“Grief does not change you… It reveals you.”
~ John Green
Hello, dear friends!
I apologise that today’s post is late in coming. In fact I was unsure if I would even be able to write it at all. But here it is.
Here’s the oracle card I have chosen this Monday, and my take on the energetic outlook for the week ahead.
‘Grief’ is from the Chakra Wisdom Oracle Deck by Tori Hartman.
On Saturday morning I chose this card for the week ahead. I thought I might get organised and write my weekly post early, before my unplugged Sunday, and so that I might spend Monday morning (today) working on my almost-finished memoir.
When I pulled this card, I did a double-take. Oh, I thought, looking closely at the picture. It’s a heart-broken girl holding her dead dog. I can’t post that! So, I put the card down, and I moved onto another project and then some client readings and suddenly it was Saturday afternoon, and I forgot all about that card, and I went for a swim on that hot afternoon, with Ben my husband, and with Harry and Bert our dogs.
Well, some of you already know what happened next. Bert collapsed without warning. The next minute we were racing him to a vet. And then racing him from our country home back to a big veterinary hospital in the city. Our beloved dog Bert died at 4am on Sunday. We are all heartbroken. Yesterday was just a wash of tears.
And then this morning I remembered the card, and wept anew.
But, that’s enough of me. I need to talk about this card, and how it relates to you.
Grief is actually a beautiful card. An important card. I’m sure some of you are feeling these energies right now. These energies of grief and loss and tragedy and yearning and heartache and regret and disappointment and emptiness, right as the year began fresh. What an awful energy, you might think, to strike right when we need to be hopeful and optimistic and to enjoy our fresh start.
It’s okay. The Grief card has a powerful message for you this week.
This is what grief reminds you: Grief is just love with nowhere to go.
That’s as it should be when you first lose something. Until you learn how to keep loving without it.
If you let grief keep rebounding inside you with no expression and no flow, eventually it can lead to frustration, anger, and then to depression.
All of that love, if you don’t eventually give it form again with something else, all of that love held as grief will weigh you down, and prevent you from living truly and fully in your life.
So, feel into the energy of grief this week, for in it are the seeds of so much locked-up positive emotion, so many gifts, so much power to propel you forward again.
This might be grief around relationships, choices, changing circumstances, mistakes, outcomes, all manner of loss…
Where have you got energy locked up in grief? Where is there energy trapped in your life with nowhere to go? How can you untangle that and repurpose it and give it somewhere to flow again?
How can you take all of this love with nowhere to go, and channel it into something new and good?
You might be surprised at the breakthroughs you have this week!
Supportive crystals this week? Rose Quartz, Chrysocolla, Green Aventurine and Citrine. Helpful essential oils? Young Living’s Inner Child essential oil blend, or a combination (or singly!) of any of orange, jasmine, rosemary and geranium.
Feelings are a part of our lives for a reason. They help us to understand ourselves and the world around us, and they light the path for us, if we can be brave enough to follow where they lead.
Holding you, as always, in my thoughts, prayers and meditations. All my love,
Nicole ❤ xx
On Monday I was late for my Sunday email. I drew a card to talk about and it was loved ones. All about that our loved ones who have passed are happy and well and content and want you to know they are near. I put it down and went hmmm so I go that way this late already. And left it aside. Then on Tuesday saw your post. Today. I read it. I’m sad for you. But your loved ones. Are happy and content and at peace xxx
love to you all , my heartfelt condolences of the passing of your beautiful Bert. what a lucky doggy to have had such loving parents in you and ben.xoxox
You have my heartfelt condolences at the loss of your beloved Nurse Bert. My heart too aches for you. This was a beautiful post and I copied what you said about grief. I’m keeping it for future reference. Thank you for that. I wish you better days ahead. Hugs, Marlene
So so so sorry about Bert. He was such a beautiful, loving soul. So much love to you xxxxxxx
Nicole, I am so very sorry for your loss of nurse Bert. When I saw this card come up in my feed I thought “Oh, please no.” My beloved dog Arthur has been struggling with an aggressive lymphoma since April. We have done everything we can for him (chemotherapy, diet, etc) and as a result he has been very happy for most of the time. This week has been different and it is the first time he has started to struggle. He has a form of skin lymphoma and I am so afraid that it will take him slowly. Sometimes I wish he would just go the way of Bert, and collapse suddenly and then be gone. Happy dog one minute, gone the next. Nature can decide when it is his time (not me) without a drawn out period of sickness. I realise that I am already greiving for him even though he is still here. It makes me wonder then, where is my love going if I am greiving and he is still here?
