48
O J A I M AG A Z I N E | SPRING 2025
“It’s all about our perspective of death,” she explained. “I have to be careful not to stay in my head over the deaths of my children, because it doesn’t bring joy or lead to life. We can’t fully heal grief from our heads; we need to bring it down to our hearts. In grief, we feel we have to die, too, but I believe, if I don’t live to my fullest, I’m not honoring my children.” Alison is the mother of Jericho Skye Magallon, who was killed Sept. 5, 2023, while voluntarily defending Ukraine from Russian attacks. She also lost the first of her four children, Maya Rose Magallon, 25, to overdose on Oct. 22, 2017. “I’m the face of every mother’s worst nightmare,” Alison said. “Friends have walked away, because I’m the epitome of their biggest fear. People seem to think it’s contagious. All I can say is there’s a grace I know that I hope they’ll never have to know.”
Grieving Although her children had much in common, the grief process with each of their deaths has been extremely different for Alison. “The moment I got the news about Maya, life force left my body through a primal scream, but with Jericho, I immediately knew this was his soul’s journey,” she said. “I didn’t have that knowledge when Maya died. It has nothing to do with how they died, but that I’ve changed. I’m totally different, and I need to own and honor that. I know I have more grieving to do; I’m not in denial. I’ve been asking if I’m giving myself permission to fully grieve.” After Maya transitioned, Alison spent several months in Costa Rica sitting in ceremony with plant medicine and serving others at a retreat center. She’s certain it saved her life by expanding her perception of death and allowing her to see grief as transformation.
A small card on Alison Magallon’s refrigerator proclaims “I Choose Joy,” gently reminding the bereaved mother to stay in her heart. by ERIN LABELLE
Grief Architect: ALISON MAGALLON
Remembering She describes Maya and Jericho as kind, compassionate, and generous, with humanitarian hearts, adding they were lovers of people and animals who could light up a room with their inner and outer beauty. Both were empaths, yet they responded differently to the suffering they encountered. Maya didn’t know how to remedy the pain she witnessed and experienced, so she chose drugs and alcohol to silence the discomfort within and around her. Jericho was motivated to take action in the face of what he perceived as adults acting like playground bullies, so he headed to Ukraine, determined to liberate women, children, and animals from the destructive forces.
Healing She’s aware plant medicine may not be suitable for everyone, but for her, the path made all the difference. “The plants opened doors to deep emotional insights, allowing me to confront and explore the pain of my loss in ways I’d previously avoided,” she said. “I found myself immersed in a realm of understanding where I could connect with my children’s spirits and the essence of love that transcends physical existence.” The insights gained during these sessions encouraged Alison to embrace her grief instead of pushing it away in self-protection. Right: In March 2022, Alison posed with Jericho before driving him to LAX for his first flight to Ukraine. Photo supplied