From Grief to Grace

For grievers, the season that once brought joy may heighten an awareness of the feeling of despair and intense pain. What can you do when the world is saying, “Let's be merry!” while you are feeling a responsibility to honor your sorrow?

On today's program From Grief to Grace, host Chaz Wesley welcomes back Dieter Randolph, cofounder and minister of Water and Stone Church. They discuss the process of letting go of beliefs and paradigms of the past, and the transformational choice to reinvest in the now.

Returning special guest, author, and grief guide Georgena Eggleston joins host Chaz Wesley to discuss the feelings of uncertainty in times of change, loss, and pain—and allowing a path of peace to unfold with action and grace. 

On this World Day of Prayer in Unity, host Chaz Wesley is joined by Randy Fikki, spiritual leader at Unity Southeast in Kansas City, Missouri, discussing this year's theme, "Peace in the Midst."

Each step of our journey holds a certain necessity of lessons and possibility. On today's program From Grief to Grace, host Chaz Wesley offers insight into the choices and opportunities we have to honor and trust each sacred step of loss and grief so we may walk this journey with love and grace.

The Buddha once said, "If your compassion does not include yourself, it is incomplete." On today's program From Grief to Grace, host Chaz Wesley introduces enlightening conversation and self-care activities of mind, body, and spirit that can sustain energy while minimizing the fatigue commonly associated with grieving.

On today's program From Grief To Grace, host Chaz Wesley discusses the value of finding meaning in our journey of grief. Becoming mindful of the transformative capacity of grief is one of the most empowering ways to understand loss, cultivate acceptance, and honor compassion toward yourself and others.

Whether in life, on our spiritual path, or our grief journey, releasing that which no longer serves us is an important task in our search for peace. On today's program From Grief to Grace, host Chaz Wesley shares words and music of comfort, ease, and letting go.

Loss and grief shatters the world we have known, thereby creating a tidal wave of emotions in the wake of our everyday life. On today's program, host Chaz Wesley shares insight and clarity on what these emotions mean. We can allow the current of Truth and meaning to guide us back to shore.

On today's journey From Grief to Grace, host Chaz Wesley interviews Michel Pascal, author of the book Meditation for Daily Stress: 10 Practices for Immediate Well-Being. Michel Pascal is a french writer, meditation teacher/singer, photographer, and director for spiritual documentaries. Before moving to the United States, Michel lived in the largest monastery in the Himalayas, Kopan Monastery in Nepal. The high master Chepa Dorje Rimpoche (descendant of Milarepa) was his meditation teacher for 15 years. Michel has written 19 books in French about spirituality. Drawing on his experience of living at the Kopan Monastery in Nepal, Michel shares his new and easy method of meditating in the moment to calm the mind and break the cycle of stress addiction. In the midst of one's grief experience, Michel's book is a guide to a revolutionary meditative techniques for finding peace, quiet, mindfulness, and centeredness. A true authority in meditation, Michel introduces readers to the power of meditation as a coping mechanism for daily stress, anxiety, and depression—and yes, grief!

On today's journey From Grief to Grace, host Chaz Wesley interviews writer and poet Deirdre Hade, coauther of the book The (Not So) Little Book of Surprises. A verbal and graphic trip to the unexpected, whimsical, and wise worlds, Hade and her husband and graphic visionary Will Arntz (What the Bleep Do We Know!?), with images provided by award-winning photographer Endre Balogh, will inspire the reader. They also allow for a lot of smiling and moments of clarity and wonder. The prose and poetry will raise your awareness to the level that great art does when truly enjoyed. The (Not So) Little Book of Surprises marries practical guidance for navigating our increasing busy and chaotic world with deep mystical insight to awaken the sleeping soul within us.

Their mission is to joyously use their God-given gifts—writing, singing, and speaking—to successfully inspire, uplift, and transform the lives of as many people as they can touch in their lifetime and beyond. And with their new double-CD, Beautiful Brokenness, they are doing just that! On today's journey From Grief To Grace, host Chaz Wesley interviews inspirational speakers, singer/songwriters, and best-selling authors, Karen Taylor-Good and Stowe Daily—the powerful duo known as StoweGood.

