Healing Grief : Reclaiming Life After Any Loss [Hardcover]

James Van Praagh (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 2000

"Grieving is a natural process. It is through our losses that we can transform ourselves and find new meaning to life."-James Van Praagh, New York Times bestselling author of Talking to Heaven and Reaching to Heaven

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.

Praise for James Van Praagh:

"[James Van Praagh] has changedpeople's lives, banished the fear of death, and brought grieving parents the solace of their dead children's presence. It is impossible not to be moved."-Newsweek

"If you have ever feared death or grieved the loss of a loved one, James Van Praagh's spiritual stories and lessons will heal your heart. He is without a doubt one of the most gifted mediums on the planet at this time." -Brian L. Weiss, M.D., author of Many Lives, Many Masters

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

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 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. --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 286 pages
• Publisher: Dutton Adult (April 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0525945407
• ISBN-13: 978-0525945406
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.6 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (38 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,859,060 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

James Van Praagh is the New York Times bestselling author of Unfinished Business, Ghosts Among Us, Talking to Heaven, Reaching to Heaven, Meditations, and Healing Grief, among others. He is considered a pioneer in the mediumship movement throughout the world and has been the voice of the Spirit World for over twenty-five years. He has read people from all walks of life and from all over the world. Some of his more known clients include various political heads of state, throughout the world, religious leaders and celebrities such as Cher, Shirley Maclaine, Goldie Hawn, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Loretta Lynn and many many more. He has brought through many well known personalities such as Rock Hudson, Marilyn Monroe, Frank Sinatra, Slim Pickins, Andrew Carnagie, Roy Orbison, Lucille Ball, Liberace, Johnny Carson, Princess Diana, Edgar Cayce, Ghandi, Abraham Lincoln and Benjamin Franklin among others. His messages have brought solace, peace, and spiritual insights to millions, changing their view of both life and death. James has also been a celebrated producer for CBS television network, creating several successful projects including: Living with the Dead, a mini-series based on his life, and a television movie, The Dead Will Tell. While in production, an unknown actress named Eva Longoria asked James if the pilot she just finished would be picked up for ABC. He looked at her and told her it would change her life forever. Desperate Housewives has done just that! Interestingly, it was when shooting one of CBS's most successful shows, Ghost Whisperer, which he developed and produced, which brought him and Eva back together again. His CBS show Ghost Whisperer, used to shoot in the studio next door to Desperate Housewives. While shooting Ghost Whisperer, he did readings for many of the network executives as well as the other show producers and completely shocked even the most hardened cynic among them. He has appeared on numerous television and radio shows including, Oprah, Larry King Live, 48 Hours, Unsolved Mysteries, Biography, The View, Coast to Coast, The Howard Stern Show and many more. His books have enjoyed international appeal, having been published in over 50 countries and translated in over 60 languages. He has a state of the art website, which was the very first website in history to discuss grief and loss on the internet over fifteen years ago and it still is active with users from around the world. Anyone and everyone are welcome to share their insights of life, death and the beyond. www.vanpraagh.com

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

37 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars BEAUTIFULLY CRAFTED!, September 12, 2000

By 

Dorothy Weiss (ORLANDO, FLORIDA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Healing Grief : Reclaiming Life After Any Loss (Hardcover)

I wish this book had been in print years ago, the first time I had to cope with the loss of a loved one, and was floundering in pain. "Healing Grief" is overflowing with helpful information from simple exercises to help you heal to a special section of the more frequently asked questions. The author says his desire is for the reader to " get back to living your life with an added awareness of loss and grieving". You may find situations very similar to your own challenges. His list of ways to help yourself on pages 263-264, are beautifully crafted to comfort, ease the pain, and move you through moments daily. For example: "carry on your loved one's memory by finishing an activity that he or she started but wasn't able to complete:"and make a list of things that make you laugh. Know that the person who passed would want you to be happy;" and say something nice to a stranger today;" and remember that everyone grieves differently, and some not at all. Each of us is a unique, individualistic creature of God; "and forgive yourself for being upset or angry. The most important thing is to feel. It is okay if someone else doesn't understand your hurt;" and get a little more sleep and look forward to your dreams." James Van Praagh shares his own anguish and recovery from his mother's death, as well as stories of others, and how they handled the healing process. Yes, he attributes the wisdom contained in the book to his "guides, and those on the other side of heaven". This book far surpasses his previous "Talking to Heaven" and "Reaching to Heaven". I gave copies of this book to my five step-daughters who are experiencing the recent loss of their beloved mother. It says what I would like to say; but James Van Praagh says it better. Highly recommended! Wonderful spiritual stories and lessons to help heal the heart. Beneficial to those who need to remember that they are not alone.

37 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful, healing book, June 11, 2000

By 

Judith E. Pavluvcik (Dreaming of the beach in Hawaii, but living in the reality of the desert in Arizona!!) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Healing Grief : Reclaiming Life After Any Loss (Hardcover)

I have read all of Van Praagh's books and have found them all to be extremely timely and beneficial. This book is no exception. Many topics are covered here - and not just grief from the death of a loved one. Van Praagh covers divorce, loss of pets, passages, and grief resulting from destruction.

He gently and lovingly guides one through the grief and reminds us once again, that we need to grieve, in our own way and in our own time - eveyone is different. Our society tends to hasten the grief process and does not seem to honor what each and every one of us needs to heal. "We need to accept the loss in order begin the healing process. All grief needs to be felt and realized."

"Let your grief become an opportunity for your soul to grow." Van Praagh illustrates that each soul is on a unique path, a unique jouney. When that soul's mission is accomplished, that soul goes "home" to God - yet the soul continues to live on - it is just the physical body which dies.

This book will bring immense comfort in the loss of loved one through death, through divorce or even through a relationship ending. We deal with the grief, grow and move on. To NOT deal with the grief, is to stagnate.

There are many wonderful illustrations from different readings which Van Praagh has done with family members which have lost a loved one. The love that comes through is just amazing. Love never dies - it is eternal.

I found this book extremely beneficial, healing and transforming. I found that there is grief still left in me from losing loved ones that I now need to express. "In order to continue life in any meaningful way, you must allow yourself to grieve."

The shock that one goes through when dealing with a loss is not often understood by others, yet one gets condemned for acting stupid or for doing stupid things by others. My compassion level as well as my patience has enabled me to more understanding of my past actions and behaviors by reading this section on the shock effect of grief. My eyes are now opened to a new level of compassion and understanding for myself as well as for others. Thank you.

I cannot recommend this book highly enough! The comfort that it has brought me is 10 stars! "Tears clean the windows of the soul. Grieving is a great opportunity to grow, to understand and to explore ourselves."

51 of 54 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An important book by a great author!, May 10, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Healing Grief : Reclaiming Life After Any Loss (Hardcover)

Reading a book by James Van Praagh is like sitting down with your best friend for coffee. He is down to earth yet knowledgeable in addition to being kind and sympathetic. "Healing Grief" is an important book not only for those suffering a recent loss but also for those of us who have not properly grieved a loss from the past. As I read the book, I was immediately taken back to my grief over the loss of a very important relationship in my life. I still grieve this loss after five years because I have not properly dealt with the attending emotions. Going through James' checklists and steps for dealing with grief helped a great deal. I'm better prepared now to deal with loss in the future. I will read this book over and over again and purchase more copies for friends and loved ones when they experience a loss.