Growing Up In Heaven: The Eternal Connection Between Parent and Child [Hardcover]

Growing Up in Heaven was a sheer delight to read (even for me, who has no children)! As in his other books, James provides case studies in which he describes a child who has crossed over in chilling detail and someone in the audience recognizes the person. Even the most skeptical are won over as insider secrets from the deceased are revealed.

Part One includes information on when a child crosses over: the purpose of the child's death, how to deal with it, how the death was agreed to and arranged even before the child was born ("soul pact") to be part of the parents' growth, and most interestingly, where the child goes after death. James explains that children rarely remain earthbound as spirits, having a lot less emotional baggage as an adult.

We learn (or are reminded of) all sorts of tidbits about the spirit world: there are many new colors; the spirit world for children includes sports, handicrafts, gardening, sailing, and games; spirits who have crossed attend schools--but unlike the ones on Earth, extreme attention and planning is given for the unique individual. "Subjects are designed to align perfectly with each soul's spiritual make-up, intellect, creative talents, interests, and needs." Spirit children also watch over loved ones remaining on Earth.

In short, we are given confirmation that there IS life after death, as well as assurance that this life is heavenly beyond our imaginations.

Part Two consists of info on the soul's make-up. This is not restricted to children, and it provides great assurance for any of us who have lost a loved one or are contemplating our own death. We learn the definition of a soul, its personality, possible fragmentation after trauma, soul patterns, soul families, soul groups, soul mates, and soul levels (young souls, mature souls, old souls, and earth angels). Interestingly, James has found from his experience that people who die as children are almost always OLD souls (as are those with disabilities).

As in Part One, Part Two is interspersed with real-life case studies in which James interacts with children spirits in front of an audience. One of these stories sent chills down my spine: a woman doesn't have a baby till age 55 (with help from technology, of course). While carrying the baby in a doctor's office, a 12-year-old boy, complete stranger, stands up and salutes the baby, proclaiming, "He's here. He's come back. He's come back from the future to be with us!" Well, prior to that, the baby appeared to the mother in a vision, insisting on some foreign name. Later, the mom finds out that the name means, in an ancient language, "he who has returned."

Part Two also discusses issues such as abortion--it is not murder, because the soul knew beforehand that the mother was going to abort it, and it is just balancing some karma from having abandoning a baby herself. Suicide is also discussed, and rest assured, the soul is not in some hell or punishment for this act: It simply reincarnated prematurely without the proper preparation. We also learn about the Council of Elders, old wise spirits that help us plan our next life.

Part Three involves healing your life after the loss of a child. There are ways to communicate with the spirit of your child who has passed, such as meditation, dreams, clairalience and cold spots, writing "letters to heaven," and even automatic handwriting! The stages of grieving are also discussed.

This book is a treat and should be given to everyone who has lost a child, or for that matter, any loved one!

If you are like me who reads all of James Van Praagh's publication and all new ones as they come out then you will not be disappointed with his new reveal. What Mr Van Praagh attempted to achieve in this edition is the concepts of 'life contract, soul group, life planning before the next reincarnation' and then interweaved are the readings of kids informing their parents that they are really okay, there is life after death, they still atttend school and it was part of their soul plan so that we can learn all about compassion and love. The concepts are told in very basic format that allows the reader to absorb the basics quickly without being overwhelmed, especially if this is the first time you have come across all these concepts. The book jumps around a little in trying to explain these critical concepts and also to give readings that supported these concepts. None-the-less, if you are a fan of Mr Van Praagh's books, this one does not disappoint in the teachings and hopefully it will lead you to more understanding on what the big picture really is!

Thankfully, Mr Van Praagh does mention on quiet a few occasions, the work of Mr Michael Newton, whose work is very much the cornerstone of this book. Mr NEw ton has written many books on such matter, Soul journey and Soul Destiny are the two infamous books that I would highly recommend to read as both provide granular details and then to top it, please read "Your soul's plan" by Robert Schwartz. By the end, these three authors will pretty much conclude that we are here to learn a few things through the diversity of difficulties that human life presents itself; and that we will come back again and again until we ascend to the next level and free will is all about chosing to learn in this life time instead of postponing it until the next one! I always knew that people with extraordinary illnesses or being gay are advanced souls, and these three authors pretty much spell that out: I am in awe that these suouls choose to challenge themselves as well as us. May I learn to be compassionate at all time, however difficult it is!

I am a James Van Praagh (JVP) fan. His other books, especially "Unfinished Business" and "Ghosts Among Us" are fast reads and very comforting for anyone who has "lost" someone that they love. This book is just as good and is long overdue! Speaking as a parent, I cannot imagine the pain and grief that people must bear due to the loss of a child. Speaking as a medical professional, there is little comfort I can provide to a parent who has just lost a child. I have often hoped, when watching James work (weave his loving magic is more accurate) that he will focus in on people who have lost children, because they are in need of any help, hope and comfort they can get. If you have lost a child (my heart goes out to you) or just know someone who has lost a child, this book is invaluable. I thank James for writing it and I am giving it as a gift to people I know who can benefit from it.

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