When caring for someone who is chronically ill or dying, we may start to grieve that person long before their physical death. Often, we grieve the loss of the person's “former self.” Primary caregivers often experience exhaustion, regret, or even guilt or shame for “wishing it were over." It is important to recognize these feelings as normal. Ultimately, anticipatory grief is a way of allowing us to prepare emotionally for the inevitable.  On today's journey From Grief to Grace, host Chaz Wesley shares thoughts and coping skills for caregivers and the anticipatory grief reactions of the physical, emotional, and spiritual nature that occurs before an impending loss.

On today's journey From Grief to Grace, host Chaz Wesley is joined by coauthors Dieter and Jenny Randolph of Unity Society about their new book, Branching In. Explaining their mantra of grace as, "you don't need anything extra to be who you already are," Branching In is the process of understanding this now moment as the fruit of a more profound life experience. By following it through—branch and trunk and back to root—we can use that expanded awareness as the seed for life's next now moments.

On today's journey From Grief to Grace, host Chaz Wesley shares how the spiritual faculty of faith becomes an action step we can take as we affirm that the healing, loving presence of the Divine is working to bring peace and harmony in the midst of chaos and fear.

On today's journey From Grief to Grace, host Chaz Wesley shares the metaphysical interpretation of the spiritual power called "Love"—and the strength of its presence in our lives when we are healing from loss.

On today's journey From Grief to Grace, author Rob Goor joins host Chaz Wesley as we discuss the authors beautiful novel to his son, Dear Andrew, a chronicle of life and death, loss and love—expressed through letters from a father to his deceased 8-year-old son.   Letter by letter, this father processes at such depth that peace is made tangible and grace is discovered.  

The only moment we have is now. “The New Now” is where we are alive without our dead person.   Grandma will not be here this Thanksgiving to make her butterhorn rolls. She is dead. Granddad will not be here to host the Friday after Thanksgiving football game, complete with corndogs and root beer floats. He died in July.   Now What?   On today's journey From Grief to Grace, author and grief guide Georgena Eggleston joins host Chaz Wesley to guide us through a process of permission—and a more peaceful holiday season. Click here to invest in the greatest gift you can buy this holiday season—an online video course and one-on-one coaching that honors and nurtures you!  

Join host Chaz Wesley as he gently guides listeners through a new thought process of letting go in the midst of chaos and change.

On today's journey From Grief to Grace, host Chaz Wesley interviews author Keidi Keating, whose books The Light: A Book of Wisdom and Experiences From the Light bring together a collection of astounding and inspiring true stories. They also share insights from renowned teachers and authors such as don Miguel Ruiz, Neale Donald Walsch, Barbara Marx Hubbard, and many more. The Light presents profound guidance for discovering inner light, living from the heart, oneness with humanity in a spiritual realm, and connection to others through service.

On today's program, host Chaz Wesley speaks with trauma specialist, grief guide, and author Georgena Eggleston about personal loss, permission, and assurance. With an awareness of synergetic methods and self-care strategies, Georgena explains the difference between raw, fragile, and gentle grief—and how discovery and curiousity helps one move beyond grief. Georgena teaches mindful grieving and intentional mourning so people have the tools to discover where grief lives in the body—and how to release it and replace the thoughts that keep us stuck in the grief loop.

Compassionate listening is a practice that provides a road map for those in grief. It allows one to reach deep into the heart and "discover the power within, and unleash your divine potential." It is also a hallmark of Silent Unity® and the theme for this year's Unity World Day of Prayer.   On today's journey From Grief to Grace, Rev. Patricia Bass, interim vice president of Silent Unity, joins host Chaz Wesley in affirming the old adage, “What one heart cannot bear alone, many hearts can bear together.” 

Part Two of Two: On today's program, host Chaz Wesley shares more guidance, more questions, and more reflective meaning in our search for trust and clarity in a world shattered by loss and grief. Join us on the journey, From Grief to Grace ...

