What is Shiva

What is Shiva

Shiva is the first structured period of mourning in the Judaism religion.  In Hebrew, the word ‘shiva’ means ‘seven’.  Therefore, shiva, in terms of Jewish mourning, is a seven-day mourning period observed by close family members of the...
Is There Such a Thing as a Certified Medium or Psychic

Is There Such a Thing as a Certified Medium or Psychic

When we lose a loved one, we often long to hear from them again, to find out if they’re okay, if they know how we feel about them or to be guided by them.  Consequently, we desperately want to communicate with our deceased loved one.  That’s when the idea of...
End of Life Social Media Etiquette

End of Life Social Media Etiquette

Whether we like it or not, we live in the world of social media.  Social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter have become major methods of communication across generations and cultures.  It is only natural, then, that social media is now involved in...
What to Say to Someone Who’s Recently Lost a Loved One

What to Say to Someone Who’s Recently Lost a Loved One

Anyone who’s approached someone who’s recently lost a loved one has gone through the agonizing process of deciding what to say.  You don’t want to say the wrong thing and you don’t want to sound trite.  You wonder if it would be best not to say anything at...
How to Support a Grieving Loved One

How to Support a Grieving Loved One

When someone we love is grieving it’s hard to know how to comfort them or what to say. Our hearts break as we watch them grieve and yet we’re often at a loss as to what we should do to provide comfort. We want to help but we’re scared we’ll say or do the wrong thing...
How to Comfort Someone Who’s Dying

How to Comfort Someone Who’s Dying

Understanding how to provide comfort to someone who’s terminal ill is very difficult. The simple idea of knowing what to say or when to say it causes stress.  Unfortunately, this is a situation that we’ve all experienced or will experience at some point in our lives. ...
How to Discuss the Death of a Loved One with a Child

How to Discuss the Death of a Loved One with a Child

As adults, we find the grief process overwhelming, and often feel like we are sinking and will never be able to come up for air.  In the midst of that, you now need to tell a child that someone they love has died.  A gut wrenching thought, but one that cannot be...
How to Get Rid of Household Belongings of a Deceased Loved One

How to Get Rid of Household Belongings of a Deceased Loved One

After the turmoil of dealing with the grief and emotions of losing a loved one, and all the initial decisions that are required regarding planning the funeral and handling any immediate concerns regarding the estate you will need to make decisions regarding what to do...
How to Select Who Should Speak at a Funeral

How to Select Who Should Speak at a Funeral

After a loved one passes away, there are a myriad of decisions that need to be made in the midst of your grief.  One decision is deciding whom who want to speak at your loved one’s funeral or memorial service. Who Should Perform the Eulogy A eulogy is a speech...
How to Select Pallbearers

How to Select Pallbearers

When planning a funeral, you will be faced with many decisions you need to make. One of those decisions revolves around deciding who will carry the casket if there is one.  If there is not a casket (i.e. the deceased has already been buried or cremated), you may want...
Is Entertainment Appropriate at a Funeral

Is Entertainment Appropriate at a Funeral

Including entertainment in some form is becoming more and more common as we move away from the traditional style of funerals.  Families are moving towards a memorial service or celebration of life, which tend to be more informal.  Today, many families decide to...
What is the Difference between a Medium and a Psychic

What is the Difference between a Medium and a Psychic

Many people today do not truly understand the difference between a medium and a psychic. Is there truly a difference or is it simply two names for the same thing?  No, there is a difference and here is an explanation to make the differentiation clearer. Definitions...
How to Manage Grief While Settling Your Loved One’s Affairs

How to Manage Grief While Settling Your Loved One’s Affairs

Dealing with the loss of a loved one is incredibly difficult for everyone.  What is important to remember is that each person handles grief in his or her own unique way.  Unfortunately, while dealing with grief, the rest of the world does not stop and neither do your...
What are the Seven Stages of Grief

What are the Seven Stages of Grief

Grief, unfortunately, is an inevitable stage in everyone’s life.  It’s not easy and each person experiences grief in their own unique way.  The process varies for each individual.  However, most grief follows a typical 7-stage process.  Keep in mind that the...
What is the Difference Between a Psychiatrist and a Psychologist

What is the Difference Between a Psychiatrist and a Psychologist

While the terms psychiatrist and psychologist are often used interchangeably, the two professions, while sharing some similarities, are very different in other areas. Psychiatrists and psychologist are both doctors trained to deal with mental health issues.  The main...