Consider the Possibilities!

by Linda Davis

The grief that we feel when a loved one dies often overwhelms us with feelings and emotions that can go on for many months or even years. It does not seem to matter if the death of the one for whom we are grieving came after a long illness or was totally unexpected, as is the case in an accident. And the grieving can bring us physical pain and symptoms as well as mental or emotional ones. Most of us seem to feel that if we could just have one more conversation, or spend just five more minutes with the one who has died, our own pain could be alleviated. We all long for that contact, deep in our souls.

My own journey along the path of grief, and my search for some kind of further contact with someone who had died, began in earnest during the months following the death of my youngest daughter on October 30, 1995. In my search, I learned that there are numerous books that have been published about the possibilities of after death communication. Many newspaper and magazine articles have been written. There are Web sites devoted to the subject. There are television programs which purport to prove the theories. There are psychics who claim to be able to bring messages and information to us from our loved ones who have gone on. There are medical professionals and many renowned research scientists who have made the study of this subject their life’s work.

For thousands of years there have been people in the world who believed, with all their hearts, that in some way, some part of us, that is beyond our physical bodies, continues to exist after we die. Many of these same people also believed that it is possible to communicate with those who have died. That not only can the dead send us messages, but that we can do the same when it is our turn to die. Those beliefs have continued to flourish in many societies and many religions today, despite the many attempts to prove otherwise.

For those of us who believe, or have had our own experience, no other proof is necessary. For those who don’t believe, or don’t know if they believe, I ask you to consider if you think it’s possible that the following situations “might” indicate some sort of communication.

Hearing a voice. Sometimes voices are heard externally just the same as you hear the voice of a living person speaking to you. However, most of the time, you hear the voice of your loved one only in your mind. A sort of mental telepathy. Many people have reported that they were able to hold actual conversations this way, and that these “conversations” always occurred while fully awake and alert.

Smelling a fragrance. The scent of a perfume or after shave or some other odor that you associate closely with the deceased person is suddenly present in a room where none was before. This can occur days, weeks, months, or even years after their death. It may last for only a few seconds, or can linger for days, before disappearing.

Sensing a presence. It “feels” as though the deceased person is somehow right there with you. Some people have reported that they actually had a visual perception of the person, either just the head and shoulders, or the full body could be seen. Many people discount these occurrences as their own vivid imaginations.

Feeling a touch. You may feel that you have been “touched” on some part of your body, even down to experiencing a feeling of warmth in the area where the touch occurred. It might feel as though you have been caressed, kissed, patted, or even hugged and is almost always described as a feeling of being comforted, reassured. Or being loved.

Other physical phenomena. Many bereaved persons have experienced a wide variety of physical signs of communications. These include lamps that inexplicably blink on and off; radios, televisions, stereos, computers, and other mechanical objects being turned on; and/or photographs, pictures, or other objects being turned over or moved about the room.

Symbolic communications. People often ask whatever Higher Power in which they believe, the universe, or their deceased loved one, to give them a sign that he or she continues to exist. Many feel that they receive such a sign frequently seeing a butterfly, bird, rainbow, animal, flower or some other object, that to them means their plea was heard and it is being responded to.

Sleep State Communications. Sleep state communications are described as much more vivid, colorful, intense and seemingly real than are dreams. These are very common and you usually feel that your loved one is with you in person—that you are actually having a visit together and these experiences are not jumbled or fragmented in the way that dreams often are.

As for the question “have I had an experience of communication with my daughter,” I believe I have on many occasions. However, none so vividly as my experience on the night of what would have been her 26th birthday.

My daughter’s birthday is July 25 and the one back in the summer of 2000 seemed to be particularly painful for me. I had been feeling out of sorts all day with memories and feeling the pain of her loss as though it had only just happened. I finally went to bed around 10:30 p.m. and hoped I would be able to sleep. She was very much on my mind and I was crying. Though not with the gut wrenching sobs that had engulfed me several times earlier in the day. I was lying on my side facing the window next to my bed. As usual, I was all alone in my house except for my three cats who were all on the bed with me: one on the pillow at my head, one next to my feet, and the third curled in my arms. It was completely dark in my room and my eyes were closed, when I “felt someone” sit down on the bed behind me. I “felt” a soft touch on my shoulder. Then the words “I love you Mom” suddenly came into my mind. This gave me such a comforting, loving, and safe feeling, but it only lasted for a few seconds.

Of course, when I turned on the light, I was still alone, however, I no longer “felt” alone. I truly believe that this was indeed my daughter. That by some inexplicable miracle, she knew I was feeling very lost and alone, and she was able to reach out for that brief instant and comfort me.

What do you think?

As I said before, if you believe this kind of communication is possible, nothing I say can change your mind. Particularly, if like me, you have had one or more experiences of your own. If you don’t believe…Then the same is also probably true. But just for a moment here…

~ “Consider the Possibilities” ~