Looking into the Light

In what ways is it possible to change cultural comfort zones? We have left the work of dying behind and moved it out of our "parlors" and into an industry of funeral parlors. We may even think that we have to use a service to bury our dead. But we don't. The problem is that most of us just can't even begin to imagine handling our dead.

After working with hospice and attending deaths for a year now, I am convinced that we would be richer if we could begin to reclaim our dead. I see that this is a continuation of reclaiming our deepest human emotions from the world of mental health and sickness. We are not as weak as we might imagine. Sorrow, suffering and deep emotion are a part of our human condition. Let us begin to trust we can experience the mystery of grief, loss, and suffering. We have the skills and tools built right into our tears. Our body knows how to keen and wail, allowing the physicality of grief to heal by its movement. Too bad that we are no longer encouraged to express deep emotion. Too bad we are given medications to "medicate" our feelings. Too bad we believe that we are incapable of moving through the loss into the other side...connection and the thread of life weaving us into a tapestry of healing.