So helpful. Thank you. How do you recommend grieving a lost talisman? I'm still pained by the loss of a beloved stuffed animal, in particular. Lost five or so years ago now (in my 40s, after having and cherishing it most of my life). I grieve it as more than a symbol, and I feel guilt around the loss and knowing that it was likely "killed" (i.e., destroyed) after the losing.
Thanks for this question, Dana, because for many of us this is the situation. And whether we call the Medicine that this animal holds psychology’s Inner Child, or shamanism’s Soul Retrieval or “just” our own lost powers of imagination, here’s one way I connect. I write right to it. I create a sacred space, declare a sacred time and undertake a sacred writing exercise. I close my eyes, call upon the Animal, look directly into it’s eyes and say, “I miss you and I need you in my life now because…” then I write down that exact phrase and answer it. I put pen to paper without judgement and just let it flow. Usually, I’ll have a 5-minute drum track powering me along and I do not stop writing, without editing or going back to fix anything, for the entire 5 minutes. I love this exercise and many of my clients do too. Let me know if you decide to do it & what you get!
Interesting seeing this a year later and knowing you've been gifted a new stuffed animal of "the same variety." While we can never replace...curious how LeMutt and you are getting along? : )
So helpful. Thank you. How do you recommend grieving a lost talisman? I'm still pained by the loss of a beloved stuffed animal, in particular. Lost five or so years ago now (in my 40s, after having and cherishing it most of my life). I grieve it as more than a symbol, and I feel guilt around the loss and knowing that it was likely "killed" (i.e., destroyed) after the losing.
Thanks for this question, Dana, because for many of us this is the situation. And whether we call the Medicine that this animal holds psychology’s Inner Child, or shamanism’s Soul Retrieval or “just” our own lost powers of imagination, here’s one way I connect. I write right to it. I create a sacred space, declare a sacred time and undertake a sacred writing exercise. I close my eyes, call upon the Animal, look directly into it’s eyes and say, “I miss you and I need you in my life now because…” then I write down that exact phrase and answer it. I put pen to paper without judgement and just let it flow. Usually, I’ll have a 5-minute drum track powering me along and I do not stop writing, without editing or going back to fix anything, for the entire 5 minutes. I love this exercise and many of my clients do too. Let me know if you decide to do it & what you get!
Interesting seeing this a year later and knowing you've been gifted a new stuffed animal of "the same variety." While we can never replace...curious how LeMutt and you are getting along? : )