I have always felt like animals are far more connected to us than what we understand. We have differences in communication style, but not in spirit. So my heart broke when I first saw a photo of a mama Orca whale carrying her passed calf. And she continues to do so, spreading support for her human companions and raising awareness about grief.
Like us human mamas, she doesn’t want to let go of that innate need to keep her baby close; no matter what form her baby takes. To keep the connection of the physical as long as possible before surrendering to the divine. To nurture this calf in the way she is programmed.
It’s a simple message, true for anyone: Grief has no timeline.
The toy whale and our Oak bear.
Shortly after we lost Oak we traveled to a wedding and stayed at a seaside hotel that happened to have an adorable toy whale. I instantly fell in love with this whale. Something about her made me smile during a challenging time of a wedding, kids; and what it means to define “family.”
Who knew a simple toy could hold space for so much love and support?
Thank you, dear orca, for lovingly carrying our babies too.
We’re not so different, after all.
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