Mourning can be a lonely process. The discussions on our message boards create a community of mourners — a place where you can share your feelings about death and take comfort in the words of others. If you'd like to post a prayer here for a lost loved one, please do so. You can also find articles on loss and grief by some of today's best writers.

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A Woman’s Thoughts on Grieving by Nessa Rapoport 

After attending five funerals in 18 months, author Nessa Rapoport wrote the book she could not find. Here are her passionate meditations on suffering, consolation, and the paradox of God.

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The Farewell by Malidoma Patrice Some 

An African teacher recalls saying good-bye to his grandfather — and receiving a spiritual initiation.

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What is Prayer? by Helene Ciaravino 

There are countless phrases that might define “prayer”-the term means so many things to so many different people. In this excerpt from “How to Pray”, Helene Ciaravino takes a fascinating broad look at prayer, as a path to transformation, as introspection, as a conversation with the divine, as a source of protection and as a dynamic force.

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Confronting Death by Jane Hope 

Although in modern times we avoid remembering death, facing it is an essential part of the spiritual path.

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Sickness and Healing by Jane Hope 

Health is far more than the absence of disease. In its fullest sense it means "wholeness."

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The Act of Prayer by Jane Hope 

In most spiritual traditions, prayer is believed to be most powerful when it combines physical action and speech.

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Prayer by Jane Hope 

Prayer is universal. Ultimately it’s a way of communing with the divine.

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How to Pray: Getting Started by Helene Ciaravino 

Whether you seek to make your current spiritual life more fulfilling or are embarking on an exploration of prayer for the first time, this article will acquaint you with many forms of prayer, and show you a variety of ways in which you can enjoy a more successful experience. It includes a wealth of pointers—suggested by spiritual masters, teachers, writers, and prayer practitioners—that can help you approach prayer with the best possible attitude.

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Eternity in a Day by Rebecca Edmiston-Lange 

On the subtle interaction of love, nature, death, and grieving.

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From Here to Eternity by Cynthia Bourgeault 

One woman’s account of how love is stronger than death.

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Unanswered Prayers & Spiritual Dry Spells by Helen Ciaravino 

Frustrations naturally occur when prayers don’t seem to yield the desired results. Furthermore, there are times when the spiritual drive, which may be so passionate and energetic at one moment, simply stalls. All of a sudden, the presence of God may feel like a distant memory, if not a work of the imagination. You find yourself resisting prayer. How can you overcome these situations if and when they occur? What do they mean?

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