Author Maribeth Ditmars shares her personal journey From Grief to Grace in an intimate, brave retelling of how losing two sons has forever changed a family's life. Her testimonial of illness, death, loss, and love has inspired two books (Christopher's Journey and The Bald-Headed Princess) and a new blog, Journeys of the Heart. Listen in as Maribeth and host Chaz Wesley share the wonders of life, wisdom, and laughter.

On today's journey From Grief to Grace, host Chaz Wesley shares simple practices and in-depth understandings of what grief teaches us about ourselves and how it guides us to a life more fully lived, expressed, and appreciated.

Of the many responses you may expect to hear from a griever, laughter can be the most surprising. It is common, however, for people to find humor and use laughter in times of sorrow—both as a defense mechanism and as a coping strategy. On today's journey From Grief to Grace, award-winning author, poet, and essayist Mark Liebenow joins host Chaz Wesley to honor a history of cultures and religions that boasts ministries of fools, clowns, humor, and compassion—all of which provide evidence that when we can laugh at death, then death doesn't win.

Do you feel as if you're barely getting by day-to-day? Does the emotional roller coaster of your grief experience leave you wondering if you're the only person in the world feeling this low?   On today's journey From Grief to Grace, grief coach Laura Jack joins host Chaz Wesley to guide us step-by-step through a process of patience, perseverance, and discovery—identifying who you are after loss and how to recreate the life of your choice.

In her TEDxCUNY Talk, Rachel Stephenson shares her own experience of loss and grief, speaking loudly about grieving quietly. The writer and speaker joins host Chaz Wesley to share a personal journey From Grief to Grace, the cost of hiding one's grief—and why she believes it's vital to break the silence.  

Your relationship with your pet is special—a bond that is different than those human beings share, yet every bit as significant and meaningful. With the loss of a dearly beloved pet, people often resort to incorrect mechanisms to deal with their grief, often trying to move too quickly from their loss (dismissing the real impact), or even attempting to replace the pet immediately.   On today's journey From Grief to Grace, author Russell Friedman joins host Chaz Wesley to discuss the common myths that limit us from trusting our natural reactions to loss while offering effective guidance in dealing with the loss of your pet(s) and finding peace. 

On today's journey From Grief to Grace, host Chaz Wesley shares perspectives of two seemingly opposite feelings—grief and love—and offers insights into a greater understanding of the true nature of our inner knowing: we grieve, not only because we have lost, but because we have loved.

Busy, successful people grieve too. And our guest today personifies just that. Founder and CEO of InnerView Consulting Group and editor in chief of ExcellStyle magazine Carmen White Janak joins host Chaz Wesley to share a personal journey From Grief to Grace—one whose expression of mindfulness and emotional self-care is witnessed by the many who rely on her daily presence.   The author of What's Hiding in Your Lingerie Drawer? Janak is a master facilitator, consultant, and speaker who has more than 25 years' experience coaching others in unleashing their gifts by discovering and reimagining their unlimited potential. 

On today's journey From Grief to Grace, Board Certified Holistic Health Coach and Wellness Inventory Facilitator Branda Piersall joins host Chaz Wesley to share the importance of self-care. With 20 years of experience as a hospice nurse, Coach Branda has firsthand knowledge of the pressures caregivers face as well as the impact such stress has on the body temple.   Having received her health coach training from the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, where she was trained in more than 100 dietary theories, Coach Branda is an affiliate coach with Wesley Enterprises and offers a whole-person approach—including, but not limited to, diet and exercise to reclaiming one's birthright of health and well-being.

Sean's life was wondrously mixed with joy and sorrow, pain and success, addiction and inspiration. On today's journey From Grief to Grace with Chaz Wesley, Sue Baggett-Spears beautifully honors a personal and spiritual evolution through grief and healing after her husband's death—and how hope brought her back to life.    Sue Baggett-Spears is a licensed Unity teacher and serves as spiritual leader at Unity of Springfield, Missouri.

