When someone passes away, the survivors benefit from making right offerings. The Balinese set aside 3 days for open communication with the deceased to resolve any lingering issues as they honor them. In this way, loving someone who’s not here anymore moves the grief forward.
Having learned this, I got help to make right offerings for the late Bobby Weir at his local memorial gathering. The cashier at QFC discounted the 108 roses, my friend gave me transportation to deliver them and still I returned home for an early night. “Nothing left to do but smile, smile, smile” as the lyrics to He’s Gone go, now that the grief has found its expression.
What do you do with grief? What rituals and memorials help to move the grief forward? Ki to Happiness expresses grief through making right offerings.