Lindsay, I am so sorry to hear about Arthur. Although Bert died suddenly, he died because we chose to euthanise him and end what would have been a period of terrible and perhaps prolonged suffering. I trust that you will know too, if the struggling and pain are too much for Arthur. Heartbreaking as it is to end a pet’s life, I believe it is better than watching our loved one suffer for no good reason. Sending so much love your way. Nicole xx
Thank you Nicole. It is so generous for you to offer condolences during a time when you are feeling your own acute grief. We found out today that Arthur’s liver is failing and that we only have a short amount of time with him before we have to make the same heartbreaking decision you had to. I can’t believe how auspicious that card was. I feel like we will know when he is ready and it is almost a relief that we can give that to him. Thats the thing about dogs. They get right into your heart but they live short little lives and leave you. To Arthur and Bert. All the love.
You are in my thoughts at this time, I send you love and light Nicole. You now have another angel to watch over and guide you. Blessed Be, Marie.
So sorry for your loss Nicole.
Oh, Nicole, my warrior princess – so sorry for your loss of nurse Bert… how sad – how difficult. I’m sending hugs and love to you. And still – through your grief – you send out your message to us all, helping us and inspiring us on our journey. What a queen of hearts you are. Love, love, love you. xoxoxoxo
Dearest Nicole, I can hardly see to type this. I hope that maybe the grief I’m feeling right now will take a little bit from your overload. But I can’t help thinking that Nurse Bert has done his job, that he knew you’d be okay without him (perhaps with a bit of help from Harry, though). And poor Harry. Big hugs all around. XOXOXO
So sorry for your loss Nicole.
I am so so sorry for you and Ben. Bert was one Super dog. Your fur baby had the best life ever and I am sure he is thanking you. I wish you comfort in the times that those tears fall and a special hug for when you remember all the good times as well. Thinking of you – Sue
I grieve with you. Bert was such a fun dog, and even though I never met him, I’ve only seen pics of him on this blog over the years, my heart hurts. Will be keeping you and your family in my thoughts. Thank you for all that you share. — I just remembered Nurse Bert and how well he cared for you. I’m so sorry. Sending positivity and love your way.
I am so sorry for your loss. Sending healing light for your souls.
It is such sad news about Bert, how is Harry doing is he missing his buddy.
So many of these posts feel like they were written just for me, thank you for your guidance it is appreciated
I’m so sorry for your loss Nicole. It’s heartbreaking. Thinking of all of you.
I’m so very sorry, Nicole, to hear this sad news of Nurse Bert. I saw that card with the picture of the woman cradling her dog in grief, and immediately thought, Oh No….! I feel as if I got to know and love him through your blog posts, and I will miss him. Thank you for sharing him with us. May your heart be comforted in this terrible loss. 💔
Dear Nicole and family, I am so sorry for your loss. Grief is a potent force, I love how you describe it as “love with no where to go”. Sending you love and light.
I am so sorry for the loss of your beloved Bert. I saw the card and didn’t want to read further knowing what was coming, I know this all too well as well. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
Nicole, I’m so sorry to hear of the loss of your precious, faithful friend and carer ‘Nurse Bert’. Sending love and hugs.
I feel for your loss Nicole they give unconditional love are little furry friends but we will all be reunited,. love never leaves us
Oh sweetheart; please know and feel that you are all being held in our thoughts and love. C xxx
Oh Nic, so sorry for your loss. I hope he didn’t suffer and that you’ll feel ok about it soon. Xxx
No….. oh my darling girl! I dont know what to say! Nurse Bert…. you precious precious boy!! Tears flowing😭😢😭🐾🐾 sending so much love to you all 💕💕
So sorry for your loss Nicole! I too admire you for writing such a thought inspiring post in such a positive and loving way. Please keep channeling that love because it is felt by all of us around the world. Sending you and your family love and light. <3
Thank you so much for this!
I have been grieving for the type of childhood I didn’t have.
I now know to channel this energy into creating a happy childhood for my children.
Much love. I am thinking of you at this difficult time.
❤
Natasha
Sent from my iPhone
Oh what a shock indeed, dear nurse Bert. Loads of love and hugs to you & Ben & Harry. xxx How very full on. Love you so much <3
So shocked. To think we were playing together not many hours before. I can imagine what you are going through. Much love from us. 💞💖
RIP Café Bert
Dear Nicole, my heartfelt regrets for the loss of Bert. Loved to read about his stories. He will forever continue to live in the memories of so many people and he was truely lucky to have you in his life. I know how you must be feeling having lost three dear and beloved in very close following not very long ago. What a coincidence with the card you pulled…..
rest peacefully under the trees somewhere Bert the cafe dog – sipping on lates and chewing on a bone. Our tears for you are just another expression of love. Prayers of love and support to you and Ben
So sorry to hear about Bert….kinda shocking to read that Bert is no more…..will pray for strength to cope with this loss Nicole….take care !
