The Healing Power of Belonging

It’s been a while since I posted. Life has felt crazy, and my creative juices have been a bit dry. So, I’m feeling unsure of how to write about this topic. It has been on my mind since attending a grief ritual for several days. Out of respect for the sacredness of the ritual and those who attended, I’ll refrain from providing any specific details of the experience.

However, I want to share the sense of community I felt, the healing power of feeling like I belonged. I was grateful to those who gave my heart courage to brave this new adventure I was terrified to take. I was also so blessed by the beautiful souls who guided the rituals with their loving embraces and open-hearted awareness and wisdom.

As the experience began, the beating of drums and the power of song and dance began to awaken a dormant part of me within. That part of my authentic self who became buried long ago by all the masks I felt pressured to wear. By the demands of a father who made sure I learned out of fear that emotions were to be controlled and never felt.

As this awakening continued, I began to feel like I belonged to a community where I could be my authentic self. I felt a powerful connection to the earth and my ancestors. It was no longer just about me as I felt genuine compassion toward others and their experiences of grief. It was sacred to be among beautiful souls all united in the single task of honoring our grief, in whatever form it took.

For myself, I grieved for a life stolen from me because of the abusive actions of another. At first, I didn’t feel much emotion and worried I was avoiding the pain. It’s a grief I’ve just recently tapped into which can feel quite overwhelming. But there came a moment, through painted tears, when I finally felt it was okay to show the grief on the outside instead of keeping it buried within—and the tears began to flow.

So, I chose to honor my grief. I gave it expression. I was embraced by a beautiful and brave community while we sang and danced. I rejoiced in the sorrow of grief while embracing others in theirs. It was such a different experience compared to past experiences of loss. There were no comments to diminish the pain, no need to hide the grief. No pressure to turn to spiritual beliefs to replace grief with faith or peace.

At the end of the sacred ritual, I noticed a desire to withdraw. I wasn’t used to the encouragement of expressing so much emotion in front of others and I felt a little raw. I also knew that my time with this tribe of beautiful souls was coming to an end. So, I started to brace myself for the stark reality of returning to normal life. A life where I don’t always feel like I have permission to be my authentic self.

However, I cannot deny the awakening of that tribal part of my soul. I can choose to listen to the drums as I dance to the soulful rhythm within. I can sing a song that has never been sung. I can continue awakening that deep connection to my authentic self and to my higher power. I don’t need permission to honor this new grief. It’s my life and I get to choose how to live it which means feeling everything that is here.  

This awakening has also shown me how I don’t want to walk this path alone. I want to invite others to dance to the beating of drums. To sing their songs that tell their beautiful stories. To create space for the expression of emotions, especially grief. I want to live from my true nature, that awakened sense of who I’ve always been. I want to belong to a tribe where the only requirement is to live as our authentic selves.   

If you long for similar things, I hope you have found your community, your tribe that encourages you to be exactly as you are. Who also sees the potential of your own true nature. However, if you have not found that sense of belonging, then I hope you can at least find space here. You are always welcome as a member of this tribe as we continue the journey of choosing an authentic life. 😊