“Amayra Hamilton’s book resonated deeply with me, as if she understood my personal experience with grief and was guiding me through it. She skillfully weaves together the complexities of grief, offering readers a clear roadmap for navigating the process with practical tools and insights into what to expect.

I wish I’d had a book like this when I faced my first major losses in life.

Additionally, the book includes valuable dos and don’ts for those supporting someone who is grieving, addressing our societal discomfort around death and providing guidance on how to offer meaningful support.”

“As someone retained to edit Coming Alive Again, I approached the manuscript with the lens of craft – looking at structure, clarity, and flow. What I didn’t expect was how deeply the book moved me on a personal level. This is not just a book about grief; it’s a testament to the enduring resilience of the human spirit, and an invitation to rediscover life after profound loss.

Amayra Hamilton writes with a rare combination of vulnerability and strength. Her willingness to share the raw contours of her own grief journey – without gloss, without pretense – gives the book its power. Yet what lingers is not the pain itself, but the gentle, persistent emergence of hope. The title, Coming Alive Again, perfectly captures this evolution: not a return to “normal,” but a reawakening to life, changed yet still meaningful.

What sets this book apart is its generous humanity. It speaks directly to those navigating loss, without prescriptive advice or platitudes. Instead, it offers companionship – a voice that says, “You are not alone. And this isn’t the end of your story.”

Editing this work was a professional privilege, but reading it was a personal gift. I learned not only about grief, but about grace, love, and the quiet courage it takes to begin again. Whether you are in the throes of mourning or supporting someone who is, Coming Alive Again is a compassionate, beautifully written guide to finding your way – one breath, one step at a time.”

“Grief is perhaps one of the least understood and most suppressed of human emotions. This book will hold your hand as you go through your grief or prepare you for the grief you will surely experience in your life.  Most remarkably, it will teach you how to grow even closer to your loved ones and change you from the inside out as you make peace with grief.  Amayra’s wisdom and mastery of the experience of grief is unparalleled.”

Gillian Goslinga, PhD, Cultural Anthropologist, Author, Systemic Constellations Facilitator, Cornville, AZ

David Montgomery, MD. Author of Loving to Heal: Easing the Way to Wellness and See Love ~ Know God: A Transformational Adventure Beyond Belief 

“Coming Alive Again is a beautifully written, heartfelt, and deeply compassionate guide for anyone navigating the pain of loss. Amayra Hamilton shares her own profound experiences of grief with honesty and courage, blending personal stories with compassionate wisdom. She offers both practical tools and profound insights that bring comfort, guidance, and hope to the grieving journey. What makes this book especially powerful is her openness about connecting with her son and her husband in the afterlife, reminding us that love endures beyond death. This book is not only a companion through grief, but also an invitation to heal, rediscover life, and find peace after loss. A must-read for anyone seeking light in the midst of sorrow.”

Julia Mueller, C.Ht, FDN-P, CSMC, Sedona, AZ

“Opportunity to Learn & Grow from Tragedy.

In Transformation at Angel Valley Amayra and Michael Hamitlon reveal the actual behind the scenes activities that led up to the tragic sweat lodge event in 2009 and what was learned in the subsequent days and months. Each in his and her own voice, Michael and Amayra also share their spiritual perspectives on listening to our intuition and choosing our teachers and mentors. Additionally, they honor the seekers who lost their lives and those who were injured simply with the intention of becoming enlightened. The Hamiltons have turned tragedy into teaching opportunities that all readers will benefit from, and they did so in an inspiring and beautiful way.”

Cynthia Richmond, author of The Dream Power Journal, Sedona, AZ

“A Real Page-Turner!

Reading this book reminds me of a passage from A Course In Miracles which reads “All Things work together for good. There are no exceptions except in the ego’s judgment.” The unfolding of the events leading up to and following the sweat lodge incident and the authors’ interpretations of these events seem to confirm this.

I highly recommend reading Transformation at Angel Valley if you are interested in knowing truth. The book is remarkable, inspiring, and nothing short of amazing.”

Karen Taff, Minneapolis, MN

“Thank you, Amayra and Michael, for gifting me your powerful book. I am so grateful! As I am reading it, all I can say is “Wow!” Never before have I felt as though I was there in the story, experiencing it as I read. This is the most visual book experience I have ever had. What touches me the most is how strongly I can feel your beautiful hearts through the words. This book is going to touch many lives, be the catalyst for deeper healing and the opening of more hearts.”

            Cara Marie Petrone, Angel Valley Team Member, Sedona, AZ

“WOW and Double WOW … Transformation at Angel Valley … very healing!

I need to share with you that I started reading Transformation at Angel Valley on Friday morning I could not put it down! I tried to work but could not focus, so gave myself permission to read – for the whole day! I had a commitment on Saturday so was not able to read; but on Sunday did not stop until I was finished. WOW and double WOW! What a wonderful and inspiring story! What struck me most was Amayra’s and Michael’s sharing of how you were NOT victims to this tragic event. And, how you also did not ‘trash’ James, but rather spoke your truth as you experienced it. I can’t stop thinking about it and have shared it with some of my good friends. In fact, my friend Nancy begged me to borrow the book and picked it up today around 3pm. She just called me at about 6:15pm and said she cannot put it down either. Thank you for sharing so eloquently and authentically your very personal experience.”

