Did you know that traditions and rituals can help us to express our deepest thoughts about life’s most magnificent events, especially funerals?
Special ceremonies like graduations, weddings and christenings and funerals involve traditions and rituals that help us mark important milestones in life. When a loved one dies, rituals and traditions can also help us mark a significant event and spend time remembering and finding healing.
What makes a ritual so effective? First, rituals are symbolic. When we lose a loved one, we can use symbolic acts such as lighting a candle for the one we love, releasing a balloon or a lantern, or setting a place at the table on a birthday or anniversary. These symbols help us to remember that our loved one is always with us in our hearts.
Second, rituals help us to express emotion. Dr. Alan Wolfelt, renowned grief counsellor, is often quoted as saying, “When words are inadequate, have a ritual.” Sometimes, we need an outlet for expressing our deepest emotions, and words are not enough. When a loss occurs, the wound is often so deep that the pain goes beyond our ability to process with language. A ritual can bring more healing and comfort than a thousand words in times of great distress.
Finally, rituals unite people in a common, shared experience. Funerals, visitations, candlelight services, memorial events and celebration of life, help us feel a certain solidarity with others who are sharing our grief and loss. We have a unique sense of comfort from knowing that we are not alone and that others are supporting us on our journey through grief.
We know that rituals and traditions can bring healing to the wounded heart. We know that ceremonies and gatherings help us feel connected to others and supported by the presence of loved ones. We know that rituals help us express our deepest emotions as we search for healing and reconciliation with grief. Below are a few examples of how you can incorporate the power of rituals into your healing journey.
Light a candle– Set a place at the table or set up a memorial display area at home and light a candle when you want to honour the memory of a loved one. You can light a candle every day or on special occasions such as birthdays, anniversaries or holidays. Lighting a candle symbolizes the light that your loved one brought to you and the memory of the person who lives in your heart.
Recall memories – Family and friends may choose to gather on special occasions to share memories and honour a loved one. This may occur on the first anniversary of the death, at family reunions, or on significant days like Mother’s Day or Father’s Day.
Attend a support group or special memorial event – Certain community events such as support groups, death cafes, grief workshops or remembrance events such as candlelight vigils can also bring comfort and healing. Such events help us connect with others who are also feeling the pain of a loss, which can bring a greater sense of peace.
Carry a remembrance item – Sometimes a small keepsake, like a handkerchief, a watch, a piece of jewellery that is designed to carry cremation ashes or a lock of hair that is imprinted with the fingerprint of a person who has died. Diamonds are now made from the ashes of a loved one! Heirlooms and keepsakes also serve as a daily reminder that often brings comfort to those who mourn.
