|
|
1 (855) 894-5658
MARCH 2020
|
|
Greetings!
Welcome to March! March is a month that symbolizes renewal for growth. It is the month when flowers start to bloom, trees start to grow, and when sunlight incrementally increases. We can use this month and the season of spring, as an example to renew ourselves. When we experience grief, we go through the pain, and a transformative process, that can sometimes feel like the rebirth of our soul. Let this image remind us that we too can grow and transform after a cold winter. John Claypool once said,
“If we are willing, the experience of grief can deepen and widen our ability to participate in life.”
|
|
A Message From Our Founder: Marianne Gouveia
|
|
The Transformative Nature of Grief – A Beautiful Mosaic of
Love and Gratitude
February 27th marked the fourth anniversary of my son’s passing. Each year I tell myself that it will get easier, but it feels the same. As the date approaches, I live each day with clenched teeth, on high alert, hypersensitive to anything or anyone that reminds me of Eric. For those of you who’ve lost someone you love, grief may not get any easier – but you may find ways to integrate and honor it.
While I miss Eric terribly and would do anything to give him one last hug, one last kiss, and have one last belly laugh with him, It is truly amazing how grateful I feel for having him near me for 27 short years. After surviving the most unimaginable tragedy, how is it that we can keep moving? It’s the Grief. Somehow, when faced with unspeakable loss, we can pick up the pieces and put one foot in front of the other each day, no matter how difficult it becomes.
I refer to my journey as the loss of physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being. I describe my life as being broken into millions of chards of glass that – one piece at a time – have to be put back together again. But in the building of this new life, a “new normal”, I have been ever present to the growth that has occurred. Those pieces haven’t gone back into the same form they were originally in. I am putting the pieces back together in a new “mosaic” of spiritual, physical, and emotional well-being – as vessel of sorts -- that carries my spirit wherever I am led. It is a beautiful unfolding of gratitude and love that I could have never imagined important in my “old way” of being in this world. My loss has been partially counterbalanced by what I have gained.
Our culture does not respect grief. There are expectations that we need to return to “normal” or that we need to be “fixed.” We are taught that we need to “get over it” and “move on”. That couldn’t be farther from the truth. We cannot remove the pain, purge it, or step away from it. It is part of our make-up as humans. It is a reflection of the quality of our love. When we experience physical pain, we are shown sympathy, but when we have emotional or spiritual pain, we are often isolated and stigmatized.
Losing my son has changed my life forever. I learn so much from working with others experiencing sudden loss that each day I look forward to feeling and observing my pain so that I can better understand the pain of others. Each of us are so unique and experience our own kaleidoscope of feelings and emotions. During one of our support groups for women, one of our moms who lost a son to an overdose shared the following observation . . . and I paraphrase:
“It is amazing how present our children are in their eternal form of spirit. His presence is overwhelming, I think of him every minute of every day.” R.M.
I was profoundly struck by this observation. While on earth our loved ones are in our hearts and minds, but in their eternal form of spirit, they are forever touching our souls in a mystical and spiritual way. Losing them consumes us and the loss takes us over. And that is OK because it is truly through our pain that we become closer to them, that we can connect with them spiritually, to see the good that they did in the world, to see that their death influences us in a curious way we could have never thought.
Embracing and leaning into our loss is how we grow. I often tell our clients that tears are simply a measure of how much we love and miss our loved one. For me, Eric’s death and my grief has been my greatest teacher – I have learned so much about life. I didn’t think that I could endure losing him, but I have gained resilience, gratitude, and unconditional love. Yes, it does take courage, it requires vulnerability, resilience, and a certain surrender to God. We cannot escape it, but just as our loved ones find life after life, we can find life after loss. Over time, we can make the choices that lead us to a deeper presence and awareness of who we are. It teaches us an openness to what our futue may hold as though all is perfect in the unfolding of our lives. It teaches us that we have a lifeline to our loved ones that never leaves us because our love for them is eternal.
I am grateful for the journey that has unfolded before me and I embrace it with every cell in my body and with complete and total respect for the road less traveled. I am learning with compassionate curiosity about being in a relationship with my son in a very different and unexpected way. Thank you for allowing me to be your companion on your journey.
With Much Love,
Marianne Gouveia
|
|
Thank you to all who came out and put in the time and hard-work to build EricsHouse Labyrinth!
"I am humbled and touched by the love that we hold for each other as we share our journeys of loss. It is truly the experience of a lifetime and I am so grateful to all who came and shared . Thank you to Greg Eckerman and Karen Janusz for designing the labyrinth, to Greg for orchestrating the construction, to Robert Gruler for digging the trenches., and to
everyone who placed a stone for their loved one.
