The Body's Wisdom in Grief

Mirabai's spirituality was embodied and ecstatic; she danced, wept, and moved her body in expression of her devotion. This concept brings somatic awareness into grief support for children. Young people often receive the message that they should "think their way" through grief or "stay strong" emotionally, while their bodies hold the raw material of loss—tears, aches, sleeplessness, restlessness, or numbness. By cultivating body awareness, children learn to recognize where grief lives: "My chest feels tight when I think about them." "My legs need to run when I'm angry." "My tears come at unexpected moments and that's okay." Supporters can offer grounding practices—breathing, movement, safe touch—that help children befriend their grieving bodies rather than fight them. This embodied approach honors the whole person and allows grief to move through the system rather than becoming trapped as tension or dissociation.