“Ritual is able to hold the long-discarded shards of our stories and make them whole again. It has the strength and elasticity to contain what we cannot contain on our own, what we cannot face in solitude.” Francis Weller, The Wild Edge of Sorrow: Rituals of Renewal and … [Read more...] about Letting Go Of Grief Rituals
Grief Recovery
My first novel, Heart of a Kingdom
Notice something a little different? Welcome to the new and improved TheRealLisaBain.com. Why the change? I’m excited to announce the release of my novel, Heart of a Kingdom, which warranted a little makeover. Whaddya think? Let me know in the comments section! CREATIVE … [Read more...] about My first novel, Heart of a Kingdom
Invisibility: The Hidden Side Effect of Widowhood
"All the being and the doing, expansive, glittering, vocal, evaporated; and one shrunk, with a sense of solemnity, to being oneself, a wedge-shaped core of darkness, something invisible to others." Virginia Woolf, To the Lighthouse A Keeping It Real Post There is a … [Read more...] about Invisibility: The Hidden Side Effect of Widowhood
Widows and Wildflowers
“There is poetry among the wildflowers.” Rachel Irene Stevenson A Keeping It Real Post When I was in Bristol a few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to see Calendar Girls on stage at the Hippodrome. A musical in a historic theater? And based on a true story? Yes, please! I … [Read more...] about Widows and Wildflowers
Keep Climbing, Girl (What ancient cathedrals remind us about the grief recovery process.)
A Coping With Grief Post When I was in Durham last week, the Durham Cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, was at the top of my "must-see" list. Of all the European cathedrals I've toured, Durham was one of the few not covered in scaffolding at the time of my visit. It … [Read more...] about Keep Climbing, Girl (What ancient cathedrals remind us about the grief recovery process.)
The Duality of Widowhood
“A mermaid is not frightened by her own duality. She is a walking contradiction of piety and lust, sobriety and ecstasy, brilliance and stubbornness, the sacred and the scandalous...so dance with your own inner paradox.” Margot Datz, A Survival Guide for Landlocked … [Read more...] about The Duality of Widowhood