Thank you all so much. See you soon on a labyrinth walk!
- Marianne Gouveia
|
|
Marianne Gouveia shares her story on the
Gruler Nation Podcast!
|
|
Meet our Team Member - Kim Balzan
|
|
|
|
Kim is a Holistic Practitioner certified in many
different modalities, with the most passion going into Vibrational Sound, working with her Alchemy Crystal Bowls and gongs. She is a Certified Advanced Amrit Method Yoga Nidra Facilitator, Reiki Master Teacher, 200-hour ERYT, and a Kundalini Yoga Teacher, currently working on Level 2.
Kim will holding events at EricsHouse every 2ND Tuesday of the Month. She has greatly discounted her rate for our Non-Profit Organization. Please make sure you take advantage of this opportunity!
-Thank you Kim!
Join her on March 10th at 4:00 PM at EricsHouse to Heal with Crystal Bowls! Click
HERE
for more information.
|
|
Karen Janusz- On Aromatherapy for Grief
|
|
Aromatherapy for Grief Support
You may be wondering what aromatherapy has to do with grief, and how could smelling a bottle of oil take away the excruciating pain of loss, correct? Let me explain.
The response to smell is powerful and automatic. Our ability to smell comes from specialized sensory cells, called olfactory sensory neurons, which are found in a small patch of tissue high inside the nose. These cells connect directly to the limbic system of the brain where our emotional memory is stored. This is where our primitive approach/avoidance and safe/unsafe feelings are created.
Essential oils have over 100 different components. Some oils are grounding and centering, others are calming, elicit courage, or they may soothe the nervous system, help with trauma, anger, stress, insomnia or other issues. One of the most effective ways to benefit from the use of the essential oils is to inhale them using a yogic breathing technique or they may be placed on reflex points on the body or bottom of the feet while saying a positive affirmation, intention, or prayer.
As a Reiki Master, I incorporate the essential oils in Reiki sessions to assist with the healing process. The essential oils we have found to be most helpful with the grieving process, for comfort and emotional healing are the Young Living oils: Trauma Life, Clarity, Lavender, Forgiveness, Peace and Calming, Transformation, Valor, Acceptance, and Hope.
Aromatherapy is a safe, drug-free alternative to dealing with emotional pain. If you or someone you know is suffering from the loss of a loved one from suicide, we are here to help. Call EricsHouse directly, or you may go online to schedule an appointment.
Ericshouse: 1-855-894-5658
Karen Janusz
Certified Reiki Practitioner
Karen Janusz is a Certified Nutritionist, AASDN, an ACE Certified Personal Trainer and Health Coach, a Certified Yoga Instructor, SCW, a Certified Brain Fitness Facilitator, American Senior Fitness Association, and a Certified Reiki Practitioner.
|
|
Men and Women grieve
differently . . . right?
|
|
Greg Eckerman facilitates our very successful Men's Grief Group at EricsHouse
We tend to have masculine and feminine models, or stereotypes, for how we deal with grief and loss – but those models don’t always work for individual grievers. Our journeys are all unique.
Masculine grievers may speak of “learning to break away from the past.” They prefer to “get on with life” and quickly involve themselves in work or other activities.
A feminine model of grief, however, emphasizes connection rather than disengagement and separation. People, men or women—following the feminine model are more inclined to display grief to others, reach out to one or more persons around them, and to talk more openly about their loss.
We have learned that neither model is right or wrong. Elements of each can be part of a path to hope and healing that allows us to honor our lost loved ones while recognizing that we will never again be exactly who we were before.
Masculine and feminine grief stereotypes may come up short when applied to specific individuals, but they have a core of truth for many of us. Everyone grieves differently, but many of us have common biases and challenges. For men, those biases and challenges include:
- Our culture discourages men from openly emoting, yet men may be judged for appearing uncaring
- A man's way of healing may be less visible and more subtle – it is often connected more with the future than with the past
- Men may prefer time alone in order to heal, but isolating creates other problems and can slow the healing process
- Men may try to respond to their loss more logically -- less emotionally, but the emotional side of grief is unavoidable
- A man is more likely to deal with the pain through action
Men are also less likely to seek out external help, such as counseling or therapy, when they struggle with their grief journeys. We often grieve in private, not wanting to show vulnerability in front of others. We still face all the emotions of regret, intense sadness, guilt, shame, stigma, and anger.
