Mon, 14 Jun 2004

Life after loss and finding hope

The best-selling author and expert on near death experiences, Dr.  Raymond Moody, will give a talk in London this Wednesday, sponsored by The Invisible Community and the Anthroposophical Society in Great Britain, about his latest research in the field of conquering grief resulting from bereavement and finding hope through the grieving process. His work is based on 25 years of working with the bereaved. On occasion of the event, Robert Lord from The Invisible Community returns to Dr.  Moody’s book, “Life after Loss”, on which the theme of his lecture is based.

LONDON (NNA) – Originally Published three years ago (in hardback in 2001, paperback 2002), this is the latest book by the author of “Life After Life”, but, unlike the latter, this work is co-written with Dianne Arcangel and, judging by the acknowledgements, she has carried much of the project. However the style is not so dissimilar from “Life After Life” and there is plenty of Moody – in fact, one of the main features of this publication is the benefit obtained by having two authors.

Each chapter contains an introduction that is co-written, but then the two authors offer their own individual experiences and points of view. This enables the authors to elucidate their subject without drawing hard and fast conclusions. This feature is further enhanced by the inclusion of a generous helping of illustrative stories by others, which makes the book enjoyable and stimulating, despite what might otherwise be a rather turgid subject matter.

“Life After Loss” also benefits from a carefully considered structure. The opening chapters take a fresh look at the nature of grief, each taking a different aspect, such as emotion or stress. Here there is a sensitive and useful chapter entitled “Giving and receiving sympathy” which is full of examples of what not to do! Even if it is a bit short on positive suggestions, the reader is left in no doubt that reactions to loss vary greatly according to the individual.

The heart of the book is a rich study of the differing ways individuals use to cope with grief – brought to life by the many stories and examples. Here the authors also consider whether grief has a consistent and intrinsic structural development, as suggested by Elisabeth Kübler-Ross and William Worden, and then look at some structural patterns based on their own experiences.

In spite of the distressing nature of the subject, the book succeeds in a positive and uplifting ending with two valuable chapters. The first deals with “The blessings received from loss”. Essentially this describes the many positive consequences that can result from the suffering that grief incurs. “Grief is growth” might be an alternative title for this chapter in which the authors list no less than nineteen possible “blessings” that can result from grief.

The last chapter deals with “death coincidences” – a term that Moody has adopted for an unusual type of spiritual event, closely related to the near-death experience. Basically this involves another individual experiencing or, perhaps more accurately expressed, partially accompanying a friend or relative passing through the death. The authors give a number of examples, and even suggest that such experiences can take place in groups. Readers wishing to find out more about this phenomenon will have the opportunity to question Dr Moody when he speaks at the event.

There is no doubt that this book will be invaluable for anyone wishing to come to terms with their own grief or understand the suffering of others. And for those wanting to further their understanding, at the back of the book there are no less than forty-five pages of resources and references – books, websites and organisations.

END/cva

Raymond Moody and Dianne Arcangel, “Life after Loss“, HarperSanFrancisco, ISBN 0062517309.

www.theinvisiblecommunity.com

www.anth.org.uk/RSH

Talk: Wednesday 16 June, 7.30 p.m., Rudolf Steiner House, 35 Park Road, London NW1. Tel.: 020 7723 4400. Entry: £6 / £8 concessions

Item: 040614-01EN Date: 14 June 2004

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