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Grief Support Groups Serving West Los Angeles, Encino and Agoura Hills

Poetry

No Magic Pill

Michael Arvanitis unfortunately went through the HOPE Connection grief group program twice. His dear wife, Katie, died on 10/29/17 and over two years of working on his grief, he began to heal and met a new love. She died suddenly during COVID leaving him grief stricken again. He found his way through connection, grief work being a Mentor to new people in the HOPE program and through the arts. He started writing poetry to find paths through the many emotions of his grief and healing. His new book, Whisperings of a Loving Heart, is now available on Amazon. His loving heart has decided to donate any proceeds to HOPE Connection to give back some of the love and support that he received.

Please consider supporting Michael’s amazing good work and HOPE Connection by buying your copy here today.

My Grief Is Like An Ocean Swell

I wrote this short poem about a month after my brother died:

My grief is like an ocean swell
rolling toward shore.
It rises but never breaks.

It came to me while sitting quietly during a yoga class, breathing deeply. There were swells of grief but no tears. The stillness helped me put words to my feelings. I had cried when he died, but then it subsided. Too quiet.  Where was my grief?

Left Behind

Often, poets capture the feelings following the death of our loved one in ways that transcend words. Westley Nash does exactly that in this short poem, read by the author, Left Behind.

The Visit

After the death of my husband, Don, I found myself adrift in my spiritual life. My religious beliefs from childhood offered some comfort but I wanted more. I wanted to forge a relationship with my husband that was eternal. I was drawn to those friends who told me of messages they were receiving from their deceased beloved ones.

Sanctuary

In the beautiful song Sanctuary by Carrie Newcomer, she sings

Will you be my refuge, my haven in the storm,

Will you keep the embers warm when my fire’s all but gone?

Will you remember and bring me sprigs of rosemary,

Be my sanctuary ‘til I can carry on, carry on, carry on.

Anyone who has found peace and healing in a HOPE Connection group will identify deeply with Newcomer’s lyrics. HOPE groups are indeed sanctuaries of grace and comfort.

The Peace of Wild Things

Wendell Berry is a renowned American poet and novelist. One of his most famous poems is The Peace of Wild Things. In this short video, an animated interpretation of the poem plays while Berry reads his lyrics. Members of the HOPE community may relate to Berry’s intimations of the power of nature to comfort and heal the soul.