There is a story of a woman who lost her only child.

She was bereft, inconsolable, and alone. She went to the Buddha to ask his help in healing her wounded spirit. If he couldn’t she would follow her child to the grave and forego her destiny. Karma be damned. She would not, could not continue to live this way.

The Buddha agreed to help but told the mother she must first bring him back a mustard seed from a house that had never known sorrow. And so the woman set out to find one. Her search took her a long time.

She went from house to house all over the world but there was not one that had never entertained grief as a guest. However, because every house knew what her pain felt like, they wanted to give her a gift to help ease her anguish. It could not make it go away, but it might help.

When the woman returned home she opened her heart and showed the Buddha what she had been given: acceptance, forbearance, understanding, gratitude, courage, compassion, hope, truth, empathy, remembrance, strength, tenderness, wisdom, and love.

“These gifts were given to help me”, she told him.

“Ah, they were? And how do you feel now?” he asked the woman.

“Different. Heavier. Each gift comforts me in its own way, but there were so many I had to enlarge my heart to carry them all and they make me feel sated. What is this strange full feeling?”

“Sorrow.”

“You mean I’m like the others now?”

“Yes,” said the Buddha softly. “You are no longer alone.” [Many thanks to Sarah Ban Breathnach for this story from her book called ‘Something More’]

Release...Peace Services

Even through a hugely difficult time such as loss, we can help and can offer one-to-one consultations in a warm, safe, accepting and compassionate environment.

Your first hour (of your 2 hour consultation) is free of charge. Consultations are suitable for anyone, any age, especially when your loss seems overwhelming or your life is being adversely affected.

We offer assistance with:

• Natural and safe processes that offer you support and understanding
• Acknowledgment and methods to cope with your loss
• Releasing feelings and emotions gently
• A supportive, confidential environment to freely discuss problems or issues
• Help in coming to terms with your life circumstances
• Ways to help you adjust to life and all its changes
• Increasing your confidence and strength to make a step forward

Michelle Hardwick of Release...Peace has been in private practice for almost 15 years working with trauma, anxiety, stress, insomnia, depression, low self-esteem and confidence. Helping you to sleep, gain peace and comfort by combining the Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT), Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP), Hypnotherapy and gentle Relaxation.

Please contact Michelle in confidence for assistance or more information.

 “When someone you love becomes a memory,
the memory becomes a treasure.”
Author Unknown