Mourning Pages

How to get started

No matter how much we want to write, sometimes we may find it difficult to do so. Here are some reminders of what you can do to get started.  

1. Take deep breathes. When you feel overwhelmed come back to your breath. 
2. Whisper to yourself, "My head is where my feet are." This helps me to stay present and grounded. 
3. Clear your work/writing space of distractions and turn off all notifications. Fully give yourself this hour. 
4. Similar to Julia Cameron's "morning pages," one great way to use the time is to free-write whatever comes up. It doesn't have to make sense to anyone or even you. Use the space to express the murk, if that's what's needed. The flowers will come. 
5. Also, there is no pressure to produce. You are welcome to come and just be. Tears maybe the only thing on the page. Or doddle. It's fine. The words will come. Trust the journey. But also seek help if you need to. 
6. Be gentle with yourself. Grief is a process. 

Here are some prompts you can bring into the space or journal on beforehand:

1. What does grief feel like to you? What can you compare it to?
2. Where are you on your grief journey? Write about the stages you have experienced.
3. What is something someone has said to you (about grief) that you want to respond to? 
4. How does it feel in/to your body to grieve?
5. What is a memory you want to capture, hold on to?
6. If you're grieving a person or pet, what is something about them that still exists? 

Feel free to bring in your own prompts as well. 

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