In my long and winding journey of healing, I’d have to say it was not one person, or one modality, that helped me, it was many. In the list below are things that worked for me. Not everything here is appropriate for everyone, and, there are many other practitioners out there that are very good at what they do. This list is not meant to be exhaustive by any means, but rather just give you a place to start. (I’ve ordered the list from more traditional options at the beginning to more spiritual/esoteric options at the end.)
Healing Modalities/Practitioners:
Grief Counseling: Dr. Alan Wolfelt is a Death Educator and Grief Counselor, and his website has a wide array of resources that can assist both people who are grieving along with the people that care for the dying. There is also a link to purchase helpful books, along with referrals for grief counselors.
https://www.centerforloss.com/
Exercise: People that have experienced grief (and stress!) might tell you it can feel heavy, almost like carrying a weight around. (It certainly did for me!) Even 20 minutes of moderate exercise per day can make a difference in how you feel. One day I ran down the street just to expel some of that pent-up energy, and believe me, it helped. (Remember that grief is energy, and moving it along matters!) Please do consult a physician before starting any new routine (I went back to jazzercise since I love music and dance, but even walking is helpful!) The Mayo Clinic (along with many other sites) has helpful information on stress management and a healthy lifestyle.
Music/Sound Healing: Music can help heal you! In order to understand this concept, try doing an internet search for Japanese artist Kenichi Kanazawa, as he specializes in sound vibration art. He will spread sand or powder on his steel table, then utilize different instruments to create sounds of varying frequencies, which will cause the sand/powder to create geometric formations all on their own. It’s quite fascinating, and for me it’s a way to understand how the right sound frequencies can help organize/calm your thoughts. There are many artists out there that make healing music, but there are two in particular that I like and listen to regularly.
Mary Lydia Ryan creates music that is breathtakingly beautiful, soulful and rhythmic, and I often close my eyes when I listen so I can feel it even more. (“There she is whispering to me”, “River” and “Evolutionary Child” are three of my personal favorite songs of hers). If you are wanting to create a calming, safe space, I highly recommend listening to her music.
https://iammarylydiaryan.com/home
Steven Halpern is another artist I enjoy, and I often listen to his music before going to sleep. Per his website, “His most recent Mindful Music series features key brainwave entrainment frequencies to deepen one’s relaxation, healing, meditation, creativity and sleep. (Deep Alpha, Deep Theta and Relax into Sleep).”
https://www.stevenhalpernmusic.com/
Or, his music (and other artists like them) can be found on Spotify, YouTube and iTunes. Searching “meditation music” works too.
Breathwork: Being mindful of your breathing takes some discipline, but, if you are stuck in a feedback loop of sadness it can help distract you enough to move on to a different thought. Take a moment to become aware of your breathing. Are you taking short, shallow breaths? This is not helpful if you are trying to move grief/stress out of your body. Try to take a long breath in for 4 seconds, hold your breath for 7 seconds, then a long breath out for 8 seconds. For more information, try searching the Beginners Guide to Breathwork on the channel “The Holistic Psychologist” featuring Dr. Nicole LaPera.
Photography: I love having calming photos in my space and found them helpful for my healing journey. Shari Pederson, whose photographs are featured on this website, is one of those sweet and grounded souls that is tuned in to all the elements, making her keenly observant of the world around her. She sees details in the landscape that other people miss, and she has a sharp eye for light and shadow which is part of what makes her such a talented photographer.
https://www.sharipederson.com/
Massage Therapy: The power of a loving, caring touch can be incredibly healing, and I have been blessed to know many talented massage therapists over the years who have helped me with physical pain that likely started from emotional pain. Please ask for referrals from friends and family to find the right person for you in your area.
Art: Art can help you process grief, and can also help you find calm in the midst of chaos. Julie Hoyle is not only a gifted artist, but also a multi-talented force of nature. Every time I hear her speak I learn something about myself or the world around me. Her observations are astute and spoken with love and the wisdom of a master. Please check out her e-books and other current offerings on her site.
Yoga: I will readily admit this is not something I am very good at, but it is something that many people find helpful, including me when I actually do it! I love the instructor April Renee Megginson, she is knowledgeable, warm and practical, and explains things in a way you can easily understand with a sense of humor and grace.
