Last night I met my shadow. In the old Cedar Grove Cemetery, she waited patiently for me at dusk under the fragrant magnolia blooms and dangling Spanish moss. The only sounds suspended in the still, Southern air were the squish of wet grass under my sandaled feet and the gentle cooing of a distant mourning dove. “My Dearest Heart,” she said to me, “it is time to unleash your soul. Unpack your sorrows and leave them here with me. Your fears, big and small. Your guilt, shame, and grief. Your untruths, disconnects, and spiritual darknesses. Let us bury them in this peaceful place of final rest so that you may be unburdened. So that you may stand tall and free in your fearlessness, embrace your creativity and let it flow, find strength in your power, and allow love, for yourself and others. So that you may speak your truths, foster connection, and be one with divinity. So that you may witness your sacred path of pure Love and Light, and spread that beautiful bounty to others. My Dearest Heart, surrender. Hand over your woes, unshackle your soul. Embody the brilliance that shines through your sparkling brown eyes and walk freely, authentically, gracefully through this life.” As the sun went down and my shadow slowly dissipated, her words ran through my body with a distinct shiver of awareness and renewal. I turned away from the crypt where my shadow had been dancing, following the long, oyster shell path out of the cemetery. I stepped through the Weeping Arch into the dark, quiet streets of New Bern. Breathing in the late June air, I felt the peaceful song of the dove and the ultimate death of my sorrows fill my soul with liberation.