OTHER RITUALS/SUGGESTIONS TO HELP IN THE GRIEF JOURNEY

OTHER RITUALS/SUGGESTIONS THAT CAN HELP IN THE GRIEF JOURNEY:

Over the years, I’ve compiled a list of suggestions from the internet and various books or websites that offer a variety of ways to heal the body, mind, soul and spirit during the grief journey.  I hope you take some of them to heart during your healing journey.  God be with you in the days ahead….

• Light a candle on a special day of remembrance (birthday, anniversaries, holidays, etc) or special times each day.  You can decorate candle with loved ones favorite things to honor them

• Visiting the grave or special place of remembrance (where you got engaged, etc)

• Keep a journal (explore putting a voice or tangible place for your feelings

• Carry something special of theirs on you (ring, bracelet, cloth) either to wear or place in your pocket or purse

• Ask family and friends to gather mementos and letters and photos and place in a special memory book.  

• At Family gatherings, set a place for your loved one, share  memories/stories of them, Look through Scrapbook and pictures together

• Make a quilt or stuffed animals or doll from their clothes or take one of their scarves to wrap around you

• Make a family tree – placing your family genealogy is a great way to pass family stories and share family legacy

• Finish a project your loved one started...could be volunteer related, restoring something,

• If you are a writer...write; artist...paint, gardener...plant; musician…sing;  etc.

• Write a letter, poem, wish or prayer.  Insert into a balloon and let it go or place in a special vessel or burn it.

• Plant a garden or favorite flower and mark it in their honor.  

• Make a donation in their name.  Could be donated to your loved one’s favorite organization

• Donate a bench, plaque or brick, book of some sort in their honor.

• Buy a gift for them and donate it at Christmas time so someone receives your thoughtfulness

• Put up a nest box or bird house.  Life can come from your loss.

• Plant a tree or bush in their honor at a special place of remembrance and experience its growth.

• Set up a scholarship or contribution to a fund that could help family members

• Write a poem or story or song about your loss

• At birthdays/Christmas, hang up a stocking or get a special ornament to hang on the tree

• Create a sacred space for pictures, flowers and/or candles.  A special place where you can grieve.

• Wear a remembrance wrist band with their name on it or get a tattoo

• Design and make Keepsakes.  Share them with other family members.

• Do something for someone else in their memory.

• On the first anniversary of loss, send a thank you to those people who helped you through

• On anniversaries or other special dates, release butterflies or balloons

• Read more about topics or subjects that interest you or bring out creative energy in you.

• Draw a picture that depicts your feelings (mandalas, water colors).  This could be framed or hung or destroyed as a healing ritual.

• Frame a special photo of your loved one or get out photos and create a photo montage.

• Honor your loved one’s favorite foods and traditions by continuing to carry them on.

• Select a valentine card they would have sent you and mail it to yourself or get out an old valentine and cherish their love for you.

• Eat at their favorite restaurant.  Offer a toast in their honor.

• Create a memory quilt or teddy bear or pillows from their clothing to bring comfort when you miss them.

• Set aside quiet time to remember the special parts of your relationship.

• Plant a tree in their memory or Tie a ribbon around a tree in their memory.

• If you have unfinished business, write a letter finishing the business.

• Feed the hungry or homeless on holidays in your loved one’s name.

• Go on a trip at a special anniversary time.  Do something to honor them by tossing a rose or marking a special place for them.

• Type a memorial letter that honors your loved one and send it to family members.

• If you scatter ashes of your loved one, choose a memorial place where you have a place to go to honor them.

• Take a symbolic item with you to gravesite or memorial place and place it there

• If you go on a trip, take a symbolic item with you to mark their place with you on the journey.

• Write a newspaper remembrance on a birthday or anniversary

• Start a journal as a place to compile poetry or letters written to your loved one.  This is helpful to track your journey.

• Commission a picture to be hung in honor of your loved one that is symbolic or depicts a representation of them.

• Put together a special memory box where you can place special items and keepsakes inside (driver’s license, licenses, special items, etc.

• Keep fresh cut flowers around you as flowers are symbolic and can represent your loved one.

• Have a rock or plaque engraved 

• Support a zoo animal in their honor.

• Create a tribute to honor their memory.

• Create a website in memory of your loved ones.

• Make a family calendar with pictures of both living and deceased members

• Purchase a locket and put photo of your loved one inside or engrave a bracelet.  

• Pass down their jewelry to relatives as a family heirloom

• Make a commemorative wall hanging

• Volunteer work (do not do this right away)

• Donate to a research organization (cancer, etc)

• Support a local church or hospital or organization

• Name a star in their honor (www.starregristry.com)

• Display a flag to honor them.

• Do something to remember your loved one on vacation (rock, sand, tree, flowers, etc)

• Start a collection of something that was meaningful to them.

• Have a special centerpiece designed that your loved one cherished.

• Take a moment of silence at family gatherings or Light a candle to honor them

• Hang a special Christmas stocking and write notes inside to honor them

• Fight to create change – use your anger to change a law or make a place safer


“For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” 2 Cor 4:17-18

For more information visit https://www.chaplainmary.net/
Or check out my book:

https://www.amazon.com/Skirting-Thin-Veil-Meaningful-Life-Changing

Photo taken by Chaplain Mary

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