Grief and Renewal: Finding Beauty and Balance in Loss

by Miguel Ruiz, Barbara Emrys

Don Miguel Ruiz, one of the world’s most influential spiritual leaders, and author of the classic, The Four Agreements , gently guides readers through the process and pain of navigating grief, to find a higher purpose and existence, and to be at peace with their loss. Grief is one of the many mysteries of life, and the path to easing the pain is never the same for everyone. In this course, you will learn to recognize the various stages of grief and will also be provided with healthy coping mechanisms to understand and lessen your suffering on your journey towards the acceptance of your loss. The course is designed in such a way that through the grace and poignancy of each word, you will come to understand and reconcile with your grief and your loss, and embrace the arduous task with love, openness, and eventually clarity by surviving your grief.

Genres: Self Help, Nonfiction

160 pages, Paperback

Published September 26, 2023

About the author

Miguel Ángel Ruiz Macías is a Mexican author known for his teachings on Toltec spirituality and neoshamanism. Best known for his 1997 bestseller The Four Agreements, Ruiz's work is embraced by the New Thought movement and has influenced many seeking spiritual enlightenment. His books, including The Mastery of Love and The Voice of Knowledge, have helped spread Toltec wisdom worldwide. Ruiz was named one of the Watkins 100 Most Spiritually Influential Living People in 2018. He also co-authored The Fifth Agreement with his son José Ruiz and has continued to write and teach on personal freedom and love.

Reviews

[JSter · Rating 2 out of 5]

1.5 I’m a Ruiz fan, but this book was… I don’t know what. First of all, it was sloppy and rambling writing… and didn’t sound like Don Miguel's voice. I’m guessing the coauthor actually wrote the entire book. There were typos and things an editor should’ve caught: like giving the same title (Grace) to two of the chapters (there are only 5 and one should’ve been titled “Grief”). Sloppy.

I’m not currently grieving, but if I were, this isn’t what I’d want to turn to. At one point, it is suggested that you should know what grief is like… after all, you already lost the warmth of the womb… Expect more of that.

Not a lot in here that’d actually make someone feel better or help navigate through a tough time. But there’s a lot of other fluff and discussion about things I didn’t care about. Awful read from the author (or his co/ghostwriter) of one of my all-time favorite books (4 Agreements).

[rose rodero · Rating 4 out of 5]

Only read when I was feeling called, which really helped this resonate. Beautiful while also being honest with the reader, which I feel like is hard to find in discussions around grief.

[Ahmad Takkoush · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you, NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book

Although I couldn’t finish this book, I found the topic being discussed interesting.

The book is narrated as if you’re in a classroom taking lessons and participating in a course on grief, I found that unique and made it easier to read and imagine.

Grieving isn’t just for people, you can grieve for anything you feel emotionally attached to:

“We naturally grieve over the loss of anything or anyone when there is a strong emotional attachment.”

The book also offers good advice on how to handle emotions:



“Feel. Allow yourself to feel to the fullest, no matter how tender or terrible the emotion seems to you.”

Something about the story of the Medicine man that I didn’t quite like but don’t know exactly why I didn’t like it..

Overall, I think it’s a decent book. It may need more actual advice on dealing with grief and less with the philosophical and sciency stuff..

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first four chapters made me put this book down for days at a time. I agree with the reviews commenting that the writing style doesn’t match the author’s voice. It felt like I was reading a ‘toxic positivity’ influencer’s Instagram posts.

The final chapter reads like a student scrambling to meet a minimum word count for an essay; however, it had a line or two that fit what I was hoping this book would be (and changed my initial opinion that this is a 1-2 star read). Another review speculated the coauthor might have written a significant amount of this, which would explain the fluff. There are also a handful of typos that an editor should have caught before publication.

Honestly, this could have been cut down to a couple tweets. As someone who enjoys verbose writing, this should give an idea of the quality of the content filler.

