Reaching
Through the Veil to Heal: Death, Grief and Communicating with Loved Ones
in Spirit
by Linda Drake
It was the first
full week of September when my friend, Marione, passed away -- and through
a meaningful coincidence, I received this book for review. One look at
the title, Reaching Through the Veil to Heal, was that was all I
needed to drop my previous plans and immerse myself in some serious
reading. It turned out to be very comforting for me.
The author, Linda
Drake, is an intuitive path healer who works with "Spirit" and "channels a
collective consciousness that call themselves Abraham." A Reiki healer,
she found that she had the ability to speak to those in spirit. And she
points out, "those in spirit form prefer being referred to as 'in spirit'
as opposed to 'dead,' because we as a society hold so many misconceptions
about death." Throughout, Drake tells through her experiences -- or that
of stories her clients tell -- what she has learned about those on the
other side.
I was reassured
about my recent loss through passages such as, "…I always receive the same
message: they were not alone at their time of death. An angel or a family
member was sent to assist them in their crossing, and a powerful loving
energy was present, an energy so beautiful that they could not describe
it." Along with chapters on communicating with loved ones who have passed
on and interpreting signs from the departed in spirit (such as lights
flickering, or the television turning on and off), there are whole
chapters dealing with grief and even "the plight of the caretaker: what
about me?"
This warm and
wonderful little book helped my grieving process immensely, and I imagine
that is just what the "healing" in the title refers to. Reading this, I
learned that the soul incarnates with a mission, and during the time on
earth the soul is given many "exit points." It is partially a matter of
free will at what point the soul will feel their work is done and will
return back into the realm of spirit. A sudden death -- such as my
friend's, who passed only a few short months after a shocking cancer
diagnosis -- usually means the soul wants to spare the physical body of
the suffering a long drawn-out illness, according to Drake.
A few weeks after
reading this, I was ironing one morning just as I do on many days, only
this morning was a little different. I suddenly heard my husband say
"Hey, who just turned off the TV?" Well, it wasn't me and it wasn't the
cats. I smiled, thinking of Marione, and said 'hello' back.
Reaching Through the Veil to Heal:
Death, Grief and Communicating with Loved Ones in Spirit
by Linda Drake
Llewellyn Publications, 2006
157 pp., $12.95
Review by Diane Saarinen
