Grief is a journey that takes us through many layers of love, loss, and memory. Some days it feels heavy and raw; other days it softens into gratitude for the time we were blessed to share. Through it all, moments of connection and unexpected signs from beyond, tend to have a way of reminding us that love doesn’t end, it simply changes form.
One of the most beautiful practices we can lean on during grief is mindfulness. Mindfulness teaches us to be present with what is and to notice not only our breath and our feelings, but also the subtle ways the universe whispers back to us when we need it most. It is in the quiet awareness of the present moment that signs often reveal themselves.
A Feather on the Wing
Recently, my aunt in England shared a story that gave me chills and deep comfort. She keeps a small shrine for my mum, her youngest sister, who passed away 2022. On the table rests a photograph of my beautiful mum, a small urn, and an angel from the cherished collection my dad lovingly offered to each of us at my mums funeral here in Canada.
Recently, my aunt found a single white feather on the floor. She gently placed it on the table with the angel. Days later, she walked into the room and discovered the feather perfectly positioned on the left wing of the angel statue. No open windows, no draft, no reason for it to move on its own.
And the most incredible part? This happened on the morning of my mum’s 71st birthday, her 4th, Heaven side.
When the Heart Knows
As my aunt described the moment and sent me the picture, I felt shivers run through me. I knew immediately that this was no coincidence. It was a sign. A sign for my aunt, who was missing her beloved sister, and a sign for me, thousands of miles away, who needed to feel my mum’s presence on her special day.
It’s easy to dismiss these things as chance, but when we sit with them mindfully and allow our hearts to stay open instead of closed with doubt, that's when we feel that unshakable truth. Love doesn’t disappear with death. It transforms into these gentle, miraculous moments of connection.
Mindfulness as a Path Through Grief
Mindfulness doesn’t erase the pain of grief. It doesn’t promise quick healing. What it does is anchor us to the present moment, where we can notice signs and symbols that may otherwise slip by. A feather on the wing of an angel. A song that plays at just the right time. A dream that feels too vivid to be random.
When we slow down, breathe, and open our awareness, we make space to receive comfort. We also soften our grip on needing answers or explanations. Instead, we learn to rest in the mystery, trusting that love finds ways to reach us.
Healing in the Signs
That feather on the angel’s wing wasn’t just a sign, it was a warm, heavenly embrace. A reminder that my mum is always near, that she’s with her sister, with me, and with all of us who carry her beautiful memory with us.
Grief will always ebb and flow. Some days the waves crash hard... really hard, and other days they gently lap at the shore. But with mindfulness, and with the gift of signs, we can walk this path with a little more peace, a little more wonder, and a lot more love.
Because in the end, grief is simply love with nowhere to go. And sometimes, feathers, angels, and mindful moments give love a way to find its way back to us.
Cheers,
Coach Jo (Joan Dunkley's loving daughter) <3
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