Journeying is leaving "this world" reality to enter the "Otherworld" while in the state of ecstasy. It is the actual traveling through the various levels of the Worlds: Siberian shamans have 9 levels and usually travel on the back of a goose of a horse. American Indians have 3 levels and travel in accompaniment with their totem guides. African shamans, depending upon the tribe have multiple layers of the Otherworld and travel with their ancestors.

They're a set of four books designed to be given or sent to grieving people at various times during the first year after a loved one has died. The first book is sent three weeks after the death, the second at three months, the third at six months, the fourth at eleven months. Each book focuses on the issues a grieving person is likely to be going through at that point in his or her grief.

For nearly thirty years, Stephen Ministries has been helping thousands of congregations train their members to minister to people experiencing grief. During the last 15 years, we've also conducted more than a thousand half-day Caring Ministry Workshops, a main component of which has been a presentation on grief. During that time, we've talked with and learned a lot from grieving people. All of that provides the framework for these books. In addition, during the development of these books, Dr.