Our Men’s Group is a safe space for grieving men to express their feelings in companionship with guys who understand and support them. Together, we can start to build a sense of renewal and peace. We encourage one another on our individual journeys to integrate our losses and find new versions of ourselves.
|
|
Building Resilience against
Shame and Self-Judgment
|
On a ranch in upper Marin County in September,
Shauna Shapiro, PhD
, invited an audience to each put a hand over their heart. It’s a simple act she instructs people to take all the time.
She was speaking on a panel at Futurewell, a sustainability and wellness summit where the audience was mostly women. But throughout the day, a number of men approached her to express their gratitude. One told her that putting his hand on his heart was the most powerful thing he had done all day. Another, who had recently had heart surgery, admitted that he had never thought to treat his heart with kindness. A third vowed to start every morning with that one simple practice because of how it would impact the rest of his day.
Keep reading the rest of the article
HERE
|
|
|
|
Our women's group meets every other Thursday from 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm. Please click
HERE
to see more details. Contact marianne@ericshouse.org to see if this is the right group for you.
|
|
Men's Grief Support Group
Meets every other Thursday from 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm. Click
HERE
to view details.
Please contact Greg at greg@ericshouse.org to see if this is the right group for you.
|
|
|
|
Healing with Crystal Singing Bowls
Starting Tuesday,
March 10th,
you can join us for Healing with Crystal Singing Bowls. Come and try this profoundly mesmerizing experience! All you need to do is sit or lay down and relax and let the Sound guide you into a beautiful peaceful relaxation. We will begin doing some gentle breath work and enjoy a guided meditation.
Benefits of Sound May Include:
– Lowers stress
– Brings balance & improves sleep
– Relaxation decreases mood swings
– Feeling more uplifting and focused
– Improves attention span and energy
– State of wellness rejuvenating and energizing!
Kim Balzan has significantly reduced her rate for EricsHouse. Take advantage of this opportunity!
For more information click
HERE
|
|
Heal with Grace Workshop
Join us on
March 18, 2020
, for the Heal with Grace Workshop. Learn ways and techniques to heal, through conversations and tools given by Dr. Kathleen Benjamin Rickard on how to navigate life’s clutter
including:
stress and anxiety.
Every 3rd Wednesday of the month!
Time: 6:30 PM- 8:00 PM
For more information click
HERE
|
|
Retreat for Grieving Parents
If you are interested in a
3-day retreat
in Phoenix Arizona for grieving parents, please contact
Marianne at marianne@ericshouse.org.
This retreat is based in Catholic tradition but is open to all denominations and belief structures. It is for all parents who have lost a child, by any cause, at any age, no matter how long ago. It is an amazingly healing and transformative experience.
March 27 - March 29, 2020
.
Costs include all meals and materials -- $135.00 Commuter, $225.00 Private Room w/ Bath, or $135.00 Shared Room w/ Bath. Retreat is being held at the Franciscan Renewal Center at 5801 E. Lincoln Drive in Scottsdale, AZ.
|
|
Aromatherapy for Grief Support and Labyrinth Meditation
Saturday, April 11, 2020
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
I
n this workshop we will be combining
Aromatherapy for grief support and a Labyrinth walking meditation.
During the presentation on Aromatherapy we will be discussing specific essential oils for grief support that may help with the different stages of the grieving process. You will have an opportunity to choose a specific scent to use during your Labyrinth walking meditation.
For more information please click
HERE
|
|
TWO Melinda Vail
Events in April!
Join Evidential Medium Melinda Vail for a Night of Readings on Friday, April 24, 2020 at 6:30. Or for an individual PRIVATE Reading on
Saturday, April 25, 2020.
A Night of Readings- Friday, April 24, 2020:
Join evidential Medium Melinda Vail for a fun, enlightening, entertaining evening as she provides insights to you from your loved ones! This event is in a small, intimate setting where Melinda shares messages from the other side. (Space is Limited)
For more information please click
HERE
Individual PRIVATE Reading- Saturday, April 25, 2020:
In these individual sessions, Melinda will share messages from
your loved ones so that you have the opportunity to know and understand that he or she is alive and well on the other side of the veil. Melinda is an “evidential” medium, meaning that she will provide information about your loved one that she could not possibly have known.
For more information please click
HERE
We believe that working with a medium does not replace grieving and mourning your loss. Please realize that a reading does not take the place of the grieving process, however, at EricsHouse, we believe that working with a good medium can be helpful to your healing.
|
|
In addition to providing companionship after a loss and holistic support as part of our Integrative Grief Care model, we offer several alternative therapies to support emotional, physical, and spiritual healing.
|
|
EricsHouse Inc.
1 (855) 894-5658
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