[Mary Ellen Coogan · Rating 5 out of 5]

My feverish brain appreciates the many calming messages contained in this book! This quick read is an exceptional “mystery course” that is an antidote to staying stuck in a traumatized mindset, one too often fed by overthinking or “unchecked thoughts”. I especially appreciate the authors’ stance on grief as an opportunity to heal. This book teaches us not to trust between our ears, outdated opinions and thoughts (largely formed in childhood) and it highlights the fact that they get in our way. Believing all our wrong stories perpetuates pain and makes us sick.. Here is invitation to question and dare to disagree with our own certainties.. The book offers a guide for survivors to honor their bodies and see themselves as transformed, powerful beings who should be skeptical of all we “think we know” when it torments us and weighs us down. These lessons encourage bravely feeling and honoring all emotions, just let them be fleeting. Awareness is courage. Most helpfully, this book encourages wounded people to make peace with the unpredictability of life. It invites the mind to settle down and allow calm and comfort to be present. “Trust life” and “accept love”, despite pain, are liberating mottos. Kindness and gratitude flow from a changed, non-judgmental attitude toward ourselves and others. This book helps us rethink what keeps us mired in misery and helps us see a path toward joy,

[Glenda · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is set up as a "chapter a day" (written for a class maybe?) exploration of the complex emotions and transformative potential of grief.

Ruiz approaches the topic of grief with clarity, making this an easy to read and digest book. He explores the universal experience of loss, whether it be the death of a loved one, the end of a relationship, or any other significant life change. (I picked this up after the loss of a much-beloved dog, Ellie). His compassionate and empathetic writing provides comfort and understanding, making readers feel seen and supported in their own experiences of grief.

Ruiz emphasizes the cyclical nature of life and how renewal is an inherent part of the grieving process. He weaves in teachings from various spiritual traditions, highlighting how different cultures understand and cope with loss.

The book is structured in a way that is both accessible and deeply reflective. It can be used as a guide to finding meaning and transformation amid sorrow.

If you like the style of Ruiz's other books, then this would be one to pick up when seeking solace and understanding of loss and grief.

[Sheryl Fisher · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was interested in reading Grief and Renewal after working on the grief of losing both of my parents and seeing that it was done by the author of The Four Agreements which I enjoyed very much. I just could not get into this book and was not able to finish it. The writing felt all over the place and while it had a softer tone than other grief books have, it didn't feel like the same author had written both books. A lot of authors have the same time of "tone" in multiple books yet this one just did not have that. Although everyone grieves differently on how they deal and heal from it, I found other books more helpful along with exercises that my therapist gave me. I wish I was able to get more out of this book but I was just not able to. I tried putting the book down and returning to it multiple times but just could not get into it.

Thank you to Netgalley and Urano Publishing for the opportunity to read this ARC. It was just not for me. Thank you.

[Chio M · Rating 4 out of 5]

me encantó, finalmente un libro que la primera palabra no es “no llores, échale ganas, no estés triste”. Cuando pequeña perdí a mi abuelo (mi persona favorita), de adolescente perdí a más familiares y a mi mejor amiga, fue ahí cuando mi vida cambió y pensé que la felicidad nunca más volvería. Lo ratifiqué cuando ahora de adulta perdí a una amiga de infancia. Pero mi cuerpo y mi corazón ya estaban sufriendo mucho y decidí hacerme cargo de todas esas emociones y pensamientos y este libro te hace ser visto, te sientes escuchado porque es lo que uno pasa por un duelo y es válido te dicen y te van abriendo los ojos sobre la intensidad que amas a la persona que perdiste, también esa persona lo querrá para que recuperes tu vida.

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you for the opportunity, Net Galley, and the publisher and author, to read this ARC!

I finished this book within 24 hours. It really speaks to grief in such a beautiful way. I lost my father 6 months ago and haven't been able to read any other books on grief- I find them to be too harsh. This book is gentle. It normalizes your feelings and even speaks of grief in different forms, not just death. It allows you to be "human" and gives examples of feelings you might be feeling, while reminding you to try to find joy, when you can, and to love yourself for the human you are and the experience you are having. This was really beautiful, very real, uplifting, and hopeful, but not "too much." I will definitely recommend this book to anyone who is grieving!

[Janette Fuller · Rating 5 out of 5]

I chose this book because I recently read "The Four Agreements" by Don Miguel Ruiz. The four agreements are: Be impeccable with your word, Don't take anything personally, Don't make assumptions, and Always do your best.

This book challenges the reader to think about death, change, and grief in a new way. Life is the constant process of creation and destruction. We know our lives will end, but we fight the reality of death. We must accept the fact that death does not discriminate; it touches everyone. Death is a natural part of life.

The authors encourage us to discover how our approach to death can inspire a more conscious approach to living. We can be aware of our own eternal and infinite nature. We can appreciate the nature of all living things and how each reflects life differently.

I will revisit this book often as I reflect on my life journey. This book on death and grief is actually about life and living.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an excellent reading experience.

