116: Losing a Twin with Tasha Cram

Welcome to Rock Your Shine: After you’ve been cracked wide open. On this show, I sit down with people from all over the world to hear their transformational stories on their deep grief and loss journeys. 

In this emotionally charged episode, Tasha opens up about her unique bond with her twin sister, Tanya, who passed away, and how her spiritual awareness helped her navigate the depths of grief and discover a new connection with her twin from the other side.

At the heart of this story is a profound loss, as Tasha shares the heart-wrenching experience of losing her twin sister, Tanya, and the impact it had on her life. Discover how a parent's spiritual awareness can shape a child's perspective on life and death and how it influenced Tasha's journey. Exploring the mysterious and deep connection between twins in the womb, a bond that goes far beyond the physical. Learn how grief rippled through her family and how each member coped with the loss in their own unique ways.

Tasha shares her personal experiences and insights as she navigated the intricate and often challenging stages of the grief cycle. A profound shift occurs as she begins to connect with her twin sister from the other side, a moment that changes her perspective on life and death. Hear about a pivotal moment in her life when she meets Lisa, someone who understands the depth of her connection with her twin and how it opened up new possibilities.

Explore the unique concept of the twin life cycle and how it impacts Tasha's understanding of her own existence. Delve into the intense thoughts and emotions that followed her sister's passing and the process of finding healing and acceptance. Unpack the pressure and guilt of living for both herself and her twin and the impact it had on her well-being.

Tasha Cram, known in the twin community as Twinful Twin Tasha, began her twin loss journey just before she turned 4 years old. She spent 36 years of her life ignoring the need to address her complicated grief until she faced a major medical event.

The experience finally forced her to confront the unhealed trauma she had suffered from losing her twin (identity). Tasha has since spent well over a decade educating herself about complicated grief, twin dynamics, twin loss, and deepening her spiritual practices. In doing so, she gained insights into tools to aid her in Turning Twin Loss into Living Twinfully. Tasha’s book has both aspects of her personal journey through complicated grief, as well as the complete content of her workshop. The G3 Cycle ~ Grief, Growth, Gratitude, which she lovingly shares for the first time with her readers.

Turning Twin Loss into Living Twinfully is a culmination of all her research and is filled with proven tools to aid in the grief aspect of our human experience from the perspective of a twin loss twin. Tasha realizes that this is a first of its kind and hopes that it brings encouragement to the twin loss community that has been lacking. You can learn more about her other twin loss support efforts: The Butterfly Ranch (a retreat dedicated to twin loss twins), Journey of 1000 Healing Hugs, and the Twinful Tie Blanket Project, by visiting www.twinful.com.

**TRIGGER WARNING** This episode covers sensitive subject matter and is not suitable for all listeners. If this topic could be a trigger for you, listen to this episode with a friend, a sibling, a loved one or a parent so you can talk about any emotions that come up for you. The contents of this episode are not intended to replace therapy and should not be taken as such. If you need immediate help, please call the crisis hotline listed below in our resources.

Listen in as we talk about:

• [3:10] How she lost her twin, Tanya

• [5:00] The blessing of having a parent who had spiritual awareness

• [6:20] How twins bond and connect in the womb

• [15:30] The awareness of grief within her family

• [19:40] Going through the grief cycle

• [23:55] Developing a connection to her twin from the other side

• [30:20] Meeting Lisa and experiencing their connection for the first time

• [35:10] The twin life cycle

• [44:00] The deep challenging thoughts she experienced after her twin's death

• [46:50] The detrimental narrative twins have of 'living for the both of us'

• [48:45] Grappling with the guilt that radiation caused her sister's cancer

• [54:00] Feeling into the power of your soul

• [56:45] What does self love look like for you now?

• [57:00] Hope is…

• [58:15] Waking up to the truth of who we are

 

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Book: https://www.amazon.com/Rock-Mining-River-Sibling-Grief/dp/1732888892/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=Rock+On%3A+Mining+for+joy&qid=1570199126&sr=8-1 

• Tasha’s book: Turning Twin Loss into Living Twinfully: https://www.amazon.com/Turning-Twin-Loss-Living-Twinfully-ebook/dp/B0CG4XJ4WF/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=Turning+Twin+Loss+into+Living+Twinfully&qid=1692903533&s=books&sr=1-1    

Grief Hotline: 

• https://www.griefresourcenetwork

Connect with Tasha

• www.instagram.com/twinfultwintasha 

• www.facebook.com/twinfultwintasha 

• www.youtube.com/twinfultwintasha 

• www.twinful.com 
  
  

Connect with Susan

• http://instagram.com/susan.casey/ 

• https://www.facebook.com/Susan-E-Casey-101187148084982 

• https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDcl58l8qUwO3dDYk83wOFA 

• https://rockyourshine.com/

• https://www.tiktok.com/@leapwithsusan?