Spiritual Meaning of Grief: How to Release What the Heart Holds
Grief is one of the deepest human experiences and it doesn’t only live in the mind, it lives in our physical bodies too! Most people feel grief in their chest, their heart space, like a weight pressing down or an ache that won’t lift. This is because grief is more than an emotion. It’s energy.
When we understand the spiritual meaning of grief in the body, we begin to see that grief is not something to “get over,” but something to be honored, felt, and released with compassion.
Grief as Love With Nowhere to Go
We often think of grief as just sadness, but spiritually, grief is love with nowhere to go. It’s the echo of connection, attachment, or hope that no longer has a home in the physical world. That’s why it feels so heavy because the heart is holding both love and loss at once.
This perspective shifts everything. Instead of trying to “fix” grief, you can allow it to move. Grief isn’t asking to be solved it’s asking to be honored.
The Energy of Grief in the Body
Grief shows up in so many physical ways:
Heart space – heaviness, stabbing pain, or pressure.
Throat – unspoken words, a lump in the throat, or screams that were never released.
Chest and lungs – shallow breathing, tightness, heaviness.
Legs – the feeling of being unable to move forward.
Mind – looping thought patterns and “movie reel” memories that keep replaying.
Shoulders – a sense of carrying invisible weight.
Womb or gut – grief tied to creation, family, or loss of dreams.
Left unexpressed, grief can create stagnation—keeping someone stuck in the past while the world continues to evolve.
The Alignment Codes and Grief Healing
Grief touches all parts of our being, and each of the Alignment Codes offers a way through:
🔥 Fire (Body Awareness) – Grief shows up in the body as tightness, heaviness, or even numbness. Fire reminds us to notice where grief lives physically so we can begin to transform it.
💨 Air (Practices for Release) – Through breathwork, sighing, humming, or visualization, Air helps neutralize stuck grief energy and bring spaciousness back to the heart.
💧 Water (Emotional Flow & Rituals) – Water reminds us to create rituals and boundaries around grief—time to cry, journal, or honor memories—so emotions can flow instead of being dammed up.
🌍 Earth (Grounded Loving Action) – Earth guides us to take small steps in the physical world—walking in nature, planting something new, reaching out for support—that anchor us back into life.
💗 Heart (Compassion & Love) – The Heart Code helps us meet grief with compassion, even noticing where resentment or anger may hide underneath. When those emotions are neutralized, every action can be taken with love.
Alignment Codes is my signature program on moving and transmuting emotions. Decoding what the body has to say so we can live in alignment with our natural state of flow and being. Whenever emotions come up you just entered the construction zone and you get to choose how to move through it.
Case Studies: When Grief Energy Releases
In my sessions, I’ve witnessed countless moments where the energy of grief lifted:
One client felt like a thousand pounds had been taken off her chest her breath deepened, and her posture shifted immediately.
Another found relief in her shoulders and throat after expressing grief she hadn’t allowed herself to speak.
On Maui, I’ve supported those grieving non-traditional losses the end of jobs, friendships, homes, or simply a way of life. Some clients felt guilty for grieving if they “still had more than others,” but grief is not a competition. Every loss is valid.
When grief energy is released, people don’t just breathe easier they finally feel able to live again, to move forward without carrying the constant weight of the past.
Gentle Practices for Grief Energy Healing
If you’re walking with grief, try these practices to help your heart release safely and lovingly:
Hand on heart – Rest your palm over your chest and breathe slowly. Remind yourself that you are safe, and you are not alone.
Breath into the chest – Each inhale creates space; each exhale gently releases what the heart is holding.
Golden light visualization – Imagine a warm golden light filling your heart, surrounding the grief with compassion until it feels softer and lighter.
Journaling dialogue – Write to your grief as though it were a friend. Ask what it needs. Let your inner child or younger self speak too.
Voice release – If grief is in your throat, hum, sigh, or allow yourself to scream into a pillow outdoors. Sound is medicine.
Nature connection – Sit by the ocean, under a tree, or on the earth. Let the natural world hold what feels too heavy for you alone.
For visitors to Maui seeking emotional release and spiritual reset, our Maui Energy Healing Experience offers a safe space to let go
Grief vs. Sadness: Why They’re Different
It’s important to name the difference:
Sadness is temporary it can arise when a restaurant closes or a disagreement happens, but joy is accessible again soon after.
Grief is gut-wrenching, long-lasting, and tied to deep loss whether of a person, a dream, or a way of life.
Grief is not something to “get over.” It comes in waves, lasts longer, and requires gentleness.
The Role of Values in Grief
Grief also reveals what matters most to us. Someone with Connection as a top value may grieve relationships more deeply. Someone whose highest value is Safety may grieve a lost home or financial stability with intensity.
When we see grief through the lens of our values, it helps us honor what was most important, and it can even guide us toward creating a new chapter rooted in those same values.
FAQ: Spiritual Meaning of Grief in the Body
Does grief ever fully go away?
Grief softens with time, but it often transforms rather than disappears. It becomes part of your story, woven with love.
Can energy healing help even if I’ve been grieving for years?
Yes. Grief can get “stuck” in the body for decades, but energy healing creates space for release no matter how long it’s been carried.
What if my grief isn’t about death?
All loss matters—jobs, friendships, homes, even missed opportunities. Honoring these losses is essential for healing.
Is it okay if I still feel angry or resentful?
Yes. Anger and resentment are natural layers of grief. With compassion and practice, these can be neutralized so love can guide your next steps.
Final Note
Grief is not a sign of weakness it’s proof of how deeply you’ve loved. When you give your heart space to feel and release, you create room for healing, peace, and even new joy.
✨ Ready for support?
Book a Maui Group Energy Healing in Napili to release grief in a safe, supportive space. Together, we’ll honor what your heart holds and help you move toward lightness again.
Private 1:1 Sessions Available in Person on Maui or Virtually via Zoom