Petals & Planets September 11, 2026
“Grief can be the garden of compassion. If you keep your heart open through everything, your pain can become your greatest ally in your life's search for love and wisdom.” Rumi
A Practice for Courage, Compassion & Service
There are moments when the world asks us to pause.
To remember.
To feel what is difficult to put into words.
And to consider, quietly, what we want to carry forward.
This is one of those moments.
Some days call for celebration. Others call for stillness. And some ask us simply to make room for both sorrow and love—to acknowledge what has been lost while remaining open to what is still here.
We cannot always choose what happens to us.
We can choose what we carry forward.
We can choose how we love.
We can choose how we serve.
This practice is an invitation to place one hand over the heart and ask:
What do I do with the love I carry?
Purna Hridaya Mudra
Gesture of the Full Heart
The Full Heart Gesture (Purna Hridya Mudra) is a heart-centered hand gesture traditionally associated with love, warmth, gratitude, and emotional well-being. This simple practice offers a gentle way to turn our attention inward and connect with feelings of compassion and affection.
How to Practice
Get comfortable. Sit quietly in a comfortable position, on the floor or in a chair. Keep your spine comfortably upright and relax your shoulders, jaw, and neck.
Begin with a few slow breaths. Allow your breath to become soft and steady.
Create the heart shape. Bring your hands together in front of your chest, palms facing each other. INTERLACE YOUR FINGERS and gently extend your thumbs downward until the tips touch, creating a heart shape.
Rest at the heart center. Hold the gesture lightly in front of your chest with your elbows relaxed and away from your body.
Breathe and connect. Close your eyes or soften your gaze. Take 6–8 slow, comfortable breaths, focusing on feelings of love, compassion, gratitude, and connection. With each inhale, imagine your heart gently opening; with each exhale, allow yourself to soften.
Release slowly. Let your hands relax and return them to your lap. Take a final breath and notice how you feel.
Remember: There is no need to force the position or the breath. Keep the hands soft and choose whatever feels comfortable for your body. If closing your eyes feels uncomfortable, simply keep them open with a soft gaze.
Supportive Qualities
Self-Love & Compassion — encourages a kinder, more accepting relationship with yourself.
Emotional Balance — supports a sense of steadiness and emotional ease.
Calm & Relaxation — invites slower breathing and a peaceful, grounded state.
Gratitude & Appreciation — creates space to notice and honor what is meaningful.
Connection & Affection — can be practiced to cultivate feelings of warmth, love, and connection with yourself and others.
Heart-Centered Awareness — gently brings attention to the heart area and to the qualities of love, compassion, and openness.
A Gentle Note
Purna Hridaya Mudra is a heart-centered gesture that invites us to connect with the fullness of the heart—holding love, grief, gratitude, tenderness, and courage together.
The word Purna can be understood as fullness or wholeness, while Hridaya refers to the heart.
Rather than asking us to choose one feeling over another, this practice offers a simple reminder:
The heart can hold more than one thing at once.
We can remember and still live.
We can grieve and still love.
We can feel sorrow and still offer kindness.
We can carry what has mattered to us while continuing to move forward.
🔊 Mantra | For Beginning Practitioners
Om Shanti Shanti Shanti
Pronunciation:
Ohm SHAHN-tee SHAHN-tee SHAHN-tee
Shanti is commonly translated as peace.
You may repeat the mantra softly aloud or silently.
Take a slow breath in.
As you exhale, repeat:
Om Shanti Shanti Shanti.
Allow the repetition to become slower and quieter.
Let the word peace settle into the body rather than becoming something you need to accomplish.
Repeat for several minutes, or simply three times, or whatever works for you.
🔊 Mantra | For Experienced Practitioners
Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu
Pronunciation:
LO-kah sa-MAS-tah soo-khee-no bhah-van-too
A common translation is:
“May all beings everywhere be happy and free.”
Begin with the breath.
Then repeat the mantra slowly, allowing its meaning to expand beyond yourself.
You may imagine the wish beginning within your own heart and gradually extending outward—to the people you love, to your community, to people you will never meet, and ultimately to all beings.
This is not a demand that the world be free from suffering.
It is a practice of choosing compassion in the presence of it.
Rhythm & Practice
Find a quiet place where you can sit undisturbed for several minutes.
Light a candle if you wish.
Bring your hands into Purna Hridaya Mudra.