Aromatherapy: Michele, the “accidental aromatherapist”, as she calls herself, is thoughtful, kind and caring, and she puts the “Therapist” in Aromatherapy! She has this incredible ability to tune in your energy and tell you exactly what she feels would benefit you, and I had the honor of working beside her at a show in Colorado and seeing this magic happen. I have many of her products, and one of my favorites is her “Love” blend. It smells heavenly.
https://www.michelesnelling.com/products
Somatic Therapy: I have to confess that I didn’t really understand what Somatic Therapy was when I first sought Crystal out, but I was feeling stuck in my journey of healing and sensed that she could help me. I was not wrong. She is easy to work with, a natural empath and extraordinarily caring. I told her I was feeling like I still had some unprocessed grief, and she helped me to release that. I cried and cried during our session, but it was exactly what I asked for and needed to do. I felt a sense of peace (and relief!) afterwards that has lasted for weeks.
https://santacruzsomaticmassage.com/
Reiki: The right Reiki practitioner can work miracles in unblocking stuck energy. I know two incredible women that may be able to help if this kind of therapy resonates with you. (I personally found it to be very effective!) Joyce Leonard is located in Santa Cruz, California and Denise Maple is located in Whitewater, Wisconsin, but can work remotely.
https://www.santacruzreikiworks.com
Holistic Healing: Lisa Gunshore is a Holistic Health Practitioner and Medical Intuitive, and has helped me tremendously on my healing journey. She is loving, creative and wise, not to mention a positive force for good. Her ability to help people knows no bounds, and she offers Functional Ayurveda coaching and Ancestral Healing, among other services. She is also an author, and her book “Enlightenment Pie”, discusses weight of both a spiritual and physical nature, and how to shed this in order to move forward. If you are struggling with grief or your health (which are often related!) you may want to purchase her book, or, schedule a session with her.
https://buddhistbiohacker.com/ayurveda
Life Path Healing: When my baby Alex passed away in 2007, I realized that I would never be at peace unless I somehow, someway was able to communicate with him on the other side to try to understand what happened. I searched and searched for someone that I thought had the gift to be able to do that, and I finally found Linda Drake. I had two sessions with her where I was able to communicate with Alex in spirit and it was absolutely life-changing. Her book “Reaching through the Veil to Heal” was also incredibly helpful to me.
https://www.lindadrakeconsulting.com
Why is my company called “Angels Amid Us” ?
Because I believe with all my heart that Angels are real. I believe they are with us, and that they can perform miracles. I have personally experienced a small miracle, in that my grief was lifted by an Angel one night. My dream is a bit odd, like some dreams are, but the important thing is that I asked for my grief to be lifted, and, it was. Always remember that you have to ask! They can’t do anything unless you do, since it would be interfering with your free will. And, I’m not going to guarantee that they can give you what you ask for since I don’t know how these things work in Heaven, but, in this case, they did. Here is the story of my healing, miraculous dream visit by an unconventional group of Angels.
After at least a year of what felt like non-stop crying, I vividly remember dropping to my knees one night before going to bed, begging God, the Angels, or anyone who was listening to please take my grief away. I couldn’t take it anymore. “Please.” I begged. “Please.” I was so exhausted I fell quickly into a deep sleep.
I suddenly found myself standing in what looked like a casual, intimate theater. I looked around and saw my mother, my brother, and some of my best friends walking in, who proceeded to sit down on the couches scattered about. The lights suddenly went down, save for one spotlight on the stage. A woman with long, brown hair (who looked like Joni Mitchell) was perched on a bar stool holding a cigarette, smoke wafting in ethereal swirls above her head. I realized another light had come on which was illuminating me as well, and she was gazing at me intently.
“You…” she said, bluntly but not unkindly …”what’s wrong with you?”
The only words I managed to stammer out were “My…baby…died.”
I suddenly felt my body fall to the floor and curiously watched the next scene unfold as my soul/spirit hovered near the ceiling.
A corridor into the theater lit up. People of all ages, women, men, girls and boys, started jogging in, all of them wearing matching jogging suits. They filed past my limp body, but before they ran by, each person paused briefly, leaned down, cupped their hands and blew gently into my face. I couldn’t figure out what they were doing at the time, but after at least 100 people had run by I suddenly snapped back into my body, and then felt like a puppet after being pulled to my feet by some mysterious, loving force.
The stage was illuminated again. The woman smiled mischievously at me and asked, “How do you feel now?”
“Fine”, I said, slowly and incredulously. “I feel fine.” And I did.
When I woke up the next morning I felt like a 50-pound weight had been removed from my chest. I knew that was no ordinary dream. My grief had miraculously been lifted! I felt so light it seemed like I could fly if I tried.
It wasn’t until much later I realized that the woman in the theater that looked like Joni Mitchell was an Angel. And, the joggers were also Angels, who had each given me a breath of life! I feel so blessed to have received this gift, and want to do everything I can to pass this grace and love onto others who are grieving.
