Book Review by Susan Lendvay

The Lightworker's Guide to Healing Grief by Tina Erwin

Book Review reprinted from Venture Inward Magazine
July-August 2009 Issue
The reviewer: Susan Lendvay, Editor-in-Chief of Venture Inward Magazine.

A lightworker, according to this book, is “anyone who works for the greater good and seeks the wisest path to bring light to any situation.” Tina Erwin has committed herself to helping one and all who grieve, and it seems that’s most people at some time in their lives. Her mission began with the sudden death of her sister’s little girl at the age of six. It’s interesting that it has also taken her six years to bring this book to fruition. She wrote the book to meet the need for in-depth answers to many questions about how to deal with major change – everything from financial disaster to the ultimate change: death.

There is an all-encompassing array of help and advice in her book regarding what to say to bereaved persons, especially children; what not to say; divorce and abandonment; family dynamics; employers and their obligations; what the deceased soul goes through; how to pray with and for people; all aspects of trauma and grieving; suicides and the people they leave behind; karma; reincarnation; God; angelic help; religion; healing; guilt; forgiveness; emotions – sadness, anger, crying; the depth of attachments and the process of detachment; neardeath; life everlasting; the heaven-world we go to; ghosts; counseling; service; and moving forward after a death.

Erwin’s writing has much wisdom and compassion. Her answers to the most unnerving questions, such as why would a child die, and why does God allow suffering, are expressed with simplicity. She says each person dies when their life is complete, whether or not we might have had hopes and plans for them. She shows how opening one’s heart is a better way to heal than closing it. She tells parents to encourage children to laugh and play again even though a tragedy happened. This comprehensive, non- sectarian book is highly recommended as a good resource for public and school libraries, as well as an important addition to one’s bookshelf.

[Reprinted with permission of Susan Lendvay, Editor-in-Chief, Venture Inward Magazine]