For most people, the pain of loss dominates their experience of grief. Grief then becomes something to be avoided or completed as quickly as possible. In her new book, Lisa Irish presents grief as our "ally" in the Land of Loss and offers pathways and resources to navigate the confusing and challenging terrain. She explores "conscious grieving," as she gathers the wisdom of bereavement experts, spiritual leaders and everyday people walking their own individual paths. Lisa encourages us to let seeds of hope find their way into our grieving hearts, to allow self-compassion during the journey, and to trust grief's healing process. Grieving - The Sacred Art makes a space for love in our sadness and leads us into a Land of Hope.

Lisa Irish, MEd, MA has been offering retreats and presentations for over twenty-five years. As the bereavement coordinator for Yale-New Haven Hospital and the Hospital of St Raphael in New Haven, CT, she ministered to grieving individuals, groups and community organizations. A chaplain and spiritual director, Lisa's writing creates connection and insight for her readers. Her work has been published by Abbey Press in the self-help book, Grieving with a Grateful Heart and several CareNotes; Open to Hope, an online grief forum; and her blog at www.lisairish.com.