Considering the Soul: Embracing Vulnerability in Grief and Trauma
Grief and trauma often come with the expectation that we should move through them quickly, leave them behind, or simply “get over it.” Yet, there is a profound depth within these experiences that many overlook or try to escape. This depth, this sacred space, can be a powerful gateway to healing—if we allow ourselves to fully inhabit it.
The philosopher James Hillman speaks of soul as something that “invites the marginal, the excluded, and the unwelcome pieces of ourselves into our attention.” The soul is not concerned with perfection or getting it right; it cares about our participation in life’s unfolding, especially when that unfolding is difficult or painful. To grieve, to process trauma, is to walk into the depths of our own soul. It is to encounter sorrow, longing, suffering, and death—not as abstract concepts but as lived experiences. Soul beckons us to turn toward those parts of ourselves that are hurt, not to fix them, but to honor them.
Grief often makes us feel as though we are standing at the edge of life—on the border between what has been and what will never be again. It asks us to acknowledge the reality of loss, and in doing so, it takes us to the edges of our own being. It is at these edges that soul resides—not in the polished, perfect version of ourselves, but in the raw, messy truth of our humanity. When we invite sacredness into this space of grief, we are allowing ourselves to be present with what is—without judgment, without rushing to the next thing. We open the door to healing, wisdom, and transformation.
Soul, as Hillman notes, “requires that we be authentic, revealing what lies behind the image we try to show the world, including our flaws and peculiarities.” Grief and trauma demand our vulnerability—not in the superficial sense, but in a deep, existential way. When we are grieving, we feel exposed, and when we are processing trauma, we confront our deepest wounds and fears. But in doing so, we also confront our resilience, our capacity for transformation, and our desire for meaning. Soul invites us to witness our brokenness and embrace it—not to fix it, but to transform it.
Soul shows up at the edges of life. In moments of grief and trauma, we are thrust into the margins—into the places that are often hidden or ignored by society. These edges can feel like isolation, but they also hold incredible potential for growth. It is here that we encounter what is real, what is raw, and what is deeply human. Grief and trauma take us to places within ourselves that we often wish to avoid, but it is precisely in these spaces that we can reclaim our wholeness.
Healing from grief and trauma is not about fixing or erasing the pain; it is about participating in it. Soul doesn’t care about perfection—it cares about our willingness to show up as we are, in all our vulnerability. This is where healing begins. By embracing grief and trauma with honesty, we allow the sacredness of these experiences to enter our lives. We honor the depth of our sorrow and suffering, and in doing so, we open the door to transformation.
To invite sacredness into our grief is to create space for it—time to reflect, to honor our pain, and to connect to something greater than ourselves. Rituals, dreams, and creative expression can help us connect to the soul of our grief, guiding us through the healing journey. Through these practices, we allow soul to show up and transform our pain into wisdom and resilience.
Grief and trauma are not obstacles to be overcome but gateways to deeper understanding. By inviting soul into these experiences, we create sacred space for healing, transformation, and meaning. Through our participation, we find resilience, wisdom, and a new sense of purpose, woven into the very fabric of our shared humanity.