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Happy New Year 2019!

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Welcome to 2019!

As all of you who have followed my newsletter over the years realize, I begin the New Year by introducing the new “Universal Number.” For 2019, the Universal number is {{{{{drum roll}}}}} 3.

Calculating the number of the Universal Year in numerology is determined by adding together the digits of the current Calendar Year, and reducing the sum finally to a single digit. So, the Universal Energy for 2019 is: 2 + 0 + 1 + 9 = 12, and 1 + 2 = 3.

Remember, this is the Universal year. To get your personal year, you would add your day and month of birth to 2019. For example if you were born 4/19, add 4+19 to 2019 and you’d get an 8 personal year, as follows: 4+19+2019 = 35 and 3+5 = 8.

I’m sure there are many who are happy to be saying goodbye to 2018, which had its share of trials and tribulations, leaving many of us emotionally spent. Yes, there were lots of challenges on numerous levels for many folks. Those challenges occurred in various areas of our lives, and prevented some of us from being ourselves for a time.

Perhaps you were one of the folks who recognized a relationship you have outgrown, or discovered that a certain relationship was draining your energy and suffocating your spirit. If so, it was time to let go, and allow your soul to soar.

If you haven’t let go, consider whether now is the time. Look around. There are so many possibilities. Why not free yourself and let go of what no longer works for you? I would suggest that you take a breath and feel that new energy shift, the transition into a new vibration — a Universal 3.

The number 3 also is very significant in other ways, a few “3” examples: Mind, Body, and Spirit; Sun, Moon and Earth; Past, Present and Future; Life, Death and Rebirth; Hope, Charity and Faith.

I have always felt, and will always feel, the importance of energy which is what drives us to make important decisions, change our needs and wants, and determine what shall become more important in our lives going forward.

Knowing in our hearts what’s truly important is crucial. Meanwhile, know in the back of your mind that life can change on a dime. And if an unexpected difficult situation does arise, remember that this can be an opportunity for spiritual growth. Embrace the moment, if you can. Do your best, in any event. And remember of course, that Love is a constant that can help see you through.

So let’s welcome our new energetic year of 2019, and have a little fun. Because the number 3 is about creativity, communication, emotional sensitivity, expression, and socializing. In short, “FUN!” A time to allow our hearts to drive our endeavors, feel more passion, become creative, and infuse more play into our work.

As we venture into 2019, I am, as always, looking forward to seeing so many of you in my upcoming travels. I’ll be returning to Albany, Sturbridge, Fort Lauderdale, and Canyon Ranch in Lenox, MA in February. Some places I haven’t visited in a while are also part of my itinerary, including Las Vegas, Salt Lake City, and Seattle.

Also, speaking of events, be sure to join me on my monthly Blog Talk Radio show on Monday, January 7 at 6 pm EST / 3 pm PST. My guest this month will be astrologer Bill Attride. Bill joins me every January to share the astrological outlook for the New Year. Check out this link to listen to the show live on the 7th!

Bring in the New Year with a BANG! if that works for you. Or maybe just extend or accept and invitation to “Enjoy!” In any event, have some “Fun!”

It’s All About Love

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Happy month of the heart!

Although in many parts of the country February is cold, the heart remains warm. After all, it is the month of Valentine’s Day, which of course can bring up wonderful feelings, and some times painful ones. Wonderful feelings if you have Love in your life, which may not be just romantic partnership Love, but other forms of significant Love – your family, children, friends, and for many the “fur” beings.

What Love is for one person may be so different for another. Usually, there is a being(s) which is the essential force of Love in your life. If you don’t have one, I’m sorry because your life may be harder to endure as a result. But if that is the case, then maybe it is your choice, for whatever reason. If that is not the case, then perhaps you need to change your life to bring Love into it.

Many folks who are elderly have outlived their peers whom they loved, and as a result, don’t have anyone nearby in the physical to love, touch, or just talk or listen to. That is a very painful way to exist, and their lives may be just that – existence. I have nothing but the utmost respect for those who try to be a light for those solitary folks.

Did you know that the number one reason to be able to become an octogenarian is the ability to deal with loss and solitude? Of course, having a strong constitution and sense of survival doesn’t hurt. In case you haven’t noticed, there are also lots of 90-year olds running around, and yes, having a fun life.