Sandy Rogers, Phoenix, AZ

“My husband came home with Transformation at Angel Valley the night before last. The next morning, I picked it up to read the front and the back cover, opened the book and that was it. I could not put it down. I completed the reading that same evening. The way the book is structured and the writing style was so easy for me to move through, as if the authors were telling the story while sitting right next to me. My biggest surprise through the book was how much their experience of being authentic to themselves is exactly what I am presented with in my own life right now. I feel grateful for their inspiration!”

 Erin Estes, Cornville, AZ

”Uplifting! A real life enthralling read! Poignantly, there came a point deep into this book where I read about one of their experiences with James Ray and saw how I could layer a troubling pattern of my own over their experience. This allowed me to see an aspect of myself, my tragedy, in a positive light for the first time… To understand why I needed my experience, and how my experience has come to serve mankind. I am further along on my journey toward understanding for having read this book.”

Larry Moody, Shakopee, MN

“I find reading Transformation at Angel Valley quite riveting. Very different from the reports I read in the newspapers. Very good writing – the sentences flow from one to the next. Interesting to read the statement, “The Teacher must always remember that the Student teaches Him.” I go out of my way to always ask myself: What am I earning from the readings I’m giving to my clients; what is the Student teaching me here?”

“I find reading Transformation at Angel Valley quite riveting. Very different from the reports I read in the newspapers. Very good writing – the sentences flow from one to the next. Interesting to read the statement, “The Teacher must always remember that the Student teaches Him.” I go out of my way to always ask myself: What am I earning from the readings I’m giving to my clients; what is the Student teaching me here?”

Richard-Michael Shypertt, Sedona, AZ

“Transformation at Angel Valley is well written – clear and flows well, making it easy and quick to read. Fascinating information and discussion from many perspectives, offering much for the reader to stop and reflect about. Congratulations! I acknowledge the courage and transparent vulnerability that both authors hold within to have undertaken this controversial and deeply personal project.”

Kristina Arysta, Gibson, BC, Canada

“I am not an avid reader, but I could not put this book aside until I had read it all. Very captive writing and there are so many lessons that I can apply in my life!”

Rey Allen, New York City, NY

”When I got this book in my hands, I had not the least idea what to expect. I had no information about the Sweat Lodge Tragedy, so I was totally astonished what I read. It is amazing to see how the two authors handle the problems they encountered in quite different ways. Amayra, with her motherly instinct, gives all her physical and spiritual energy to cool the fires and heal the wounds. Michael, as a man, goes more into finding what might have led to the incident. But the best words, how could it be different, are the messages from Archangel Michael. His words are so simple and easy to understand, so full of energy and consolation. Transformation at Angel Valley is not a book just for entertainment, it is a study-book to learn from. The authors deserve a ‘summa cum laude’ for it, mainly because they got several bruises themselves. My heartfelt thanks for it!

To Amayra and Michaeel: I understand that there ARE Angels at Angel Valley, not only in the name, and you are two of them. I am deeply thankful to have met you. I think I can feel your presence even here.”

Nicolao Trudel, Sonogno, Switzerland

“Reading their book, I feel the courage in both Michael and Amayra to turn over every stone and let this high-profile incident come to completion in their own lives. After all of the stories are told, what remains with me is the high vibration of their open hearts to fly forward into the next chapter of Angel Valley.”

Kerri Lake, Author of An Organic Reality, Kauai, HI

“The Universe put this book in my hand, which really got my attention. In fact, I had a hard time putting it down. And, an even harder time getting it out of my mind.

It is about the raw and vulnerable written words that are part of the process of two people’s healing journey. Like many others, I only know or remember a few details that were flashed across tv screens about the incident and like many, was stunned and saddened by the seemingly avoidable loss. 

As I was reading this book… There were so many light bulbs going off for me. Insights into my personal journey, such as – Where I am strong and where I refuse to claim my authority. How close arrogance is in any moment and what a distortion it is, even in the context of ego. How much I trust intuition and instincts, and what happens when I don’t! And so many other insights that my mind is overflowing.

One of the insights that I would like to mention, has been the repeating theme of worrying more about how others perceive me, than honoring what is true for me. The word that is used in this book that reminds me to let this old theme go, is Impeccability.

By following the authors through their perspectives of the events as they were unfolding; By connecting with their struggles, the resources, tools and practices that they used to cope and their shared learning along the way… this book provides an amazing opportunity for reflection of our own choices and preferences, attitudes and beliefs, which are a part of navigating our everyday life. And in some way, it is a reminder that we are never sure how close or far away from life-changing events we really are (both uplifting and tragic).”

Charles Alpine, excerpt from Newsletter of Storm Wisdom, Phoenix, AZ