Training adults to be present with grieving children's pain without trying to fix it—a form of compassionate witnessing rooted in devotional presence.
Mirabai's poetry is often read by others as a form of witnessing—her raw expression is met with recognition and care. Adults supporting grieving children can develop this skill of tender witnessing: showing up with full attention, listening without needing to solve or resolve, sitting in discomfort without rushing toward comfort. This means resisting the urge to say 'they're in a better place' or 'everything happens for a reason.' Instead, it means: 'I see your pain. It is real and it matters. I am here.' Tender witnessing requires adults to have processed some of their own grief and mortality, so they don't project their discomfort onto the child. It requires patience with non-linear grief, tolerance for the child's anger or silence, and willingness to be changed by bearing witness. When children are truly witnessed in their sorrow—seen and accepted without judgment—they experience profound healing. This witnessing becomes its own spiritual practice, connecting adult and child through shared humanity and vulnerable presence.
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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