Author, blogger, and comedian Barry Friedman is known for his radio commentary on NPR, articles in Esquire magazine, and a stand-up shtick that can best be described as “comedy with an edge.”   On today's journey From Grief to Grace, the comedian joins host Chaz Wesley to share the memories of his 24-year-old son Paul—and offer a recommended daily dose of life's best medicine.  

For grievers, the season that once brought joy may heighten an awareness of the feeling of despair and intense pain. What can you do when the world is saying “Let's be merry!” while you are feeling “I must honor my sorrow?”   Join host Chaz Wesley on today's journey From Grief to Grace as he offers coping skills and suggestions for both adults and children, while validating that the holidays do not suspend one's grief—or healing.

In her new book, The Listening Project: Lessons of Life, Love, and Listening to God, author Christine C. Williams tells the true story of a woman who decides to make an unusual and quirky deal with God to become a better listener. What starts out as a step-by-step business model approach to learn about listening to the Divine voice within soon turns into a far more personal and unexpected journey of loss, grief, healing, and love.   The author joins host Chaz Wesley on today's journey From Grief to Grace to share her experiences of sorrows and joys, and to encourage listeners to explore the ways we listen to God, and the inherent human challenges and rewards of hearing and following divine guidance.  

Just as each new awareness throughout our journey is necessary for us to learn and evolve as spiritual beings, each experience of life reveals the opportunity to trust the process. Join host Chaz Wesley on today's journey From Grief to Grace as he honors each sacred step of loss and love.

Her debut novel, Moments in Time, is strongly inspired by author Nina C. Payne's real-life experiences. Having lost her brother, who also happened to be her best friend, in 2012 of cancer and then her father four months later to a broken heart, the book explores the obstacles many of us face and the courage it takes to overcome them. A yoga instructor who has studied the philosophical, psychological, and physiological side of it, the author joins Chaz Wesley on the journey From Grief to Grace to share her path of self-discovery and the story that emerged—literally.  

Join host Chaz Wesley on this special episode marking Unity World Day of Prayer and the 125th anniversary of Silent Unity®. Providing a road map for so many in their time of need, the prayer partners at Silent Unity offer active, compassionate listening to many grievers on a day-to-day basis as they travel the journey, From Grief to Grace.   Listen in as Chaz honors several different aspects of prayer, meditation, and affirmations—all of which honor the adage, “What one heart cannot bear alone, many hearts can bear together.” 

Not only is it none of your business what people think of you, the beliefs behind their thoughts and the words used are not usually about you to begin with. They're about the consciousness of the person speaking them—a projection of their individual thinking and their own reality. When we take things personally—especially in our time of grief—we feel offended or attacked and then become defensive; and defense is the first act of war.  When we allow ourselves permission to be immune to the opinions and actions of others, we avoid many upsets in life—including becoming the victim of suffering. In the same regard, whatever you feel and say (to others or to yourself) is simply a reflection of the way you're seeing the world in this now-moment. Regardless of the circumstances, we are always choosing to take something personally—or not. Join host Chaz Wesley as he shares how one choice leads to (a consciousness of) hell, and the other to a greater knowing of peace.

You feel this urge to do something different. Something that can help people heal their hurting hearts—but you think, “What could I possibly do that would make a difference?” And yet, the urge keeps calling you. Join host Chaz Wesley and grief expert Ann Leach on today's journey From Grief to Grace as they share tips and insights of supporting others by getting in touch with your own past to help others cope with their present.

Join host Chaz Wesley on today's journey From Grief to Grace as he gives voice to the mystery of life, loss, and the process of change—not as a problem to be fixed, rather as an invitation to actualize the wisdom and compassion that make us both fully human while honoring the evident manifestations of the Divine.   

Whether you are in the midst of caregiving, saying goodbye, or planning a funeral or time of remembrance, Beverly Molander's new book Heartfelt Memorial Services (cowritten by Dave Savage) provides comfort, reassurance, plans of action, and a voice of grace. The author joins host Chaz Wesley to share thoughts and ideas about creating meaningful experiences when families gather on the journey, From Grief to Grace.