My mother is 89, 90 in June, and is sharper mentally that many people folks 20 years her junior! She has her issues physically but still drives her car, and is living by herself as her husband is in a home. So with that she’s doing the best she can under the circumstances. My mother is one of those survival folks I’m talking about. She just somehow keeps going.

For those of you who may not know, I’m very much a romantic. I love Love, all kinds of Love – being in love, sharing warm conversations with friends and people I meet, including babies. And then there are animals, Nature, music and of course much more. So much to love. And of course I would be remiss to not mention Spirit, DPs (dead persons), and God.

On a lighter note, I also love the movies! We are now coming up on the Academy Awards. Movies, of course, are a form of Art. It would be a sad world without Art, since Art gives us great joy while highlighting the different aspects of life. That, I believe, is most significant and something that is always needed in our world – a reflection of what our world is, and what it can also be.

One of the movies nominated this year is, for me, a most wonderful “heart” movie, among the best I’ve ever seen. It’s called “Shape of Water.” The film is so beautiful in the way it takes us into a place that truly reveals something important, and in this case, that place is Love. Without being a “spoiler” for those who have not seen the move, suffice it to say that the film really fits into standardized concepts of what Love should or should not be. It is my belief that God is about Love. Love is everywhere and in every way. God is not about judgment. And as this artful move shows, Love is transcendent.

Finally, let me say that I always appreciate the little notes, and responses I get from all of you who read my newsletters, so feel free to fire away!

Enjoy your month of Love, and whatever makes you feel Love in your life.

I’ll be spreading my own versions of Love in the places I’ll soon be visiting. To name a few, my return to Lafayette; very excited for my Cajun folks. Also, I’ll be visiting Toronto, Michigan, Minneapolis, St. Louis, MA, CT and Southern CA.

See you all soon!

Healing Through Nature

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We are officially in Summer! The solstice was just a couple of weeks ago, on June 20th, the longest day of the year. The day when the northern pole of Earth points as close to the sun as it gets. Usually, this is the warmest time of the season, given the connection to the sun. A wonderful reason to celebrate!

And celebrate we will, with the weekend leading into the 4th of July being imminent!

All things that go with Summer – friends and families getting together, and of course remembering those loved ones with whom we have celebrated in the past but who are no longer here in the physical, but will be here in spirit – are upon us.

I’ve learned over the years that many families plan on using this time of the year to get together when other times of the year are not possible. For one thing, you can travel by car without worry of “bad” weather . . . well at least not snow!

For example, the family of a friend of mine is having a family reunion in upstate New York, where the centerpiece will be the casting of a deceased loved one’s ashes on a spot in Nature that he loved so much. While it is true that, as Jim Morrison once sang, that “Nobody here gets out alive,” it is also true that every spirit/soul does get out alive – for spirits we are, having a human experience.

Yes, it is that time of year when the weather just invites us to be outside. Speaking of which – I just came across an article about “forest bathing,” which generally speaking involves a walk in the woods to shed worldly woes, and combat stress. It’s a custom in Korea and Japan. Suffice it to say that the benefits are huge. In fact, if you can believe it, the benefits are so well established that forest bathing is covered under medical insurance in many countries (outside the U.S., where citizen health is not considered a human right).

Many of us know from experience that spending time in a forest or other forms of Nature, can not only lower stress, but also reduce pulse rate and blood pressure, which naturally improves the functioning of the nervous system, and the body overall.

One Stanford University study had participants do a memory test before and after either a Nature walk or a walk in an urban area. Those who walked in Nature improved their performance on the second memory test, while the urban walkers showed no improvement.

The same test also tended to demonstrate improved vitality after a walk in Nature. It was not the exercise so much as the actual communing with Nature.

A walk in the woods can also reduce negative thoughts. After all, how can one stroll through the woods, look at all those beautiful green trees and flowing streams, listen to birds and see the butterflies, without feeling anything but uplifted.

If you can’t make it to the country sometime soon, note this: those same studies showed that people who live in urban areas where there are parks and greenery (e.g., Central Park in Manhattan) had less mental stress and illness.

