From the book,
"Healing Your Grieving Soul,
100 Spiritual Practices For Mourners"
by Alan D. Wolfelt, PH.D.

17.
CRY

*Tears are a natural cleansing and healing mechanism. They rid your body of stress chemicals. It's OK to cry. In fact, it's good to cry when you feel like it. What's more, tears are a form of mourning. They are sacred!


* Your pain, your grief, your overwhelming loss disturbs the world around you. Disturb the quiet with your soul's cry.

*On the other hand, don't feel bad if you aren't crying a lot. Not everyone is a crier.

*You may find that those around you are uncomfortable with your tears. As a society, we're often not so good at witnessing others in pain. Don't let those people take your grief away from you.

*Explain to your friends and family that you need to cry right now and they can help by allowing you to.

*You may even find yourself keening, which means a loud wailing or wordless crying out in lament for the dead. Keening is a instinctive form of mourning. It gives voice to your soul's profound pain at a time when words are inadequate.

*You may find yourself crying at unexpected times or places. If you need to, excuse yourself and retreat to somewhere private. Or better yet, go ahead and cry openly and honestly, unashamed of your tears of overwhelming grief.