Coach Robin Tilly returns to the program to share a new project with which she needs YOUR help! Through her creative writing venues, Robin is currently gathering stories for her blog and upcoming book titled Widow's Walk. Be a part of this exciting new venture by sharing your journey, From Grief to Grace. (Submissions may be sent to robin@robintilly.com.)

On today's journey From Grief to Grace, Certified Intrinsic Coach, shamanic practitioner, and author Paula Rosenfeld joins host Chaz Wesley to discuss the global phenomenon of the Oneness Blessing.   The Oneness Blessing, also known as Deeksha, is a nondenominational transfer of energy from one person to another. It works in a neuro-biological way, activating the frontal lobe of the brain and deactivating the parietal lobe. Deeksha can catalyze a letting go of resistance to people and situations, relief from tension and stress, and a shift in brain function opening the heart, quieting the chattering mind, and allowing for an infusion of grace.  

Megan Devine is the author of Everything Is Not Okay, and creator of the popular Writing Your Grief courses. An engaging teacher, speaker, licensed psychotherapist, and popular blogger, Megan knows grief firsthand.   After the accidental death (by drowning) in 2009 of her partner Matt, Megan quit the counseling field and took up a brief career as a farmer and cheesemaker. While the quiet rhythm of farming suited her, she couldn't bear the thought of newly-grieving people enduring the wasteland of support she'd found when first widowed.   The author joins host Chaz Wesley to discuss what she describes as her “love letter to people in pain” as she journeys with others, From Grief to Grace ...

Jasmina Agrillo Scherr knows about resilience. Jasmina has lived through personal upheaval, illness, and stressful conditions throughout much of her life. Her near-death experience while fighting a brain tumor brought her to a place of surrender, where she found the strength to carry on and rise from adversity to a place of wholeness.   Her new book Mirror of My Soul, Sanctum of My Heart is a spiritual memoir and inspiring treatise about how heart-resonance, intuition, and resilience can get you past the tough times and into the thrive times! The author joins host Chaz Wesley to talk about resiliency, soul, and heart—on the journey, From Grief to Grace.

As freedom rings more and more for LGBTQ people, it also drums up the shadows of sadness, loneliness, self-destruction, and internalized homophobia, which this disenfranchised group has known for centuries. Mark Anthony Lord joins host Chaz Wesley to look at those shadows and honor the pain that is real.   No stranger to New Thought circles, Mark will share his vision for the Global Pride Summit (June 1–5, 2015) and introduce the line up of very special guests whose voices will usher in truth, inner transformation, and healing.

After Trauma to Art founder Lauren Muscarella's mother died, she avoided coping for years. She went on to write the book she wanted to find when she was struggling to find meaning and ways to honor her mother's memory.   Lauren's book, Alice's Law, acknowledges the unique and individual experience of grief, offers ideas and practical steps to healing, and honors the role remembrance plays in our ability, not to move on, but to thrive. The author joins host Chaz Wesley to discuss her journey, From Grief to Grace ...    

When Annie Broadbent's mother died, one of the most difficult parts of her experience was seeing her friends and extended family paralyzed by their fear of saying or doing the wrong thing. Frustrated and saddened by her own experience, Annie decided to share her story and the stories of others as a means to shed light on the emotions felt by the bereaved and how best to support someone grieving.   Broadbent's book, We Need to Talk About Grief: How to Be a Friend to the One Who's Left Behind, is a resource to assist those navigating the common pitfalls, such as choosing appropriate words of comfort, offering support, and knowing when to offer a gesture of kindness.

Join host Chaz Wesley as he guides listeners through the foundational understanding that grief is the whole-person response (emotional, physical, and spiritual) to the loss of someone or something important. By clarifying the terminology associated with bereavement, Chaz will devote today's episode to what he calls the "three faces of grief"—Mind, Body, and Spirit.   While old paradigms of grief therapy focused on grief as mental or emotional suffering, new grieving ideas create new ways of thinking about loss, address healing the bodily effects, and honor the spiritual struggles. Join Chaz as he explains the basics of effective grieving by attending to all dimensions of a person.