Poetry, the written and spoken word can be an important companion during times of grief, giving us comfort, strength and a sense of belonging.

As part of my podcast series "Soul Cravings" I am delighted to bring you my conversation with Kim Langley - speaker, coach and author of the poetry collection and grief companion "Send my roots rain."

In this episode we talk about the book, Kim's own experience of grief, how she coped, her advice for self care during grief and tips for those who are interested in becoming a speaker or writer.

"Send my roots rain" does 4 things in 1:

• help sign-posting our grief journey when we feel lost,

The book is a thoughtful companion if you are going through or preparing for grief, if you work in the helping profession and support people with grief (eg in therapy or counselling, hospice, palliative, pastoral care and much more).

Watch the trailer on YouTube HERE

You can buy the book on Amazon as a paperback or Kindle version US here or UK here

Follow Kim on social media: LinkedIn | Twitter | Facebook

Kim's website is lifebalanceenterprises.com

And since we are a dog-friendly lot here at Soul Cravings, we must not forget to mention Tucker, Kim's special PR PA.

Karin Sieger is a UK-based registered and accredited online psychotherapist. She offers support locally and globally. Visit KarinSieger.com. Check out Karin's podcast 'Cancer and You'. Follow Karin on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn

Kindly note: This podcast is not a substitute for counselling, therapy or any medical assistance you may require. If in doubt, reach out to your medical practitioner.  

Coping with the death of a soul mate can be hard, whatever the nature and length of the relationship. Because it can feel like something inside of us has died alongside the other. Because death leaves us craving.

As part of my podcast series "Soul Cravings" I am privileged to share with you my conversation with Maryanne Pope, who knows all about it.  She was widowed aged 32, 4 years into the marriage with her soul mate John. They had been together for 12 years. 

Now, in 2019, this is 19 years ago. During this time Maryanne finally wrote a book she had discussed with John many times. But they were not to know it would be about "A widow's awakening". She is Chair of the John Petropoulos Memorial Fundand also set up her own business Pink Gazelle Productions.

Our conversation on a video link between London (UK) and Vancouver Island (Canada), where Maryanne lived with her dog Sadie, is relaxed, down-to-earth, yet deep and searching.

We start off by Maryanne telling us about how her husband died; because as you will hear, this has shaped her and how she has chosen to deal with her grief.

Then we cover many topics of relevance to anyone who has experience loss, especially that of a soul mate, such as:

• Accepting the unacceptable: When death was preventable.

•  "The honour of walking a soul mate to their death" - spending final hours together, even if the other is legally declared brain-dead.

• Finding our own path towards acceptance and doing 'something that feels right amongst so much wrong'.

• What is it like to be a young widow? Losing the love of your life, your soul mate?

• Coping with death before having children?

• What if we parted on an argument, not realising this is the last time you speak with each other?

• Living with daily life in a way that is not always connected to mourning.

• How to honour the memory of a soul mate without getting stuck in the past.

• When we reach the point of wanting to put the lid on talking about our loss and grief.

• Keeping the relationship with the one who has died alive, while craving for love and companionship.

• Moving out of the home we have shared with a soul mate who has died.

• How pets can 'save us' and can become the family we have lost.

• To become happy again and to find purpose and creativity (eg through writing).

• To fall in love again or to remain single?

• Caring for your mental health after you have experienced traumatic episodes like death.

You can follow Maryanne on Twitter and Instagram

Her book "A widow's awakening" is on Amazon HERE

This episode of Soul Cravings is dedicated to Maryanne's dog, Sadie, whom you can hear during the recording. Unknown to us then Sadie died the next day. Maryanne has written a dedication which I share with you at the end of the recording.

Karin Sieger is a UK-based registered and accredited online psychotherapist who offers support locally and globally. Visit KarinSieger.com.

Check out Karin's podcast 'Cancer and You'. Follow Karin on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn.

Kindly note: This podcast is not a substitute for counselling, therapy or any medical assistance you may require. If in doubt, reach out to your medical practitioner.  

We all need ways to relax. How better than something you can do by yourself, at any time, l no fuss involved. In this episode of her podcast Soul Cravings Karin Sieger explains how to relax by doing a guided visualisation and she also takes you on one. You can read her accompanying articles  "A short introduction to chanting and affirmations, especially if you think it's not for you" or  "A short introduction to mindfulness, especially if you think it's not for you."

Check out all other podcast episodes of Soul Cravings HERE.

Karin Sieger is a UK-based registered and accredited online psychotherapist who offers support locally and globally. Visit KarinSieger.com.

Check out Karin's podcast 'Cancer and You'. Follow Karin on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn.

Kindly note: This podcast is not a substitute for counselling, therapy or any medical assistance you may require. If in doubt, reach out to your medical practitioner.  

