holding and being held

“It’s how we grow and heal, again and again, by holding and being held.”

Mark Nepo

There is a beautiful truth in Nepo’s words . . . and a beautiful ritual that reminds us of that truth.  We often end our support group sessions this way. 

We gather around the candle that burns in the center of our circle during our time together. ( This candle represents the compassionate presence of love in the world, the loving memory we hold for the one we have lost and the power of our own capacity to heal from the sorrow we bear.)  

Then we extend our left hand with the palm up and our right hand with the palm down, allowing our palms to touch.  As we do this, we become connected  -  supporting the person on our left and being supported by the person on our right . . . a reminder of the truth of Nepo’s words,

                        “We grow and heal, again and again, by holding and being held.”