Forbidden tears: From ancient Finnish lamenting to contemporary transpersonal grief work

Abstract

The post-Freudian stoic, tearless responses to death and grieving seem to dominate some Western responses to loss. The ancient Finno-Karelian lamenting traditions not only recognize weeping, but, more importantly, melodic weeping with words, as a necessary part of the rites of passage, such as funerals, weddings, conscripts or other occasions. The lament tradition offers a transpersonal alternative to express grieving, recognizing not only the spiritual needs of the mourner, but also the deceased. The ancient tradition is modified for contemporary transpersonal grief work to be aided by the Grief Work Prism of Consciousness checklist.