Fourth Gate of Grief: What we Expected and did not receive

Dear one, let’s journey together through a tender landscape of the heart. This is an invitation to explore the Fourth Gate of Grief, a realm where we acknowledge the unmet longings of our lives.

Think back to your childhood. Remember the hopes and dreams you held, the love and nurturing you craved. Now, gently notice the spaces where life fell short of those expectations. This gate opens to the grief of what should have been but wasn’t – the loving parent, the safe home, the supportive community, or the opportunities that never came.

This isn’t about blame. It’s about honoring the child within who still yearns for what was missing. That child is still a part of you, carrying those unfulfilled needs. By acknowledging this grief, we begin to tend to those long-neglected parts of ourselves.

You might feel a heaviness in your chest or a lump in your throat as you read this. That’s okay. These feelings are signposts, guiding us to the places that need our loving attention.

As we step through this gate, we learn to cradle our younger selves with compassion. We whisper to that inner child, “I see you. I hear you. Your longings were valid.” This act of self-love begins to fill the empty spaces left by unmet needs.

Remember, this journey isn’t about dwelling in the past. It’s about freeing ourselves from old pain so we can live more fully in the present. By grieving what we didn’t receive, we open ourselves to receiving the goodness life offers now.

You’re not alone in this. Countless others walk this path, each with their own unmet expectations. In recognizing this shared human experience, we find connection and healing.

So, dear one, are you ready to open this gate? To hold space for the grief of what should have been? Your inner child is waiting, longing to be heard and held. This is your invitation to listen, to grieve, and to begin healing those ancient wounds.

Take a deep breath. Feel your feet on the ground. You are safe, you are held, and you are ready to explore this tender territory of the heart.