Never underestimate the power of forgiveness.

Last Sunday morning, as I followed my routine, I decided to begin my day with meditation. I opted for a guided 6-Phase Meditation, which has been a part of my practice for some time now.

Guided meditations worked better for me because they helped me focus my mind on the visuals, preventing it from wandering off into countless thoughts. Little did I know that this particular meditation would bring about a significant shift within me.

During one phase of the meditation, I was instructed to revisit a person or event that I held resentment towards. This time, unexpectedly, my grandma appeared in my mind. It was the first time I consciously explored the moments when I would feel frustrated and upset with her for her judgmental opinions.

“What would the people say?!”

She often prioritized the opinions of others over my ideas and aspirations, stifling my courage and ambition. It had been a recurring pattern throughout my life. However, I realized that my compliance stemmed not from a desire to please others, but from a deep-rooted need for love and approval from my grandma, as children often seek validation from their role models.

During the meditation, I allowed myself to delve deeper and understand the hurt that lay behind her actions. I visualized her own past experiences that had shaped her into someone who heavily relied on the opinions of others. She constantly sought social approval to avoid the pain of rejection. In her way, she was trying to shield me from that pain. As I embraced this realization and forgave her from the depths of my heart, I mentally embraced her in a warm hug, feeling a gentle release in my chest.

Shortly after this transformative experience, I received a message from my mom.

“Kasia, are you coming back home any time soon? Grandma is in agony...”

Although I had planned a few fun things on the way back, such as visiting a friend in Germany and attending a meetup in Bern, I had intended to be there for my grandma in her final moments. But time seemed to slip away, and within 30 minutes of my mom’s call, my grandma passed away.

In the aftermath of the funeral ceremony, I shared my experience with my sister and my mom.

To my surprise, my mom had also experienced her moment of forgiveness for her mother just days before her passing. Simultaneously, that same Sunday, my sister had undergone her own deep inner work related to our ancestral lineage. It became clear to me that our collective journey of forgiveness and healing was intricately intertwined.

This powerful sequence of events emphasized the profound impact forgiveness can have on our lives and relationships. It transcends individual experiences, weaving a tapestry of interconnectedness. It liberates us from the chains of resentment, fostering healing, compassion, and a deeper understanding of the complexities that shape our bonds with loved ones.

I dare to say an even more profound revelation. By releasing the energies of past wounds that my mother, sister, and I held towards my grandmother, we unknowingly created a space of healing and peace for her during her final years battling Alzheimer’s.

Although her memories faded, I sensed that she always recognized me on a deeper level of the heart. Within that heart, the weight of guilt and shame was stored, burdening us all. Forgiveness transmuted it into love and allowed her to die in peace.

If there’s something or someone you are holding hostage due to feelings of resentment and because it seems easier to stay in a victim mindset, I encourage you to experiment with letting go.

Maybe, just maybe, the space that emerges can bring forth a miraculous manifestation of love in a beautiful and unexpected form.

With love,

Kasia