No surprise then that whenever I do conferences, the best events – in terms of actual results – are those that include a walk in Nature, and/or activities away from the city. Yes, it’s good to get away from the maddening crowd, and let the signs in Nature help us connect with loved ones on the Other Side.

Interacting with Nature also helps us connect with our DPs (dead persons) via dreams, walks, and the opening of our minds and hearts.

Simply stated, the connection with Nature is more easily facilitated during the Summer. For Summer is that time to think like kids again, put a skip in your step, and, hopefully see, feel, or sense your loved ones in spirit walking by your side.

If a departed loved one enjoyed fishing, and there is a river, lake, or pond nearby, go there! You will be reminded of those times with your DP, which will facilitate your connection to him or her in Spirit. If your DP gardened, find a garden and walk by basking in the sun, while looking at all those colors and opening your heart. There are gardens everywhere, and I mean everywhere. Yes, even in the cities where city folks have rooftop gardens, or plots in the outer boroughs (like Brooklyn or Queens).

If you live near the ocean, and don’t usually go there, a gentle shame on you! Get into it! You are missing a lot, especially at sunrise or sunset.

I promise all of you who are feeling below par that getting into Nature will make whatever is hurting deep inside or making you feel lost, get better. Simply just breathing in all that is beautiful will be of benefit. This is what is truly important, and free!

Yes free! Nature is everywhere, and everywhere is where our departed loved ones exist. If there is a cost to get to a Nature spot that beckons you, spend the bucks. It will be worth it.

Speaking of traveling (which I so often do), I’ll be in Colorado in August. I intend to take a hike in the Rocky Mountains. A Colorado mountain high! Those mountains surely beckon me.

Also looking forward to seeing all you Massachusetts folks on 13th of July, with my event with Thomas John.

In sum, don’t let the Summer pass you by. Come out of the doldrums (if that’s where you are) and just have fun. You’ll enjoy, I promise.

Love Connects Us All!

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It’s June! For many, a time to enjoy, directly or through others, a happy graduation! Time also to attend the prom! And, of course, celebrate “Father’s Day!”

For those of you remembering your father, or father figure, who has crossed over, celebrate in a way that makes sense to you and will resonate with him on the Other Side. Send a thought, light a candle, share a memory, raise a glass, and/or do whatever he might like to see you doing – and be as happy as you can. He will appreciate seeing you in a joyful mood.

Ah yes, June! Especially during this month, with Summer on the way, it’s fun, sweet, and so nice to see young people graduating, and attending proms. Nowadays things are a bit more unique, as two girls and/or two boys go to the prom together, as a couple!

Ah, young love, basking today in a moment that someday will be a wonderful memory.

Lately, I can’t help but notice so many young people experiencing what prior generations have experienced – losing friends so young. In the past, much of this tragedy had to do with war, and drugs. And now, for some, that is still the case. So sad that even with the progress we’ve made technologically, there are still cycles of tragedy and sadness that prevail in certain quarters. Very sorry about that.

Yet, there are others who are becoming involved with causes and dedications, and doing what they feel is deeply important, be it anti-war, pro-clean air, and/or or pro- human rights, etc. It is the young who will inherit the future, so let it be that they involve themselves, for they will take the reins eventually. I, for one, send them my blessings.

Remember that wherever we find ourselves now, metaphysically speaking, our souls chose to be here, present in this time in history, following the paths our souls – AKA, our higher selves – have chosen. Wherever we are, it is up to each individual to step up and face the soul’s chosen journey. Not an easy task. Planet Earth is a tough learning school. But it’s all about taking responsibility.

Yes, so many young people doing amazing things. And, of course, ultimately, it’s all about Love, which hopefully can be a light for those wandering through a dark tunnel.

On another note, for you lovers of the animal kingdom, here is a story taken from an article written by Laura Goldman, published in Care2Causes in April, 2017. (Original article published here.)

For 20 of the 21 years she’d been in captivity at SeaWorld San Diego, a polar bear named Szenja shared her enclosure with her best friend, another female bear named Snowflake.

After losing her appetite and energy, Szenja died “unexpectedly” on April 18, according to SeaWorld officials. But based on what had recently happened to Szenja, her death should hardly be considered “unexpected.”

