Valerie Belliveau

Two of the most loving things you can say to another human being is "what do you need?" and "How can I help?" ❤️ For many people, it is quite often easier to do this for others than for one self.   If we were to look at the nature of grief with the perspective that it is truly a living organism within us, we would recognize that it has needs too. Yes, it definitely has needs. No matter how much we avoid them, bypass them, or choose numbness, the consequences of how we treat grief will make themselves known.   So as we do our best to embrace and be with all the ebbs and flows of our grief, let's ask the questions, "Grief, what do you need?" and "How can I support you, dear one?"   This is a positive first step that we can continually come back to when we feel stuck, lost, or unsure of where we are at in .......'the grief dance' ....... 'as the dancer' (a.k.a. self-healer) Six Needs of Grief   🦉 The need to have your pain/grief witnessed There is an intrinsic sense of relief and ease when something we are bearing is acknowledged and fully seen! The witness can be ourselves and/or others. A quickening in our healing process can happen when we do this together.   🦉 The need to express your feelings We are built to express our inner emotions and feelings. It helps us to be healthy and have a strong immune system. Sometimes our personal conditioning changes how free we allow ourselves to be. Dr. Edith Edgar said, "Depression is the opposite of expression."   🦉 The need to release the burden of guilt People often say guilt is like a ‘weight on one’s conscience'. guilt weighs us down, literally! Studies from Princeton University's Psychology 'embodied cognition' department actually show how guilt can be embodied as a sensation of weight. Not to mention the loop tape and stories we can carry in our mind with an underlying message that we are; 'at fault, forever indebted, sinned, or committed a crime'.   🦉 The need to be free of old wounds Living in the present moment and feeling the joys in life is much more difficult if we are hanging onto old wounds. The natural lifecycle encourages us to 'compost' what no longer contains life force in order to create new and improved life force with a strong healthy foundation.   🦉 The need to integrate the pain and love Integration is a process of joining and unifying something together. For example, Children learn through play. It's the After identifying your grief's needs, the next question is ....... 'How do I meet them?'   Here are two available opportunities at Sacred Dwelling:   Bowl Breaking and Bonding: Embodying Strength through Adversity  (2 spots left) Re:Member: An Ancestral Journey of the Heart   If you are curious about creative grief support and what my offering looks like, check out 'The Grief Page' on my website. This will take you on a journey and may lead you to booking an appointment. May all your needs be met,