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A mantra is a useful way to reinforce that movement you are trying to make towards greater calm, peace, courage, wisdom or something else. Take a breath in and open the mouth. As we practise the six syllables, we find a rhythm that moves the mind away from distractions. As you move through grief, you’ll notice that you need different things at different times. Let it both enter and express your mind. They can be used alone or in combination to support the thoughts of grief and healing. See the introduction for different ways to use essential oils to support healing. For general mental support Peppermint oil comes from the leaves of the plant. An intense oil, it has many uses and can be used to increase clarity. Lemon oil is sourced from the fruit peel and may be used to detox and refresh. Mandarin is a sweet oil drawn from the skin of the fruit and used to gently settle the mind. It is designed to explore, celebrate and calm your mind. 
Shadows and Tall Trees
Cords or ribbons in three colours, each 30 centimetres long. Place your ribbons at the base of the candle. Light your candle and take some deep breaths, tuning in to your mind. For its knowledge and wisdom. Do you notice judgement or compassion? Can you look back at all you have learned? What are you learning at this time? What comes to mind when you think of being expressive? Where do you see your creativity? What do you notice about your communication? Take your time, visiting corners of your mind and noticing what you notice. When you’re ready, bring your awareness to this place and open your eyes. Draw and release some deep breaths to settle your mind in the here and now. Take your ribbons and tie a knot at one end. Place them side by side running away from you with the knot at the far end. Tape down the knot at the far end. Now you’re going to plait your ribbons and as you do, think about the connections across your three minds. When you get to the end, tie the ribbons off with another knot. Feeling Too Much
Close your hands around the plait and notice its energy and symbolism. Take a few moments to capture in your journal some reflections about the power of your mind. Take a deep cleansing breath. Blow out your candle. Decide where to keep your ribbons so that you can reconnect at any time. While many of us try to live in our minds, the body has a wisdom that can lead us from grief to healing if we can pay attention. The word pain shares its origins with the word penalty, and pain is the price we pay for some experiences. Injuries to our bodies can cause us pain, a complex experience that can affect all parts of us. Grief may seem to take hold of our bodies, causing us to wonder what is happening. Nausea, headaches, heartaches, increased blood pressure, and sleep disturbance may all be associated with grief. You may find that your appetite is affected by grief as you experience changes in digestion, perhaps including nausea. These can continue for some time. Sailing To The Moon
One of the most significant physical aspects of grief concerns elevated levels of stress hormones. These are designed to run in short bursts as part of our response to danger and threat. The death of someone we love can trigger our automatic stress responses and we may experience periods of fight, flight, or freeze. All of these states draw chemicals away from our thinking brain. When levels of adrenaline and cortisol remain high, it can strain the adrenal system and reduce the efficiency of the immune system. This in turn can make us vulnerable to illness and disease. Some people who are grieving also experience a change in their breathing patterns, which may be accompanied by feelings of chest tightness or a racing heart. There is even a recognized broken heart syndrome called takotsubo cardiomyopathy that has been associated with the distress of grief. It is impossible to grieve and not experience some physical manifestation of the pain and loss. Notice what is happening for you. You might like to have your journal ready for this reflection on your embodied grief. With eyes closed, run your mind over your body. Begin on the outside, scanning closely from the tip of your toes to the top of your head, making sure you sense the front and back and both sides of your body. Just notice how your body feels and become aware of any tension or discomfort. What did you notice? Close your eyes again and think about your loss. Scanning now the inside of your body, where does your grief appear? Notice the suffering held in your body. Remember, the pain was already in your body, even if you have only noticed its size and shape today. Accessing it in this way may help you heal. What did you discover? Close your eyes once more and thank your body for what it’s shown you. Cross your arms across your heart, and gently rub your upper arms. Sometimes we aren’t aware of the physical symptoms of grief until they pass, but there is no need to tough it out. Any concerning physical symptoms of grief are best managed in consultation with your medical practitioner. In addition to Western science, there are a number of alternative and complementary approaches like Chinese or Ayurvedic medicine. Metaphysical approaches by Louise Hay and others directly connect physical symptoms with emotional and spiritual experiences and aim to heal the whole person. These holistic modes draw on the wisdom of the body, a deep knowing by the physical part of ourselves that has value for all parts of us. You may have had the experience of a twitching eye, which can alert the conscious mind to your tiredness, or you may have a headache that points to elevated stress. Take a breath.