Validating a child's yearning for the deceased as a natural and spiritually significant emotion, not a sign of unhealthy attachment.
Mirabai's poetry is saturated with longing—for Krishna, for union, for the beloved. She never moved past this longing; she deepened into it. Contemporary grief models sometimes pathologize children's continued longing for a deceased parent, encouraging 'acceptance' and 'moving forward' instead. This concept reclaims longing as legitimate and even sacred. A child who misses their parent years after death is not 'stuck'—they are loyal, faithful, and continuing to love. Mirabai teaches that longing can coexist with growth, that yearning does not prevent the child from building new relationships or discovering joy. When adults validate a child's longing rather than trying to cure it, young people feel less shame and isolation. They learn that love transcends death, that their feelings honor the person who mattered to them. This shifts the child's internal dialogue from 'Something is wrong with me' to 'I love deeply and truly.'
Peri can explain this concept, give practical examples, help you decide whether it applies to your situation, or recommend a journey if appropriate.
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