When we go directly into our pain, feeling the loneliness and facing the issues and fears that come up, we not only honor our feelings, but we pay homage to the loved one that is no longer in body. As we stay with this pain, going into the depths of our grief, we then have an opportunity to come to terms with our loss and a new sense of fullness begins to form as we grow in the grieving process.

There are many qualities our beloved animal understood and has taught us.

When an animal we truly love dies, he or she leaves us a gift. It is the completion of a lifetime together.

By working through our loss, this is revealed to us. It is this gift that we want to acknowledge and receive. This gift is something we integrate into our very soul and carry with us always..

• Dealing with Illness and Death