Easter is a time of celebration for Christians around the world. This entire weekend also has great symbolic value in the grieving process.

When a death or major loss occurs there is a death of some part of us as well. The relationship that once was such a big part of our lives is no more. We are left with only memories and unmet hopes, dreams and expectations. We find ourselves in the deep void the loss has created in our hearts. We feel lifeless and empty along with all the other feelings our grief engenders. We often experience hopelessness and despair, loss of meaning and purpose as well. Locked away in the tomb of our grief we don’t have any real sense of possibility or hope for a happy future. All seems lost.

But when we allow the natural process of grief to take us deep into the dark and lonely places within rather than resisting it and doing whatever we can to distract ourselves, new possibility eventually emerges. This does not happen in a day or two which is what we often expect but rather it evolves over time and by doing the inner work necessary to enable us to see what lies beyond death. We need to surrender to the process and complete on the emotional aspects of the relationship before we can truly allow ourselves to experience something new.

Easter is a symbol of new life and hope. Let it be a reminder for all of us that death is not the end.