From Grief to Goddess and Reclaiming Power Through Loss
- Brainz Magazine
- Jun 20
- 6 min read
Bernadette Hall is a therapist, coach, and social worker with 15+ years’ experience in grief, loss, intimacy, and mindset. Founder of Grief Warriors and host of Bernadette Hall Talks, she guides women through sacred 1:1 mentorships to transform pain into power through ritual, embodiment, and soul-led healing.
At just 17 years old, I held my baby boy in my arms as leukaemia stole him from this world. He was only 11 weeks old. At an age when most are navigating first loves or exams, I was navigating hospital trips and ultimately a goodbye that no mother should ever have to say. I was still a child myself. And yet, in the depths of that soul-shattering grief, the seeds of a transformation were planted.
Today, I share not only a part of my story but also the alchemy that transformed my pain into purpose. I’ve since written about my experience in a bestselling book, where my chapter continues to touch the hearts of thousands: My Chapter in 1 Bestselling Book. I also have a YouTube channel where I have shared topics on Grief, loss, intimacy, and mindset. See here.
Grief changed me. It stripped me bare. But it also summoned a version of me I didn’t know existed: a goddess forged in fire, scarred and sacred. This article is both an offering and an invocation for every woman grieving a death, an identity, a dream, or a life she no longer recognises.
The footsteps of the goddess
The journey through grief mirrors ancient myths of descent and return. Across cultures and timelines, the goddess archetype teaches us that pain is not a detour from the sacred; it is often the initiation into it.
Take Inanna, the Sumerian goddess of love and war. Her myth describes a powerful descent into the underworld where she is stripped of her garments, each symbolising power, until she stands naked before her sister, the goddess of death. Inanna dies. Yet, she rises again, changed and reborn. Her return is not triumphant in a conventional sense; it is the return of a woman who has seen the shadow and integrated it into her sovereignty.
The same motif is present in the myth of Persephone, who was abducted by Hades and dragged into the underworld. Yet, over time, Persephone evolves from victim to queen. She becomes the ruler of both shadow and spring. Grief forces us into a dual world, where sorrow and renewal coexist. Like Persephone, we learn to navigate both.
These goddesses did not bypass pain; they embodied it. And in doing so, they gained the kind of wisdom that can never be taught, only lived. This is the wisdom I now see blooming within every grieving woman I work with: not weakness, but sacred sovereignty in process.
The archetypes of grief: Who you become as you grieve
Grief is a crucible, and the woman who steps into it will not be the same as the one who emerges. In my journey, I discovered that grief awakens different archetypal energies at various stages. These archetypes are not static roles; they are living aspects of your psyche, each rising to support your healing.
The first I met was the Shadow. She showed up in the raw, unfiltered emotions, the rage, the guilt, the numbness. The Shadow doesn’t ask for permission. She erupts. And though she’s misunderstood, she is vital. She reveals what is broken so it can be rebuilt.
Soon after, I began to awaken the Mystic within me. This archetype brought a deep longing to understand the soul’s journey, to search for meaning in the chaos. I started asking the questions that religion, science, and tradition couldn’t fully answer. The Mystic doesn’t need certainty; she finds strength in mystery.
Then came the Warrior. Her energy was fierce, protective, and determined. She showed up when I had to set boundaries, find my voice, and protect the small flame of my healing. She taught me that grief isn’t passive. It demands courage.
I then encountered the Mother archetype, expanded far beyond the biological sense. Although I had lost my child, the Mother within me kept creating. She nurtured my pain, my healing, and eventually, other women in their grief. The Mother reminds us that even when we’ve lost, we can still give life.
And finally, I rose as the Phoenix. This archetype doesn’t come with fanfare. She comes quietly, often after the fire has burned everything down. The Phoenix doesn’t deny the ashes; she uses them as fuel. Her wings are made of every broken thing she survived.
Each of these archetypes was a guide, and together they carried me from loss to liberation. When we honour the archetypes within us, we don’t just survive grief, we become sacred through it.
Five empowering tips for grieving women
1. Acknowledge all your losses
Grief isn’t limited to death. The loss of a job, relationship, identity, or dream can feel just as devastating. According to Psychology Today, ambiguous and non-death losses often go unrecognised, which delays healing. Honour every loss you carry.
2. Let grief have a voice
Suppressing emotion increases psychological distress. It is like drinking poison and can impact not only your physical health but also your mental health. In my own experience and evidence of what my clients have shared, expressive writing or speaking helps reduce trauma symptoms. Whether it's journaling or screaming into a pillow, let it move through you.
3. Connect with ritual and ceremony
Rituals provide structure to chaos and can help people regain a sense of control and meaning after loss. Create your goddess ritual—light candles, speak their name, adorn yourself with intention.
4. Reclaim your body as sacred
Grief lives in the body. Somatic practices like yoga, breathwork, or simply placing your hand on your heart can restore connection. Trauma expert Dr. Bessel van der Kolk emphasizes that "the body keeps the score."
5. Seek sisterhood, not solitude
Isolation intensifies grief. We are social creatures, and having a compassionate community is one of the strongest predictors of post-traumatic growth. Find spaces where you are witnessed, not fixed.
An invitation to reclaim your sacred power
To every woman reading this: your grief is not too much. Your sorrow is not shameful. Your tears are not weakness. They are the language of your soul as it reclaims itself.
This is why I created the “Grief to Goddess” Webinar a sacred space for women like you to rise from the ashes of loss and step into embodied power. Whether you're grieving a death, a dream, a divorce, or the woman you used to be, you are welcome here.
Join me live on Friday, June 27th, at 12 pm UK time for this free transformational webinar. Register here
You’ll experience:
A guided embodiment practice to connect with your inner goddess
Rituals to honour your grief with reverence, not resistance
Insight into the sacred archetypes guiding your transformation
And the healing power of being witnessed, understood, and uplifted by a circle of women
More information about my private transformational containers.
Together in truth: The roots of a rising world
This work doesn’t happen in isolation. I am honoured to be a co-host of the Roots of Truth World Summit, a global gathering of thought leaders, healers, and truth-speakers exploring how we return to our authentic essence. This event will be held online on the 6th and 7th September 2025.
My soul sister in this endeavour is the luminous Eleanora Heart, a fellow Senior Brainz Magazine contributor and divine visionary. Eleanora’s body of work, “The Code of I Am,” is currently being turned into a feature film. Her message is bold, embodied, and transformational.
I often say that Eleanora didn’t just introduce me to Brainz Magazine she introduced me to a deeper version of myself. Her presence is an anchor in a world that tries to rush us through our healing. You can discover her work here.
The final word: Grief is not the end
Grief doesn’t end. It evolves. It becomes part of the rhythm you move to, the way your voice softens or strengthens, the prayers you whisper before sleep. And through it, something wild and divine awakens.
Let your grief initiate you. Let your pain become your poetry. Let yourself rise not polished, but powerful. You are not alone, and you are not broken. You are becoming.
Read more from Bernadette Hall
Bernadette Hall, Grief, Loss and Intimacy Specialist
Bernadette Hall is a qualified coach, therapist, and social worker with over 15 years of experience in grief, loss, intimacy, mindset, parenting, and mental health. She is the founder of Grief Warriors and creator of Grieve with the Goddess, a six-month 1:1 mentorship guiding women through sacred, embodied grief work. Holding a Master’s in Social Work and advanced training in therapeutic coaching and integrative psychotherapy, Bernadette blends psychology, ritual, and somatic healing to support deep transformation. She also hosts the Bernadette Hall Talks podcast, where she shares soulful reflections on emotional resilience, feminine healing, and the power of grief alchemy.
