Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

"The book helps you meet loss on its own terms, not as a problem to be solved but as a sign of deep love."--Megan Devine, author of It's OK That You're Not OK

All of us experience loss. Some of us have lost a spouse, a child, a parent, a beloved pet, a dear friend, or a neighbor. In the pandemic, we have lost hundreds of thousands of lives in the US and around the world. Many of us have lost our livelihoods. All of us have lost our familiar routines and textures of work, family, and community. And the losses are not over.

Opening to Grief is a companion to this tender time. With the demeanor and tone of a loving friend, the authors offer an invitation to grieve fully, to turn toward your emotions and experiences however they arise, and to follow your own path toward healing. The book explores the deep truth that grief and love are richly intertwined. Because we love, we grieve. And when we fully feel our sorrow, we open to loving ourselves and other beings more deeply.

Table of contents provided by Syndetics

• Foreword (p. xiii)
• Note from the Authors (p. xv)
• Part 1 Opening to Grief (p. 1)
• An Invitation (p. 3)
• Meeting Grief as a Companion (p. 7)
• Beginning with Kindness (p. 13)
• Feeling Grateful (p. 19)
• Opening to Mindfulness and Meditation (p. 25)
• Restoring in Nature (p. 37)
• Joining Together (p. 43)
• Making Art (p. 51)
• Writing as a Refuge (p. 57)
• Welcoming the Life That's Yours (p. 67)
• Part 2 Questions People Ask about Grief (p. 73)
• Part 3 Deepening Practices (p. 87)
• Meditation on the Breath (p. 89)
• Self-Compassion (RAIN) (p. 93)
• Metta (p. 95)
• Keeping a Gratitude Journal (p. 99)
• Being with Beauty (p. 101)
• Part 4 For Inspiration (p. 103)
• Poems about Grief (p. 105)
• Books Worth Sharing (p. 106)
• Online Resources (p. 111)
• Acknowledgments (p. 116)
• Notes (p. 119)
• Permissions (p. 124)

Reviews provided by Syndetics

Library Journal Review

This concise, approachable guide offers those experiencing grief ways to understand and process their feelings using mindfulness as a foundation. Social worker and Buddhist chaplain Willis (Lasting Words) draws on years of experience leading bereavement groups, in collaboration with writer and photographer Samuelson. Willis sees grief as an opportunity to grow and rebuild one's life, and she offers gentle guidance on how to experience that transformation. The first part of the book offers various practices and exercises that one might use to understand and accept the varied emotions of grief, including meditating, connecting with others, spending time in nature, and making art. The second part addresses common questions and misconceptions about grief, in which Willis affirms that there are no correct ways to feel or express grief. A more thorough explanation of meditation follows along with an extensive resource list. While the death of a loved one is most commonly addressed, Willis acknowledges many types of grief, including the losses felt as a result of life-changing events. VERDICT While drawing on Buddhist influences, this excellent complement to collections for the bereaved will be a comfort to those of many faiths experiencing grief.--Anitra Gates, Erie Cty. P.L., PA

Publishers Weekly Review

Clinical social worker Willis and documentarian Samuelson (coauthors of Lasting Words) provide a succinct, comforting reference for those dealing with the loss of a loved one. The authors weave clinical observations, consolations, and practices (such as blessings to repeat and guided journaling prompts) into short chapters that explain the process of "opening to grief," which happens through embracing kindness and gratefulness, finding joy in nature, and using "writing as a refuge." The authors acknowledge the influence of Elisabeth Kubler-Ross's work and stress that periods of grief can provide opportunities for growth and change, and also allow one to "become more authentic with yourself and with other people." Meditation is recommended, and each chapter offers a guided practice; in a particularly helpful section, the authors unpack the meditation process (which "can open a doorway into compassionate awareness and understanding") and relate it to the uncomfortable emotions of grief: "When we bring an attitude of mindfulness to grief and suffering, we try to look clearly at, and experience directly, everything that has happened, just as it is." This accessible guide will be most useful for those who consider themselves spiritual but not religious. Anyone suffering loss will find wisdom and helpful practices here. (Oct.)

Author notes provided by Syndetics

Claire B. Willis is a clinical social worker who has worked in the field of oncology and bereavement for more than twenty years. She is a cofounder of the Boston nonprofit Facing Cancer Together and regularly leads bereavement, end of life, support, and therapeutic writing groups. As a lay Buddhist chaplain, she focuses on contemplative practices for end-of-life care. She maintains a private practice in Brookline, Massachusetts.
Marnie Crawford Samuelson is a documentary photographer, multimedia producer, and storyteller. Her photographs have appeared in national magazines and in two books: Lasting Words with Claire Willis and The Wild Braid with poets Stanley Kunitz and Genine Lentine. She has directed and photographed several short films. She lives in Wellfleet, Massachusetts, and Berkeley, California.