you have your own experience, please feel free to post it here in comments. Meanwhile, to find me on social media: @LindaLauren and I am on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn Have a wonderful day! God bless, Linda Lauren

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Directing The Energy Current

It’s one o’clock in the morning and I am tossing and turning while fighting the storm that has entered our atmosphere. With a storm comes lightning and thunder, a combination that stirs up energy, and that atmospheric pressure affects our own personal energy. Depending on the length of the storm, it can be hard not to ride it out by staying up all night, eyes wide open, body buzzing as the mind fights that desire to slowly flutter off to dreamland. It is this “fight” with one’s energy that causes us to toss and turn in insomnia.

Rather than toss and turn, I have always used these times as the perfect opportunity to be productive, and most times, I find myself writing about the things that are most important to me. That opportunity does not lend itself only to storms, but includes new moons, full moons, retrogrades, and even eclipses, that can contribute the same seemingly disruptive energy. It amazes me that someone would think that the moon can move large bodies of water to create tides, yet that it could not possibly affect the movement of a human body, which is almost 75% water! There is a reason why emotion and ocean rhyme. It’s to remind us our that lunar connection has an affect on our responses and we have to consider those responses as we move through our daily existence if we want to establish emotional balance.

People reacting through emotional outburst (and we all have those moments) have allowed themselves to be tempered by the vibrations around them. No matter what shakes you up, the fact remains that your energy is still shaken up, and it would behoove you to use that distraction to your advantage, rather than to toss and turn, literally losing sleep over it. Instead, use that energy to your advantage: journalize, color, read--do whatever you need to so that you expend that energy. If you are determined to get back to sleep, then put soft music in your player and tell yourself, by way of personal “suggestion," that this will ease you to sleep.

My late uncle used to say that awareness is everything in life. So, in my best effort to help you become more aware via my study, trial and experience, I have uncovered ways that help me to not only go with the flow during these energetic times, but to direct the current for what lies ahead so that you are aware of the way your energy ebbs and flows. The easiest way to track your progress is to use a calendar and a journal. It doesn’t matter if you keep records on printed paper or if you use your computer. Let your instincts tell you what feels right for you. The idea is to use it faithfully so you have a heads up on the months ahead, so choose something user-friendly. Mark up your calendar with the dates of the moon cycle, retrogrades, eclipses, and anything you read about that would cause an energy shift in our skies (like comets, for instance). Ultimately, this tracking will help you avoid some of the more negative aspects that touch upon our energy. In this way you will be able to understand your own energy and how you, personally, work with the world.

A Personal Update

I looked up at the calendar and realized that it is already March and I have yet to put a blog post up this year. For those who have been privy, it’s been a personally strange and surreal time for me. My father is up and down in his status in Hospice care and visiting him at the nursing home has become even more of a priority. My visits over the last three years have gone from once a week to twice a week, to almost every day. I have even opened a Facebook fan page for him, and sometimes he interacts, but oftentimes I am posting for him and reading your posts to him. It's called The Jerryatric News because his name is Jerry and he's 90! If you would like to join his page for updates or to send him cheer, please join: https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Jerryatric-News/152257188147162

At present time, we are in the midst of “pick a day that’s good and run with it” because “you never know.” We are three months into “you never know” and we still don’t know very much and I didn’t even know what year it was until yesterday. I am literally forced to go with the flow, and am directing the current by finally opening the Center on Tuesday, March 14, for the first time this year.

I look forward to catching up with everyone, and there are exciting products and services coming your way. I have a book coming out soon, video classes, crystal products and jewelry and a new, affordable way to purchase my energy art. Meanwhile, please know that I am very grateful for all the healing thoughts, prayers and positive vibes you have been sending our way. I thank you for Embracing The Universe with us.

A New Year, A Fun Project!

SAMPLE COLLAGE



As we enter into a New Year and a new decade, it’s important to maintain focus on what we really want to achieve with this “fresh start,” being afforded us. Since the age of 7, my way of doing that has been by creating a collage of words and pictures that represent my wants and goals. The process is empowering and, though I’ve shared it here before, it is worth repeating. I hope you will gather up some time, material, and create a collage to help you embrace 2011.

You will need the following: poster board, scissors, glue and a lot of different magazines, newspapers, and photos.

The size of the collage is up to you. If you are doing this as a project with family, friends or business partners, you might want a larger piece so that everyone in the can participate.

Cut out images and words of what you want to manifest. Be sure to cut out the New Year date, and remember to include a photograph of yourself and your loved ones. I have seen these collages take on a life of their own and I am amazed at how they become a source of comfort and peace. A collage helps us to do more than “go with the flow” of our intentions. It helps us to direct the current so that we arrive at our destination!

Though you can do a collage on any topic: business, health or relationship and at any time, starting the New Year off with one is effective and powerful in setting a positive tone for the months ahead. God bless. Enjoy a Happy, healthy New Year!