Ancient Sacred Grief

Basilica de Salute, Venice, Italy | October 21 2024

For me, these damp alleys and constant rains have been assuring me not so much of love, but of fevers and even a sore throat…first time in over 20 years since I had one of those. My 4th visit to Venice and I have never been in quite 

so

much

rain.

Trajectory.

That is the word that comes to me as I consider Love. We can love each other, places, land, everything organic and inorganic. And when it is gone, when the person passes on or the place disappears, where does my love go? The empty “space” that is now there, what do I do with it?

I was messaging with a great friend earlier today. A wise goddess sister. I told her that I wasn’t able to feel anything, any of the joy and magic I would usually feel here in Venice each year. And then I realized, as I stood on the steps of the Salute Basilica, I couldn’t feel anything because I would not let myself feel the grief. If I was to engage my heart, that first meant that I would have to touch the sadness there.

And I so did not want to feel the sadness.

I did not know

that this time

I would come here

to grieve.

All that I can commit to my self, to this heart, is to be true to love. I realized, so much of what I was feeling as I move about these beautiful canals, is grief, my grief. Not a collective one, but a personal one. Tender.  So very very tender.

I will not shut it down. I will let it find me. And maybe I will let her lead me. Ancient Sacred Grief, you are welcome here with me.