World-renowned medium James Van Praagh (Talking to Heaven, Reaching to Heaven) says he has listened intensely for thousands of hours to "the subtle whispers between our earthly world and the finer etheric world of spirit." In writing this book on grieving, Van Praagh hopes to offer comfort and reassurance of eternal life, "so that you do not have to go through the rest of your days groping blindly in sorrow and pain," he explains. Yet Van Praagh also offers doses of his own hard-earned wisdom, keeping this guidebook firmly grounded in an earth-smart kind of reality.

Healing Grief is divided into four sections: The first part addresses "The Process," how humans cope with grief, including personal ruminations on the classic four stages. In part 2 Van Praagh speaks to "When Someone You Love Dies," offering specific essays on losing parents, grandparents, siblings, lovers, best friends. In part 3 he recognizes the numerous other losses that we grieve over--divorce, midlife crisis, losing a home or a job. In the final section Van Praagh speaks to reclaiming our lives, calling upon all that he believes of the after-life as well as listing specific rituals and activities that promote healing. Fans will appreciate his characteristically smooth writing style and the numerous fascinating anecdotes from his clients. --Gail Hudson


From Library Journal
Grief. It comes in many forms and magnitudes. The loss of a loved one a parent, a spouse, a child gone forever. Or maybe it's a job gone sour, then suddenly, unexpectedly, you find yourself unemployed. Maybe it's the dissolution of a relationship years of devotion ending in divorce. Perhaps you've been diagnosed with a terminal illness like cancer you find yourself with years, maybe only months to live. Van Praagh, medium to the spirit world and author of Talking to Heaven and Reaching to Heaven, aids the listener in coping with each specific loss. Through his readings with various clients, death is demystified, grief is shown to be a natural response to death, healing comes with the realization that one day we'll be together again with our loved ones, and love is the only ageless power in the cosmos. With narration by Jonathan Marosz, this book goes to great lengths to examine healthy and destructive ways of handling grief as well as how to discuss the subject of death with children. An audio presentation that allows the listener to see the normalcy of the grieving process on the road to healing, this is recommended. Marty D. Evensvold, Arkansas City P.L., KS Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.


From AudioFile
Van Praagh, a professional medium between dead spirits and the mourning, shares his insights about recovering from a wide variety of losses. With a gentle voice, he describes the stages of grief, tells lyrical stories about losing loved ones, talks about other types of losses, and gives practical advice about living through loss by accepting your reactions in whatever form they want to appear. It's a holistic approach that allows grieving to unfold without judgment or censorship, and it allows loss to become a stimulus for growth. Though he reads a bit stiffly at times, this author's essential warmth and rich insights make this a most helpful listening experience for people struggling with loss of any kind. T.W. © AudioFile 2002, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine


Book Description
James Van Praagh's first two books, both New York Times bestsellers, have been a powerful healing force for millions of readers. Using his talents as a medium, Van Praagh has not only helped the bereaved reach their lost loved ones and find peace but he has also illuminated the mysteries of death, the afterlife, and rebirth. His new book, Healing Grief, will once again draw from his compelling and uplifting readings, but with a new and special purpose- to show what the spirit world can teach us about the grieving process itself.

While grief is clearly a natural response to death, it should also properly accompany life's other difficult passages, including times of transition, the loss of a relationship, or even the loss of a pet. Healing Grief begins with chapters that each examine a specific kind of loss - death of a parent, a spouse, or a child, the end of a marriage, or the onset of a troubling life change, such as unemployment or grave illness - and considers the particular bereavement issues it may engender. The book also offers advice on explaining death to children, on distinguishing healthy from destructive grief, and on harnessing the powers of healing through special exercises, meditation and affirmations. Healing Grief should be, in Van Praagh's words, "a manual for grieving well," offering an inspiring new perspective on grief from a world-renowned medium who has become an expert at helping people cope with unresolvable sorrow.


From the Publisher
5 1.5-hour cassettes


From the Inside Flap
James Van Praagh's first two books, both New York Times bestsellers, have been a powerful healing force for millions of readers. Using his talents as a medium, Van Praagh has not only helped the bereaved reach their lost loved ones and find peace but he has also illuminated the mysteries of death, the afterlife, and rebirth. His new book, Healing Grief, will once again draw from his compelling and uplifting readings, but with a new and special purpose- to show what the spirit world can teach us about the grieving process itself.

While grief is clearly a natural response to death, it should also properly accompany life's other difficult passages, including times of transition, the loss of a relationship, or even the loss of a pet. Healing Grief begins with chapters that each examine a specific kind of loss - death of a parent, a spouse, or a child, the end of a marriage, or the onset of a troubling life change, such as unemployment or grave illness - and considers the particular bereavement issues it may engender. The book also offers advice on explaining death to children, on distinguishing healthy from destructive grief, and on harnessing the powers of healing through special exercises, meditation and affirmations. Healing Grief should be, in Van Praagh's words, "a manual for grieving well," offering an inspiring new perspective on grief from a world-renowned medium who has become an expert at helping people cope with unresolvable sorrow.


About the Author
James Van Praagh is a world-famous medium who is renowned for conveying messages and conversations between the physical and spiritual realms. He is the author of the New York Times bestsellers Talking To Heaven and Reaching To Heaven. He lives in southern California.

FROM OUR EDITORS

In Healing Grief, medium James Van Praagh explains how grief is a natural part of life, and shares his advice for dealing with grief in a positive way. Van Praagh's inspiring outlook on death and loss will encourage readers to face misfortunes with a healthy attitude.

FROM THE PUBLISHER