SHAUNAVON — Blue Christmas services have become an important part of many people’s holidays.
Acknowledging the absence of loved ones who have died, and planning how to deal with our emotions and actions during the season, can be an important part of the healing process. Grief coach and newly published author, Angela Clement, has been on her journey of grief and healing following her husband Blaine’s death in 2021, just two months before Christmas.
Following Blaine’s diagnosis, the couple sold their farm at Val Marie, Angela took a leave of absence, and eventually retired from her teaching job at Val Marie School, and they moved to Maple Creek to be closer to a hospital. This series of huge changes, in addition to the eventual loss of Blaine, led Angela to rediscover who she was. In that journey, she has been able to extend support to others facing similar realities.
Angela’s message of finding meaning, understanding of self, acceptance, self-forgiveness and building a future is conveyed to readers in four parts in her new book, “Awakening Through Grief”.
Angela writes about: the beginning stages of grief; heart healing & opening; acknowledging loss; and, finding purpose & expansion as part of one’s personal awakening in the aftermath of loss and grief.
Leading up to the Christmas season, or other important milestones without a loved one, Angela has this recommendation: “Make a plan. It might change, but consider how you might be feeling, and what you can do to acknowledge that person’s life and absence. In the planning, you are also processing the loss. Even if Plan A changes to Plan Z, simply waiting and dreading those important days and occasions won’t help. Lighting a candle or preparing one of their favourite foods are simple gestures that can help.”
Angela’s responses to her grief were initially expressed through her writing and a blog that she started. In her new book, she provides journaling prompts for readers to utilize in exploring their own emotions. She is also an energy healer and this past year she started her podcast. She facilitates a regular, online support group and explains, “I think this is the part of my offerings that I’m most proud of. It’s been offered for two years now and a core group has been attending who can offer support to new people as well.” She adds, “Anyone is welcome to join (there is no cost) and people can participate at whatever level they are comfortable with.”
When asked what she’d want others to know about grief, especially in the early days following a loved one’s death, she says, “Reach out to someone who is grieving. Even a text, or remembering those anniversaries like their death date or birthday, or just being with that person. Blaine passed away two months before Christmas; I remember a friend just picking me up to drive around and look at Christmas lights. It’s simple gestures that mean the most.” She adds, “Food is great, but you can get too much of that; food is everyone’s first go-to. But, simply acknowledging that person’s life is huge.”
Angela emphasizes that spiritual support can be a powerful tool in managing grief and that it may look different to each person, whether it’s religious-based or energy-related. Angela’s interest in energy healing began when one of her (now adult) children was experiencing health problems. They ended up taking their son to an energy healer and results were very positive. She states, “I believe in both Western medicine and energy healing and believe they can work together to improve a person’s overall health.”
“There seems to have been a message in the past that grief is something we just muddle through; a message that you should grieve forever. I’m trying to debunk that,” she explains. When asked how a grieving person can do this, Angela stresses, “It’s a choice. You can choose to step forward; not to let go of that person, but to let go of the pain associated with that loss. You can move forward with wisdom and love into a joyful, fulfilled life after loss.”
Angela’s next steps in her journey include creating an audio version of the new book, and she hopes to give presentations and has offered to make herself available for book club meetings. “I really want to do more in-person, one-on-one sessions and group presentations. Zoom is a great tool, but I feel called to being in person with people. Blaine was an extrovert and I am more introverted so this work I’ve undertaken is also a tribute to his memory in many ways. This realm of my work is me living his legacy.”
‘Awakening Through Grief’ is available on Amazon and at booksellers in Gull Lake and Maple Creek. You can learn more about Angela and her health and coaching services on her website at https://www.healingenergy.world/.
