This GRIEVING LOSS ritual/liturgy was designed for participants of HEALTHY GRIEVING workshops/retreats and follow-up Support Groups … those experiencing loss : of a loved one; employment; housing; financial security; family pet; limb; eyesight; income; mobility; hearing; intellect; relationship; chronically-ill partner/spouse/close friend, etc. For more info about HEALTHY GRIEVING workshops/retreats/support groups (a SOULISTRY-sponsored offering) contact june @ soulistry dot com
© june maffin
An Introduction
This ritual/liturgy emerged after decades of journeying with people who were experiencing a “blue” time at Christmas, Hanukkah, Eid, Yule etc. When all around them was gaity, laughter, partying, they were experiencing sadness, mourning the loss of a relationship, or the loss of a loved one (who has died or who will not be with them over the holidays), dealing with health issues, financial concerns, the loss of their job, family pet, eyesight, income, mobility, hearing, intellect, etc. and their feelings were anything but festive. I introduced the “Blue Christmas” liturgy to various churches over the years: music interspersed with readings, silence, candle lighting and remembering. It was helpful for those who wanted and were physically able to come to a church service, but what about the others?
I believe that being gentle with ourselves is important whenever we encounter stress in our lives and because making time to grieve our loss (whatever form that takes) is vital to our overall health, I created the following. It’s my hope and prayer that something in this ritual/liturgy will be of comfort to those grieving loss. I appreciate and welcome your comments here or my email inbox.
Grieving Loss Ritual/Liturgy (lighting of candles, quiet reflection, inspiring quotations to ponder, quiet music in the background)
* As each candle of four candles is lit (hopefully in a darkened or semi-darkened room to get the full effect of light emanating from the candle), it might be helpful to have some quiet music in the bg or be in silence. Turn off the tv/loud music/cell phone and try not to begin this ritual when others might make demands on you. This is your time. As you speak/think each phrase, do it slowly, reflectively. There is no need to hurry.
* You might choose the same colour for each of the four candles or mix and match your candles because of the symbolism associated with specific colours: blue – the colour of hope; white – the colour of wholeness; red – the colour of love; green – the colour of growth; purple – the colour of spirituality.
Directions are in bold. Words you say (aloud or silently in your heart) are in italics.
To begin … take a few slow, deep breaths inhaling a sense of peace and exhaling that which brings anxiety. When your breathing has slowed down …
Light first candle
then say … aloud or silently in your heart
I light this candle to remember those persons who have been loved and are no longer are part of my life in any tangible way.
I pause to remember him/her/them.
(Give yourself time to remember and name him/her/them.)
I give thanks for a memory that connects him/her/them to me.
(Give yourself time to do this).
May Eternal Love surround him/her/them.
[Silent time for reflection and some gentle, deep breathing]
Light second candle
then say … aloud or silently in your heart
I light this second candle to redeem the pain of loss.
(Give yourself time to think of whatever and however you are experiencing loss at this time)
As I gather up the pain of the past, I offer it, asking that the gift of peace, of shalom, of wholeness be placed into my heart and open hands.
(Give yourself time to do this)
May I be refreshed, restored and renewed.
[Silent time for reflection and some gentle, deep breathing]
Light third candle.
I light this third candle to remember myself.
I pause and remember the past days, weeks, months (years): the down times, the poignancy of memories, the grief, the sadness, the hurts, the anger, the pain of reflecting on my own mortality.
If there is need for forgiveness – I offer it now, knowing that forgiveness is not forgetting, but it is letting go of whatever binds me to negative thought. I choose to forgive the other, forgive myself (forgive God if this is appropriate to your belief).
(Give yourself time to do this)
May I remember that dawn defeats darkness.
Take some time to reflect on the words of Ralph Waldo Emerson: “Our greatest glory is not in never failing, but in rising up every time we fail” (first attributed to Confucius: “Our greatest glory is not in never falling down, but in getting up every time we do”) … the words ascribed to Buddha: “You, yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection” … and the words of Claude Bristol: “It’s the repetition of affirmations that leads to belief. Once that belief becomes a deep conviction, things begin to happen.”
[Silent time of reflection and some gentle, deep breathing]
Light fourth candle
I light this fourth candle to remember the gift of hope.
I give thanks for that which is good in my life and name those people, situations, abilities, gifts, strengths/etc. for which I am grateful.
(Give yourself time to do this)
May I remember the words of Anne Lamott: “Hope begins in the dark, the stubborn hope that if you just show up and try to do the right thing, the dawn will come. You wait and watch and work: you don’t give up”.
Take some time to reflect on the words of Pierre Teillard de Chardin: “If the only prayer you utter is ‘thank-you’, that would be sufficient” … and on the words written on a wall at Dachau prison — “I believe in the sun even when it’s not shining; I believe in the stars even when I see them not; I believe in God even when I don’t see God” … or as Earl Riney put it: “The stars are constantly shining, but often we do not see them until the dark hours.”
(Give yourself time to do this.)
[Silent time of reflection and some gentle, deep breathing]
Bring this ritual/liturgy to a conclusion by saying: “Amen. So be it. Amen. (“Amen” simply means “So be it.”)
With the saying of “So be it – Amen,” it is time to do something for yourself: a long, leisurely hot bath; a steaming hot cup of tea/hot chocolate; time spent writing in your Journal; a walk in the outdoors; some quiet time in the darkness looking at the lit candles; listening to some gentle music. Whether you are aware of it or not, there are people who are “with you.” You are not alone.
If you are grieving the loss of a loved one and prayer is something that brings you comfort,
you might want to reflect on the following prayer, say it aloud or in the silence of your heart at Hanukkah, Christmas, the anniversary of the loss of your loved one, Winter Solstice, etc.
“God/Creator/Holy One (whichever is most appropriate for you to use), I come to you this Christmas /Solstice /winter time, with the pain inside me. As the nights have been growing longer, so has the darkness wrapped itself around my heart. In this season of our longest nights, I offer you the pain in my heart, the trauma of loss that I cannot put into words.
Compassionate One, death has changed my experience of this time of the year. Once it was a special day for me, but someone special has died. This Season seems to bring forth a grieving over what might have been. I ask you to be with me and help me through the difficult moments as the Christmas Season reminds me of all that used to be and cannot be anymore. The memories of what once was, the fears of what may be, disquiet my soul. All around, I hear the sounds of celebration. But all I experience is a sense of feeling blue.
Please be near me at this time and even if I do not believe / no longer believe /or my belief is fragile, I offer this prayer “Help my unbelief … and bring healing to my soul.”
© june maffin www.soulistry.com june @ soulistry. com