Whether you do it a little or a lot - reading and writing can console, inspire and motivate. In this episode of her podcast Soul Cravings Karin Sieger explains the link between our wellbeing and writing and reading. The show includes audience poetry readings from Mary Oliver, Dune and Linda Hogan. You can read her accompanying article "How to copy with difficult days" HERE

Check out all other podcast episodes of Soul Cravings HERE.

Karin Sieger is a UK-based registered and accredited online psychotherapist who offers support locally and globally. Visit KarinSieger.com.

Check out Karin's podcast 'Cancer and You'. Follow Karin on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn.

Kindly note: This podcast is not a substitute for counselling, therapy or any medical assistance you may require. If in doubt, reach out to your medical practitioner.  

Difficult days and times in our lives - we have them all. But some difficult days can feel like never ending pain and emptiness. In this episode of her podcast Soul Cravings Karin Sieger sheds some light on how to cope with difficult days, the disappointment, hopelessness, fear and loneliness we may feel. You can read her accompanying article "How to copy with difficult days" HERE

Check out all other podcast episodes of Soul Cravings HERE.

Karin Sieger is a UK-based registered and accredited online psychotherapist who offers support locally and globally. Visit KarinSieger.com.

Check out Karin's podcast 'Cancer and You'. Follow Karin on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn.

Kindly note: This podcast is not a substitute for counselling, therapy or any medical assistance you may require. If in doubt, reach out to your medical practitioner.  

(Image courtesy of Unsplash)

Resentment is normal. Getting stuck in resentment is counter productive and can leave us in a negative, dark and lonely place. It is a waste of good energy. In this episode of her podcast Soul Cravings Karin Sieger shares 4 keys steps towards letting go of the resentment we feel. You can read her accompanying article about "How to let go of resentment" HERE

Check out all other podcast episodes of Soul Cravings HERE.

Karin Sieger is a UK-based registered and accredited online psychotherapist who offers support locally and globally. Visit KarinSieger.com.

Check out Karin's podcast 'Cancer and You'. Follow Karin on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn.

Kindly note: This podcast is not a substitute for counselling, therapy or any medical assistance you may require. If in doubt, reach out to your medical practitioner.  

(Image courtesy of Pixabay.)

Loving and grieving for our pets can be intense, because pets are part of our family or the family we don't have. How to cope with and prepare for the difficult times like the death of a pet companion? In this episode of her podcast Soul Cravings Karin Sieger talks about the special relationship we can have with our pets, how to cope with pet grief and she shares some of her own experiences with her pet dog. You can read her article about pet grief HERE

Check out all other podcast episodes of Soul Cravings HERE.

Karin Sieger is a UK-based registered and accredited online psychotherapist who offers support locally and globally. Visit KarinSieger.com.

Check out Karin's podcast 'Cancer and You'. Follow Karin on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn.

Kindly note: This podcast is not a substitute for counselling, therapy or any medical assistance you may require. If in doubt, reach out to your medical practitioner.  

(Image courtesy of Pixabay.)

It is difficult to think big when our self confidence is low. Then being ambitious in life, at work, in relationships and more can feel im-possible. In this episode of her podcast Soul Cravings Karin Sieger talks about growing self confidence and self worth, so that we can think big, without feeling uncomfortable about it. 

Check out all other podcast episodes of Soul Cravings HERE.

Karin Sieger is a UK-based registered and accredited online psychotherapist who offers support locally and globally. Visit KarinSieger.com.

Check out Karin's podcast 'Cancer and You'. Follow Karin on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn.

Kindly note: This podcast is not a substitute for counselling, therapy or any medical assistance you may require. If in doubt, reach out to your medical practitioner.  

(Image courtesy of Pixabay.)

We all crave love, but finding and keeping what we need can be hard. In this episode of her podcast Soul Cravings Karin Sieger talks about love in relationships, loneliness and how to find love in a way you might not have thought of.

Check out all other podcast episodes of Soul Cravings HERE.

Karin Sieger is a UK-based registered and accredited online psychotherapist who offers support locally and globally. Visit KarinSieger.com.

Check out Karin's podcast 'Cancer and You'. Follow Karin on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn.

Kindly note: This podcast is not a substitute for counselling, therapy or any medical assistance you may require. If in doubt, reach out to your medical practitioner.  

(Image courtesy of Pixabay.)

Regrets are human. They can make us or break us. Some don't keep us awake at night, others make us feel like there is no point. How can we make peace with our regrets? In this episode of her podcast Soul Cravings Karin Sieger talks about how we can make peace with our regrets. You can read her accompanying article HERE.

Check out all other podcast episodes of Soul Cravings HERE.

Karin Sieger is a UK-based registered and accredited online psychotherapist who offers support locally and globally. Visit KarinSieger.com.

Check out Karin's podcast 'Cancer and You'. Follow Karin on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn.

Kindly note: This podcast is not a substitute for counselling, therapy or any medical assistance you may require. If in doubt, reach out to your medical practitioner.  

(Photo by Abigail Keenan on Unsplash)