“This is a gentle, quiet book. Alexandra Kennedy has traveled these pathways; authentic, genuine, heart-shredding grief is a fiercely intimate, intensely private matter, experienced in vastly unpredictable ways. We are thrust against our will into some brand new world, unique for each and every one of us. While she offers gentle suggestions, simple tools, and practices along the way, Kennedy wisely counsels there is ‘no map, no schedule.’ There is tremendous mercy here. We are too often rushed through what must be allowed its time, its season, to ripen, to die, to heal.
“Kennedy is wise and compassionate, and she refuses to desecrate this holy mystery of loss. Rather, she offers simply to accompany us as we walk a path only we can follow. Kennedy teaches us to trust that Death knows the way to lead us into Life. For us, we can trust that Kennedy knows of what she speaks.”
—Wayne Muller, author of Sabbath and A Life of Being, Having, and Doing Enough
“A true pioneer in our field, Alexandra Kennedy offers a profoundly clear understanding of what it truly means to heal after a loss in her elegantly simple new book, Honoring Grief. It’s sure to become a classic. For years to come, I'll be sharing this wonderful book with clients, families, friends, and communities besieged by loss.”
—Ken Druck, PhD, grief and resilience coach and author of The Real Rules of Life: Balancing Life's Terms with Your Own
“If there is one person I’d like to talk to after a loss, it is Alexandra Kennedy. She offers no platitudes for grief—no one-size-fits-all recipe—just wisdom, kindness, and empathy. Most of all, Kennedy tells us what we all need to hear: we are not alone, and, no, we are not going crazy.”
—Lolly Winston, MFA, author of the novels Good Grief and Happiness Sold Separately
“We don’t usually think of grief as a healing journey; in fact, most of us would rather not think of grief at all. But Alexandra Kennedy gently, expertly guides the reader into a depth that is neither frightening nor overwhelming, but manageable and critical to one’s true well-being. In Honoring Grief, she has distilled a lifetime of listening and examining to bring forth a sacred practice that allows us to meet grief where we are, be embraced in sanctuary, heal wounds, and renew life with new eyes and a more open heart. With this book’s practices, grief can be a time to break free from the pain of long-held sufferings, and expand our capacity to love and live fully.”
—Beth Witrogen, Pulitzer Prize nominee and author of Caregiving: The Spiritual Journey of Love, Loss, and Renewal
“Grief is the way that loss heals. In Honoring Grief, Alexandra Kennedy offers us a sanctuary in which to process our losses and find healing. This simple-to-use, step-by-step workbook on the healing of grief can be a nightlight for people in dark times.”
—Rachel Naomi Remen, MD, author of Kitchen Table Wisdom and My Grandfather’s Blessings
“I loved this book. Honoring Grief provides safety, comfort, and guidance for healing after loss. The format makes it easily accessible to someone experiencing deep chaotic emotions. The text is poetic and beautifully crafted. I would recommend this book to my colleagues and friends. It will become part of my teaching.”
—Janet M. Schreiber, PhD, director of the Grief, Loss, and Trauma certificate program at Southwestern College, Santa Fe, New Mexico
