When a Pet Crosses Over The Rainbow Bridge: Grieving Their Loss and Healing Your Energy

Yesterday, I said goodbye to my beloved dog, Bella. Today, I’m navigating the quiet pain of grief and the firsts that come after pet loss. The first morning without hearing her paws on the floor. The first time I came downstairs and didn’t see her waiting for me. These moments feel small, but they hold so much.

As an energy healer, I understand that the pain of losing a pet isn’t just emotional, it’s deeply energetic. Our pets aren’t just companions; they’re part of our energetic field. They comfort us, ground us, and often help us regulate our own emotions. When they transition, that energetic bond shifts, and it creates a very real sense of loss in our body, heart, and mind.

Why Pet Loss Feels So Intense (Energetically)

When a pet passes away, it’s not just their physical absence we feel, it’s the sudden quiet in our energy field where they used to reside. Their spirit, their rhythm, their intuitive connection to our nervous system, it’s all part of the bond. When that presence is gone, it leaves behind a space that’s hard to define, but deeply felt. You feel the emptiness inside of you along with a deep desperation to fill it.

This is why it is common to want to move on quickly. To distract ourselves from the ache. But from an energetic and somatic perspective, that can create stuck or stagnant energy in the body that ultimately does not serve us and will make it worse over time.

Grief asks to be felt, not fixed or hidden.

💔 Not All Grief Lands the Same

Like any form of loss, the way we experience a pet’s passing can vary deeply. Some transitions are expected, there’s time to prepare, to say goodbye, to slowly begin the energetic unraveling. While “easier” may not be the perfect word, these kinds of losses can feel more spacious to navigate.

But when a pet dies suddenly, it creates an energetic shock to the system. One moment, they’re fully with us; the next, their presence is gone. This abrupt severing can feel like spiritual whiplash, a jolt to the heart, the nervous system, and the soul. The shock adds another layer to the grief, often leaving us feeling disoriented or even dissociated.

If you're moving through sudden pet loss, be especially gentle with yourself. Your energy field may need extra time and support to integrate what just happened.

🕊️ Energetic + Practical Tools for Moving Through Pet Loss

Here are a few ways to begin supporting yourself gently through the grieving process (#3 is worth the read):

1. Allow the Hurt to Flow
Let the tears come. Let the memories surface. Let the ache breathe. Emotion is energy in motion and when we suppress grief, it gets lodged in the body. Crying, shaking, even lying on the floor, all of these are ways the nervous system releases emotional pressure. There is no “right” way to grieve, only honest ones.

2. Move Gently, But Move
Grief has inertia. It can root us in place both emotionally and physically. If you find yourself stuck in a freeze response, try inviting in gentle movement: a slow walk, light stretching, or even dancing to music that mirrors your mood. Movement allows grief to circulate through the body, rather than become lodged or stagnant.

And here’s something beautiful to hold onto: our animals often continue to walk with us in spirit. You may not feel their paws on the ground, but you might sense their presence beside you. See if you can allow that awareness be a quiet comfort. You are not walking alone.

3. Support the Soul in the Brain
One healing modality I personally turn to is Medical Medium’s Trauma, Loss & Shock Stabilizer, found in his Brain Saver book. It’s part of his “Brain Shot Therapy,” and it’s designed to help stabilize the emotional and neurological impacts of trauma, including deep grief. I find this especially helpful because the soul lives in the brain, and when we protect it from emotional injury, we give ourselves a chance to grieve without further fragmentation.

4. Create Space for Sacred Reflection
Light a candle, place a photo or item that reminds you of your pet, and sit with them in memory. Speak to them. Thank them. Invite their spirit to be part of your space in a new, non-physical way. You might be surprised what you feel in return.

5. Don’t Rush the “After”
There’s no need to fill the space they left. Allow it be empty for a while. That space is sacred. It’s a reflection of how deeply you loved and how deeply you were loved. When we rush to refill, it's often because we’re trying to avoid the pain of grief. And while that’s a completely human instinct, it can create blocks in your energy field. Instead, give yourself permission to grieve fully. The more you allow the emotion to move through you, the more gently your energy can begin to restore itself.

🌿 Gentle Grounding Practice for Sudden Loss

If your pet’s passing was sudden and you feel shocked, numb, or disconnected, try this simple grounding practice to begin anchoring your energy:

1. Find Stillness.
   Sit or lie down somewhere quiet where you feel physically supported.

2. Place Your Hands.
   Rest one hand on your heart and the other on your belly. These are two powerful energy centers for emotional processing and grounding.

3. Breathe Low and Slow.
   Inhale gently through your nose for a count of four.
   Exhale softly through your mouth for a count of six.
   Repeat this for 2–3 minutes, or as long as you need. This slows your nervous system and helps your soul settle back into your body.

4. Feel Into Your Edges.
   Say silently or aloud:

   “I am here. I am safe to feel. My energy belongs to me.”

   5. Call in Their Spirit (if it feels comforting).
   Imagine your pet’s energy nearby, gently watching over you with love and affection. You can say:

   “If you're near, you're welcome to stay for a while. I carry you with me, but I also honor your journey and trust that you are at peace.”

While it's natural to want to hold onto their spirit, as an energy healer, I recognize that clinging too tightly can make the grieving process harder. It's important to allow their energy to flow and evolve. In time, as you process your grief, the connection will shift, allowing both you and your pet’s spirit the space to heal and release. This practice is about gently honoring their presence and trusting the natural flow of the grieving process.

This gives your nervous system a safe space to land, so you can process your emotions in waves and not overwhelm.

💛 Final Reflections

Grief is a spiritual process. It opens portals into the parts of us that love beyond logic. Losing a pet is losing a soulmate in fur, feathers, paws or scales. If you’re moving through this right now, I’m with you. If you've walked through it before, you know how it shapes the soul. And if you're holding space for someone else who’s grieving, remember, your love and presence is more healing than any words.

Here’s my girl! Please share below about your beloved pets if you feel called to.