[Dora Okeyo · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a gentle reminder to live fully and to experience everything holistically- and there is a phrase in the book where the author says, "be patient as you learn to be more aware," that stuck with me.
The author does not shout, force his beliefs or understandings in this book, and it felt like someone was there beside me guiding and listening and letting me feel my grief, find my light. It's a small book, easy to read and very memorable. I hope it gets into the hands of everyone of us who has loved and lost.
Thanks Netgalley for the eARC.

[Cristina Boncea · Rating 3 out of 5]

Un nume pentru credințele mele (influențate de occident, cum altfel?): neoșamanism.
Cinci cursuri din care să înveți cum te poți adapta mai bine ciclului viață-moarte-viață (Pinkoli) pe înțelesul tuturor.

Frumix, chestiuni de bun-simț pentru cei care au alergii la dogme (zice chiar autorul).

armonizarea începe prin detașare și, totuși, iată-ne aici, istoviți și cu tear stains îndepărtabile prin laser&stuff.
știm că nu știm nimic

dar e și ăsta un pas.

[Kate Aldridge · Rating 4 out of 5]

I started reading this during a moment of anticipatory grief, which I think was helpful. It gave me some comfort and insight while I prepared for the death of someone close to me. In looking at the other reviews, I wonder if it’s worth reading more during the anticipation of loss to help prepare yourself for what’s coming.

[Valerity (Val) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was good food for thought on the subject of grief. I plan to read it again in a few months to see if I can get more out of it as time passes. I hope to be able to do the things it talks about for a more peaceful existence.

[Kelly Pramberger · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful book dealing with difficult topics. I can see this as a gift for a friend dealing with grief. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. Five stars.

[Samantha Steipp · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are grieving, give this book a shot. just reviewed Grief and Renewal by Miguel Ruiz and Barbara Emrys. #GriefandRenewal #NetGalley
[NetGalley URL]

[Logan · Rating 1 out of 5]

Should have read the reviews first. It was like reading generalized platitudes I thought were profound in high school.

[Ann · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was disappointing- it rambles about, and I found it to be very wordy and repetitive, not at all like what I have come to know Don Miguel Ruiz for.

[Ashley F · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book is all over the place- maybe the translation is way off? I DNF. I will update my review once I read the Spanish version.

[Elena · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really beautiful book. Short but filled with so much wisdom. I found myself lost in the words many times throughout.

[Heru Ptah]

Very good book, I learned a lot reading this. This helped me out a lot and confirmed a lot of things I was already feeling and thinking.

[Misse Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

An Incredible guide!

If you've read The Four Agreements, you've engaged with the work of Grief and Renewal author Don Miguel Ruiz. Ruiz is known as one of the world's most influential leaders and authors. In this book, he has essentially reached out his hand and guided readers to think about grief as a part of a larger process that also includes renewal at its opposite end. Ultimately, calling to action a releasing our full spectrum of emotions that reside within us.

He challenges readers to continue to check-in with self and be real about whatever we feel as we go through the grieving process. "It’s important to keep asking the question. “How do I feel?” The answer is always changing, just as we are changing and learning. Losing someone has a devastating effect on both the body and psyche. What we feel is likely to be beyond words and beyond tears. We need to be as honest with ourselves as possible."

Grief and Renewal: Finding Beauty and Balance in Loss is then a course in learning to identify the various stages of grief as well as resource in how to deal and input healthy coping mechanisms as you navigate.

I thank Urano Publishing and NetGalley for this gifted copy.

[Grace · Rating 3 out of 5]

this book felt like the author had diarrhea of the mouth 😐 just a lot of blabbing that didn’t feel cohesive. i’ve read a few books by this author and loved them but this fell flat for me. i like that it was short but didn’t feel like i got much from it

[Monica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Don Miguel Ruiz's Grief and Renewal: Finding Beauty and Balance in Loss has a similar style and cadence to The Four Agreements.

Grief and Renewal is a short but potent book, inspired by nature and full of ancient wisdom. I found the approach to grief very gentle and comforting. Brew a cup of warm tea, cuddle up with a blanket, and settle in to let the insights wash over you. I did find the narrative a bit disjointed at times, but I enjoyed the continuity of the story of the shaman. Leaning well into the spiritual/mystical, I think this book would be valuable for anyone grieving any loss.

Thank you to Urano Publishing via NetGalley for gifting me with an ARC to review. I enjoyed it!