Session Overview
Mereana creates a tender space to acknowledge the weight of grief—whether you are mourning a person, a relationship, or an imagined future. The session weaves karakia, storytelling, and guided breathwork so you can sit with sorrow without being swallowed by it.
What to Bring
- A photo, keepsake, or object that represents your loved one or the loss you are witnessing
- Blanket or weighted item for comfort
- Journal and pen for reflections
- Tissues, water, and optional candle (use safely)
Structure
- Whakatau and karakia (8 minutes): settle into the space, introduce your reasons for watching, and remember you are not alone.
- Body-based grounding (12 minutes): explore tapping, gentle rocking, and hands-on-heart breathing.
- Story of grief (15 minutes): Mereana shares experiences of navigating tangihanga during lockdowns and invites you to name your own story aloud or in writing.
- Compassion practice (10 minutes): visualise your loved one held in light, extend the same aroha to yourself.
- Closing ritual (5 minutes): choose a small action to honour your grief today—lighting a candle, sending a message, resting.
Tips While Watching
- Pause whenever emotions rise. Take a short walk, look out the window, or phone a support person before continuing.
- Say names out loud if it feels right. Speaking them can be healing.
- If tears come, let them. If they do not, that is okay too.
Integrating Afterwards
- Write a letter to your loved one or to grief itself. Share what you need, what you miss, and what you hope for.
- Listen to a song that connects you to treasured memories, then note how your body responds.
- Reach out to a friend, counsellor, or helpline such as 1737 if the waves feel too big to hold alone.
This replay pairs beautifully with the Guided Meditation resource kit when you need additional grounding between sessions.