Take several slow, natural breaths.
As you breathe, allow yourself to notice the fullness of your heart.
Then ask yourself:
What do I remember with love?
What has shaped the person I am today?
What do I want to carry forward?
Where can I offer kindness or service in a way that is genuine and sustainable?
What small act of love is available to me today?
There is no need to answer every question.
Allow one question to remain with you.
When you are ready, begin your chosen mantra.
For beginner’s practice:
Om Shanti Shanti Shanti
For advanced practitioners:
Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu
When you finish, place your hand over your heart and say:
“May I meet myself today with the same love I so freely offer others.”
Then rest in the quiet for a moment before returning to your day.
🌿 Essential Oils for Support
The essential oils chosen for this practice invite love, reverence, and grounded courage. Together, their aromas create a sensory pathway for softening the heart, honoring what matters, and finding steadiness as we carry our love forward.
Rose | Love & Compassion
Rose carries a long history of association with love, tenderness, beauty, and the heart.
Its rich floral aroma can create a feeling of softness and emotional spaciousness—an especially fitting companion when we are reflecting on the people and experiences that have shaped our lives.
Use Rose when your practice calls for tenderness. Learn More
Frankincense | Reverence & Remembrance
Frankincense has been used across cultures and centuries in ritual, prayer, meditation, and ceremonial spaces.
Its resinous, grounding aroma invites a slower pace and a sense of reverence.
It can be a beautiful companion for moments of remembrance—particularly when we want to honor something without needing to put it into words. Learn More
Cedarwood | Strength & Groundedness
Warm, woody, and steady, Cedarwood offers an earthy counterpoint to the softness of Rose and the sacred quality of Frankincense.
Its aroma can serve as a sensory reminder to stay rooted—to remain present with what is here and to meet difficult moments with steadiness. Learn More
How To Use: Essential oils are highly concentrated. Always dilute appropriately for topical use and follow the safety guidance for the specific oil you are using. For aromatic use, choose a well-ventilated space and discontinue use if irritation or discomfort occurs. If you are pregnant, nursing, have a medical condition, or take medications, consult an appropriately qualified healthcare professional regarding essential-oil use. Please always double check to assure safe use of essential oils around pets and small children.
🌸 Bach Flower Remedies
The Bach Flower Remedies selected for this practice reflect themes of comfort, courage, and compassionate responsibility. Together, they offer a gentle framework for acknowledging what has touched us, finding courage in difficult moments, and remembering that we can serve others without losing ourselves in the process.
Star of Bethlehem | Comfort After Shock or Sorrow
Star of Bethlehem is traditionally associated with the emotional aftermath of shock, grief, or experiences that have left a deep impression.
It may serve as a symbolic companion when something within us needs acknowledgment, comfort, and tenderness. Learn More
Rock Rose | Courage in the Face of Fear
Rock Rose is traditionally associated with moments of intense fear, alarm, or terror.
Its traditional emotional theme offers an opportunity to reflect on courage—not the absence of fear, but the ability to remain present and compassionate when fear arises. Learn More
Elm | Meeting Responsibility Without Losing Yourself
Elm is traditionally associated with moments when responsibility feels larger than our capacity to carry it. Learn More
How to use: Take as directed in water or under the tongue throughout the day.
Note: This document is intended for informational and educational purposes. Flower remedies & essential oils should be used as complementary wellness practices — not as replacements for professional medical or mental health care. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before beginning any new health regimen, particularly if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medications, or managing a chronic health condition.
Carrying the Light Forward
Remembrance does not always have to look like looking backward.
Sometimes remembrance becomes the way we live forward.
We remember through kindness.
Through courage.
Through service.
Through the willingness to care for another person when we could have simply walked past.
Through the choice to remain human with one another.
There are things we cannot change.
There are people we cannot bring back.
There are questions that may never have complete answers.
And still, love remains.
Perhaps that is one of the most meaningful things we can do with the love we carry:
Let it become something we give.
A listening ear.
A helping hand.
A moment of patience.
A little more tenderness.
A willingness to serve.
A decision to choose compassion when it would be easier to turn away.
We cannot always choose what happens to us.
But we can choose what we carry forward.
And sometimes the smallest act of love becomes a light for someone else. And so it is.
With Love & Care,
Carlie Love, LMBT, CIMI
Petals & Planets | Seasonal Wisdom for Body & Soul