[Previously] In late February, SeaWorld [had] transferred Snowflake to the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium in an effort to be bred. Many people urged Sea World not to separate the best friends. You just can’t separate best friends after a 20-year friendship.

Yes, animals and humans can, and do, die of a broken heart.

Another example of how relationships matter so very much, even in the animal kingdom. Let us not forget that we humans are animals, and that life can and does often change on a dime.

One thing that will never change is Love. And those memories that Love can inspire. No one can take those memories from you, no one. They are filed away in your heart, mind, and soul forever.

So much is going on for me lately, I can’t describe it all here, at this moment. Very much looking forward to seeing many of you at the Afterlife Conference in Portland. After that, I’ll be jetting to NJ, Baltimore, and Rochester. Very excited indeed.

Oh, and yes, don’t forget to smell the flowers! It’s June, after all.

Signs, Connections, and Gratitude

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Welcome to the month of giving Thanks!

There is not a day that goes by that I’m not thankful for our ability to connect to the spirit and energy, of Love.

Amazing too is how by just listening to your inner voice, or acting on a hunch or a feeling, we can open our hearts and minds to infinite possibilities. Let me share just one of those kinds of happenings, involving a person I had never met.

I was doing a radio event recently (a relatively rare occurrence nowadays, sadly, given the dynamics of the radio industry), in front of a live audience. Just before I am about to go on, the radio person who sponsored me for the event says that there is a guy in the audience who wasn’t sure but thought I might be dead! Yeah, that’s right. He came to this conclusion because he recently “saw” me with his deceased mom, while he was in the cemetery, and I was in my forties.

Well, this is what I call loaded material, scripted before I even walked out on the stage. I’m of course aware of the difference between receiving messages and interpreting them, so I knew that I had to be on my toes.

I walk out on stage, and, alluding to the story about the guy who said I was dead, I tell everyone that I’m quite sure I’m still alive and well. The guy who said I was dead steps up and sweetly and graciously proceeds to tell me that he took his mother to see me many years ago and that she had just died a month ago. He said that when he was visiting his mom’s grave, I popped into his head. From this, he had drawn the conclusion that I was deceased. He decided to Google me and found out that, on the very next day, I was going to be appearing just down the road from where he lives! I guess he should have realized at that point that I wasn’t dead, but sometimes, logic does not prevail.

It was pretty clear to me that his momma was connecting to him in the graveyard and getting him to come see me, although in a very roundabout way, which is often the case with messages from beyond. I have to say that this was, in some ways, very very funny, and yes, his momma did show up at the event with lots of other family members. And of course there were messages that came through me for him, and were very helpful.

Kids, you can’t make this stuff up! And right before Halloween! I guess that the veil between the two worlds was really rocking!

Now, with Halloween behind us, we are in the month of Thanksgiving. A difficult time for those who have had family members who were with them last year at this time, but who have crossed over in the interim, and will not be at the dinner table this Thanksgiving.

It’s during this time of year when that feeling of being alone can really hit hard – the first year after the loss of a loved one being the hardest, as I have so often said. Those who have lost someone near and dear during this past year may tend to feel especially despondent and isolated because that special someone isn’t around this Thanksgiving. But what we must always remember is that they ARE around, just not in the physical. Trust me, they are near you. Watch for those little signs. Trust our sixth sense and see how you recently departed loved one is making herself or himself known. Like I said before, listening to your inner voice, or acting on a hunch or a feeling, can open our hearts and minds to infinite possibilities.

I know it’s not easy, especially when your heart is broken. But take control. Open your hearts and minds and realize that your loved one is in a better place-a place we all are destined to ascend to eventually. Focus on this aspect of reality, recognize the Truth, and you will be able to heal your broken heart.

Now I realize that this is all easier said than done. Heartache is a deep emotion we all have to deal with sooner or later, and with the holidays coming, starting with Thanksgiving, even more so. That is why I most strongly suggest that you open up your hearts and minds, and recognize that, eventually, every soul must leave her or his body, and travel home.

