Dear Grief Massage Therapist

The world isn’t grieving any less than it was 12 years ago when I joined the profession.

Grief is All Around Us

Perhaps there’s more pain now, actually.

I don’t need to recount the tragedies we’ve somehow grown accustomed to lately. The shootings. The racism. The lack of felt safety in our cities and towns and in society generally.

Death, fear and anxiety are with us.

Grief is ever present.

Hope is Here Too

In the midst of it all, alongside the heartbreak, pain and loss that are unavoidable…that are part of the human condition.

I have hope.

Even in the haunting awareness of the bloodshed, tragedy and grief that is avoidable…and somehow is still happening.

In the midst of even that, I have hope.

For, I know you are out there.

A growing counter balance.

Your Existence Matters- Keeping Doing This.

I know you are out there lighting your candles.

Smoothing over linens and fluffing blankets.

Saying prayers, blessings, invocations.

Holding spaces.

Setting intentions.

Setting out crystals.

Diffusing essential oils.

Learning about trauma.

Studying the nervous system.

Investing yourself in education on grief and loss.

Making connections on how massage helps.

I feel you out there.

Challenging yourselves - and others

To learn about how to witness pain.

To learn about how to acknowledge pain

To learn about how to touch pain.

Without rushing to to try and “fix” it.

You’re brave,

and fierce,

and tender.

I have hope because you’re not alone.

Our ranks are growing.

Word is spreading.

You, Grief Massage Therapist,

Are stepping forward

Into a void that lay open and empty for so long.

You are not just learning and growing now,

You are also outreaching

And advocating

And teaching.

A tide is turning

And none of us can un-know what we now know.

We can’t un-see what we’ve witnessed.

We can’t un-feel what we’ve felt.

We know we have a part to play in grief support.

We know touch can change the way grievers experience their loss.

We know Grief Massage can help create a kinder, gentler world for grieving people.

It’s You

It’s not Grief Massage, the modality, that gives me hope.

It’s you.

It’s Grief Massage Therapists who will change the world of grief support.

The artist, Marcel DuChamp said, “I don’t believe in art. I believe in artists.”

And to adapt it for our context:

I don’t believe in Grief Massage.

I believe in Grief Massage Therapists.

I believe in you.

<3 A