LOVE AFTER DEATH

In her debut, counselor and clinical hypnotherapist Bunning makes the case that communication with the afterlife isn’t paranormal—it's just normal.

In this unique book about grief, Bunning suggests that everyone can communicate with their deceased loved ones—it just takes some practice to get it right. “We can all do this, because we are hard wired to do so,” the author explains. Readers expecting intricate, mysterious rituals may be disappointed, however. Although the author does describe how to open lines of communication with the afterlife, she spends most of the book simply relating personal stories—some her own, some shared by others. The overall message of these stories seems to be that afterlife visitations are perfectly normal occurrences, even if many people don’t speak of them for fear of judgment. “Your loved one will be there when the time is right for you,” Bunning writes. The book provides exercises in breathing, journaling and general awareness that set the stage not only for potential afterlife communication, but also for acceptance of grief. Bunning looks at the late psychiatrist Elizabeth Kübler-Ross’ oft-cited five stages of grief, which many people use as tools to help the bereaved and those supporting them through rocky times. The author has been through the grief process herself and has guided many others through it, and her strong, clean writing style makes her theories relatable without dumbing them down. Overall, her book draws readers elegantly through each part of a very personal journey.

A guide to afterlife communication and an engaging road map for the grieving process.