Take time also to focus on others who are so much more in need. Perhaps you can become one of those wonderful volunteers who deliver food to the needy – or at least donate to that cause. But what may be even more important than food for those so down on their luck, believe it or not, is having a kind face acknowledge their presence, and wish them a happy holiday. Even better, if you can manage it, give that person in need a hug. We ALL need nurturing; no man or woman is an island.

And don’t forget your partner, or significant other, or friend, or wife or husband, whatever the term of the one you are closest with. Remember, family does NOT always mean blood. Connection is about Love, and we get it from so many different places.

So, if you are fortunate enough this year to be with all the family members who were around you last year, keep in mind those who have lost someone. Consider reaching out, and connecting with that person. The look in their eyes as you recognize their situation will be priceless.

And if you get a message about me while visiting the cemetery, like the guy on the radio show did, let me know!

And thinking of hope and thanks, I’ll be returning once again to Roanoke for Hope for the Holidays, with a stop off to ARE (Edgar Cayce’s Foundation) in Virginia Beach.

Warmly,
Suzane

P.S. Another suggestion . . . consider forgetting about your diet this Thanksgiving. I’m not saying overdo it, but, it is time to soak in all the festivities, so let yourself go, just a little.

Matters of the Heart

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Welcome to the month of the heart, February! A special thanks to St. Valentine.

It’s been shown to me over and over again, how deeply we are all affected by matters of the heart. When a loved one crosses over, our physical heart’s can actually experience pain. Hence the phrase, “a broken heart.” From my work, I have learned that “matters of the heart” are so very important, not only to us here in the physical, but to our loved ones on the Other Side as well.

My work is about the living. Our loved ones who have crossed over are fine and want very much for us to know that they are well. Why? Because they LOVE us.

Connecting with our loved ones in Spirit helps us experience their continuing love for us. Their focus in letting us know that they are fine on the Other Side is about their love for us. Matters of the heart continue on the Other Side.

Our hearts will ache when we lose a loved one, and we need to process the grief. There is no magic wand to eliminate that journey. We can’t flippantly dismiss the event. It is a path we all must walk.

What I get so often from loved ones in Spirit is that they want us to remember the good times spent together – when we laugh, hugged, or just hung out enjoying each other’s company. Those memories are ours to keep and no one can take them away.

So many DPs (dead persons) tell me that they do NOT want us to focus on the illness that took their life, or feel guilty that we didn’t do enough for them, or be sad if we were not there at the time of their death. If you were not there at your loved one’s passing, it was their choice that things end that way, a choice God gives to all of us.

Another thing that God gives us is the power to enjoy. And love. So enjoy life! And love. Treasure all matters of the heart, the warm loving times, the tender moments, the memories that make you smile, and the one that are so funny that remembering them makes you pee your pants.

Love is and remains the single most significant mental, emotional, spiritual and physical state that we all have. Without it, we would not be human.

One thing I love is when mothers give Valentine cards not only to the fathers of their children, but also to their sons and daughters. I bet that many of you would enjoy going through that old chest of memories your mom has kept and find, amongst other things, the Valentine’s Day cards she has received from you and others over the years.

Another of my favorite things is to travel and connect or reconnect with you wonderful folks. My heart sings when I focus on this aspect of my work. It’s always been something that has been special for me.

Speaking of connecting, I look forward to returning to Florida this month. This year, besides doing groups and an event at the Metaphysical Chapel of Southern Florida, I also will be doing a one day workshop. I am so looking forward to it. Later, I’ll be returning to Lafayette, Louisiana, and St. Louis for the The Sixth Annual Afterlife Conference. Among my other southern stops, I’ll be returning to the Edgar Cayce Association for Research and Enlightenment in Virginia Beach, Virginia this fall. Northern folks, not to worry as I’ll be back to Cromwell, CT in April, doing a special Mother’s Day event with Thomas John in NYC in May, and returning again to wonderful Canyon Ranch in Lenox, MA in March. Please check my calendar for complete details.

How I love sharing matters of the heart!

Matters of the Heart

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Happy matters of the heart month! And when I say “matters of the heart,” I mean ALL matters of the heart. Not just your steady or current Valentine.

