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Heather Stang

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Rethinking Acceptance in Grief – A Guided Meditation & Journaling Practice

Hello Reader, We’re often told that acceptance is the last stage of grief, something we reach once the pain fades and life feels normal again. But grief doesn’t unfold in stages (don't get me started). And acceptance isn’t about “moving on”—it’s about making space for what’s already here without fighting against it. In last week’s Meditation & Journaling class in Awaken, members embodied this idea through a guided meditation and journaling practice designed to help you sit with what...

Join Us For This Week's Events Monday February 24 at 4 PM ET: Grief Support Group Tuesday February 25 at 6 PM ET: Grief Support Group Wednesday February 26 at 4 PM ET: Meditation & Journaling Thursday February 27 at 5:30 PM: Grief Yoga RSVP for classes (optional) This Week's Grief Support Group Topic: Being With Difficult Emotions (R.A.I.N.) This session introduces the R.A.I.N. framework—Recognize, Allow, Investigate, Nurture—as a compassionate approach to managing difficult emotions. Through...

Join Us For This Week's Events Monday February 17 at 4 PM ET: Grief Support Group Tuesday February 18 at 6 PM ET: Grief Support Group Wednesday February 19 at 4 PM ET: Anticipatory Grief Support Group Thursday February 20 at 5:30 PM: Grief Yoga RSVP for classes (optional) This Week's Grief Support Group Topic: Mindfulness & Grief Course Co-Working This one-hour co-working session is designed to help you focus on the Mindfulness & Grief Coursework inside of Awaken, so you can choose any lesson...

Guided Visualization for Valentine's Day Grief

Hello Reader, Valentine’s Day can be a bittersweet reminder of the love we’ve shared and the loss we carry. It’s a day that magnifies the absence of someone we hold dear, while also celebrating love—a paradox that can leave us feeling tender and conflicted. If you’re grieving the loss of a spouse, partner, or any loved one for that matter, I want to remind you: grief isn’t about letting go. It’s about learning to carry love forward in a new way. It’s about keeping the bond alive, even as life...

Join Us For This Week's Events Monday February 10 at 4 PM ET: Grief Support Group Tuesday February 11 at 6 PM ET: Grief Support Group Wednesday February 12 at 4 PM ET: Anticipatory Grief Support Group Thursday February 13 at 5:30 PM: Grief Yoga RSVP for classes (optional) This Week's Grief Support Group Topic: Self-Compassion for Valentine’s Day Grief Valentine’s Day can be a tender time for those grieving. In this session, we’ll focus on cultivating self-compassion to gently hold space for...

Hello Reader, Whether you are grieving, caring for a loved one, or holding space for others as a professional, it’s easy to put your own needs on the back burner. But just like tending to a fire, caring for yourself ensures that you can continue to offer warmth and light to those around you. Self-care isn’t indulgent—it’s essential. It allows you to show up with more presence, resilience, and compassion for both yourself and others. This week, I invite you to pause and choose one way to...

Join Us For This Week's Events Monday February 3 at 4 PM ET: Grief Support Group Tuesday February 4 at 6 PM ET: Grief Support Group Wednesday February 5 at 4 PM ET: Anticipatory Grief Support Group Thursday February 6 at 5:30 PM: Grief Yoga RSVP for classes (optional) This Week's Grief Support Group Topic: Mindfulness & Tending to Grief This session introduces you to (or reminds you of) mindfulness practices to gently guide you through the experience of grief. Together, we’ll explore...

Hello Reader, As the New Year begins, many of us feel the mixed emotions that come with the passing of time—hope for a fresh start, but also the heavy weight of what we’ve lost. If you’re navigating grief, you know the transition into a new year can be especially challenging. That’s why I’m inviting you to join me for a free, live workshop: Living With Grief in the New Year This compassionate session is designed to help you care for yourself, manage grief triggers, and build resilience as you...

Greetings Reader, As we prepare to welcome another year, I want to take a moment to express my deepest gratitude for each of you. Navigating grief during this season is no small feat, and New Year’s Eve, in particular, can bring a unique mix of emotions—memories of the past, the weight of loss, and the uncertainty of what lies ahead. Please know that you’re not alone in this, and you are deeply cared for. I’ve put together a few resources to help you face this transition with care and...

Hello Reader, Sometimes, just surviving the holidays feels like a victory—and that’s the first goal. But my deepest wish for you is that, even in the midst of grief, you find moments to feel the love that remains, and tend to your aching heart with compassion. As many of you know, my grief journey started when I was just seven years old, right before the holidays. That experience shapes the work I do today. Holiday grief has been part of my life for as long as I can remember, and I know how...