In the early days of grief amid the numbness and shock of loss the thought of memorial symbols is not yet a part of your grieving or healing process. But there comes a point in the days following where suddenly it seems that’s all you can think about, and a drive to remember the one you’ve lost compels you to do something of lasting value to honor them and maintain your heart link to them.
It’s good for your eventual healing that you experience this drive, and even better when you allow it to guide you into creating memorial symbols which are uniquely representative of your loved one – something you’ll treasure always and keep in the forefront of the changed life you live in the aftermath of your loss.
The form your memorial takes is important only to you and can consist of anything your aching heart chooses it to be – from a simple framed picture all the way up to an organization begun in their memory, or beyond. Only eternity can or should limit your options, or the actions you take to create a memorial symbol of healing value to you.
For instance, perched on the top of my credenza behind me sits an entirely unique work of art which I commissioned my cousin, a local native artist of outstanding talent, to create for me as a memorial to honor the memory of my own daughter.
As a young woman exploring her own ancestral roots which consisted of both North American Native and European bloodlines, my girl had once found the weathered shoulder blade of a moose on one of her bush walks. She had intended to paint designs on it honoring this mixed heritage, but never had the opportunity to do so before her death.
I found the bone in a box of her effects a year and a half after she died, and amid my tears at the time of its discovery was reminded of her intent for it. I approached my artist cousin and explained this situation to him and asked if he’d be willing to undertake honoring her intent.
Having known my daughter’s heritage and her own artistic bent he readily agreed. It took him two and a half years to complete the work, a period of time which to me was worth every moment given to its completion.
In its entire 21” height it consists of the shoulder blade of a moose mounted face-on vertically to the center top portion of a weathered moose skullcap with horn stubs on it, which is in turn mounted on - and appears to float on - a 9¾” woven copper-painted grinding disk. The design is unique to itself, representing the first and only piece of its kind in existence.
Painted front and back in rich colors of both contemporary and native designs his finished work is not only a masterpiece of creative artistic endeavor, but also a testament to the empathic link which connects his art to my daughter’s life – and the Spirit she has now become.
Something which began so simply – with just the memories surrounding the weathered shoulder blade of a moose found in a box in the aftermath of my daughter’s death. I’m reminded of so many wonderful things about her every single time I look at it though, and can feel its healing effects continuing to soothe the pain of her loss.
Memorial symbols really can help you heal from your grief. Treasure the ones you’ve already created, whatever they are, and allow their influence to continue healing your own heart of grief.
With Love and Understanding,
Ken Matthies
HeartSpun Posts from the Crucible of Experience
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