Dear Nicole and Family, I am so very sorry to hear about your darling Bert. They come into our lives and bless us for such a sort time and they leave us better for their love and company. I’ll pray for you, your family and Bert.
The topic of Grief is so apt for us at this time. We lost three much loved members of our family in 2016. What I took from this were the words – ‘Grief is just love with nowhere to go’. I so love those words as they perfectly encapsulate what grief is all about.. Thank you for sharing them with us in the midst of your own grief. With Love and Light Jill
So sorry Nicole. Thinking of you, Ben and Harry at this sad time. Take care, Dawn 💖
Dear Nicole, my heart goes out to you with the loss of Nurse Bert, sending Reiki and holding you close in my thoughts.
Dearest Nicole,
We all share the grief in Bert having moved on. Can only pray that you and all at home gradually gain the strength to live in the absence of a loved one.
Love &prayers,
So very sorry for the loss of your Bert! Think of where he is now though, bet it is beautiful!
Sending you all so much love. To be able to write such a beautiful post in the midst of grief is amazing . such a loving act. Thank you , you are very special .
I am so sorry this happened. It’s very sad to lose such a beautiful friend. I am so sorry.
So sorry for your loss of Bert the nurse. Harry will also miss him.
So, so sad to read of your loss of Nurse Bert, dear Nicole, you and Ben and Harry are in my heart xxx
Hi Nicole, I’m so sorry for the loss of Bert. Thank you so much for still writing this beautiful weekly message for us despite your grief this week xx
Dear Nicole and Ben, I am so sorry to hear about the loss of Nurse Bert. I never met him, stroked or held him but I know he was a part of your family.My heart is heavy for you.XXXX
💜💜💜💜💖
Oh Nicole, I’m so sorry to read about Bert – he’s been such an integral part of your life and in turn part of ours through your posts. Love to you, Ben & Harry xx PS The reading for the week is filled with such wisdom, so thank you for taking the time to write it. Take care as you make this big adjustment in your life ❤️💙💜
Nicole what heart ache to lose a darling pet, my prayers are with you.xxx
I am so sorry to read of your loss of beautiful Nurse Bert. I have no words. Sending love and healing to you, Ben and Harry. Anna
So sorry for your loss Nicole. Reading this brought me out in goose pumps!!!
Yet again your insight and intuition are amazing and the grief card sums up how I’ve been feeling since new year began.
And it just so happens that I found a tucked away green aventurine 15 minutes before reading your oracle. ❤🐕💔
I’m so sorry to hear about Bert. He was always a bright presence in your posts. Sending you, Harry and Ben love, peace and lots of hugs.
Blessings,
Teri
I am so sorry Nicole – I hope you all, including Harry, will cope ok – in time. Let yourself grieve for now. ❤💚
Thank you for this. A beloved friend died in Sunday morning. For me this is the third death of a really important person to me in ten months. All of them died young. Grief definitely is love with nowhere to go. It also shows us how shallow life would be if we didn’t meet people who pulled us into the flow of life to make it funnier, more colourful, richer and more meaningful. Sending much love to everyone who has lost someone special. May all that live be released to find new homes. Xxx
Dear Fran, truly sorry for all of the sadness you have experienced.
Thank you
Hi Nicole,
So sorry to hear about Bert, thank you for your reading it always taps into what I am feeling at the present….
❤️❤️❤️
Sent with love, sunshine and happiness.
Lynette Higgs
0487 302 876
I am so sorry for your loss Nicole. You have given him a beautiful life.
Much love to you xo
Beautiful read.. thank you for sharing and may Bert thrive in your heart.
So sorry Nicole to hear about the loss of Nurse Bert. Love to you xx
I met your two beautiful dogs when I came to you for a reading. Both were such gentlemen. Every time we drive to the airport, I always mention Bert because we go past Toombul Shopping Centre. Love to him on his new journey, and love and strength to his family. xxx
I am so sorry to hear of your loss Nicole. My heart goes out to you. I once heard an expression that sorrow is the price we pay for love. It is all about love and I am sure Bert knows of your love.
Oh I am so sorry for your loss….and what a beautiful outlook and reading…..with the change in presidency happening here in the US this week we are in grief. But I know now what to do, and I thank you! My fear is shifting to love and I am ready to repurpose it.
I love your response because it echoes my feelings. I have been grieving over what is happening in our country for weeks. I am trying really hard to direct that energy into positive actions.
Sorry for the loss of nurse Bert. You’re in my thoughts