Every one of our relationships involves matters of the heart, since in one way or another we are all affected emotionally by our interactions with others. And in many ways these interactions can serve as a barometer of our true selves, if we are willing to be open and grow.

Anyone who has dealt with someone who cannot be open realizes that there is little hope to grow in the relationship. We must at times make ourselves vulnerable – but of course be careful with whom you so engage. I realize how hard this can be but when we truly open ourselves, we have the greatest chance of honest transformation.

We know without question that people do die of a broken heart. So, it should come as no surprise how important matters of the heart actually are.

And of course, as I have said many times, our loved ones in Spirit, our DPs, maintain a continuing heart connection with us from the Other Side. Love does not end with physical death. Love facilitates my work.

Even short passing relationships can impact our hearts. Often, I’ve been awestruck during moments shared with clients – be it in a group, with a couple, or in a one-on-one setting. Those interactions have in so many ways transformed me, and helped me view life from different perspectives.

Interesting, too, how times of conflict and heartache can lead to a greater understanding. Indeed, trials and tribulations can push us in a direction we might not otherwise head. Along the way, if we open our hearts to change, healing and transformation are possible – even though the end result may not align with where we thought we wanted to be.

I have leaned that how we think about what we may want in our lives, is often influenced by our relationships with others, and how we feel about them in our hearts. As many of us have experienced, moments of change often occur as a result of our connection to another person(s), as well as how we travel along our spiritual paths. We are, without question, wired for connecting to others.

A relevant quote on relationships that I recently came upon follows. It’s from Angela Wilson MA, RYT.

From birth, we require connection to survive. Babies who don’t receive enough physical contact and emotional responsiveness are at higher risk for behavioral, emotional, and social problems. They cry more and sleep less. At its extreme, babies who are neglected and not touched often don’t survive. Human contact and engagement is as fundamental to our survival as food and water.

The impact of relationships on positive brain development goes well beyond infancy and far into adulthood. Studies show that certain types of therapies can change the brains of people with depression, borderline personality disorder, and trauma. A therapeutic relationship can produce changes in the brain equivalent to and sometimes lasting longer than medication. These studies point to the power of relationships to heal the mind.

Intuitively, this makes sense. Our biggest wounds most likely happen in relationships.

I have talked and written about how losing a parent or sibling when you were a child affects your relationship choices later. Heartbreaking. However, by connecting with our DPs, we can close the void that occurs when those relationships are severed at our early age. As long as we are willing to be open and listen.

We also need to be able to forgive. When our friends, family, and/or other loved ones hurt us, we need to be ready to move past it, especially if they are sincerely sorry. When this happens, the relationship can be transformative. The heartache can be healed. Forgiveness benefits the forgiver and the forgiven.

On the flip side, if you are the offender, there is (of course) no guarantee that the one you’ve hurt will accept your apology, and forgive. That is sad, because the inability to forgive may trigger the end of the relationship. However, it’s important to try and stretch ourselves and apologize when necessary, and/or accept the apologies that come our way. Most of the time, following such a path will create a rewarding outcome.

To be sure, one of the most important relationships we have as adults is our relationship with the children in our lives – whether or not we are a parent in the biological sense.

I have had many discussions with people who personally experienced the loss of a child, and perhaps suffered along with the kids through their attention deficit disorder (ADD), autism, bi-polar personality, etc. while they were here on Earth. Naturally, because of what I do as a medium, my personal dealings are after the fact of whatever happened here while the children were in their bodies. But I am honored to be able to work at connecting those children who are now Spirit to their parents (and others) who have suffered this heartbreaking loss, and are now healthy and well on the Other Side.

I’d like to share with you information on a professional who has done worldwide research on The Children of Now – Dr. Meg Blackburn Losey, Ph.D. I had Ms. Blackburn on my show recently. In case you missed the show, you can listen here. I would strongly advise anyone who wants to have some insight into the children of today, to please read Dr. Losey’s book. It’s a cliché but true that . . . it is “Our children who will inherit the earth,” and it is also our responsibility as adults to aid in that journey.

I know that during our journeys, each of us has had Valentine celebrations in school, and/or with a young sweetheart, and/or with families, etc. And the tradition still goes on.

Here’s hoping your matters of the heart on Valentine’s Day, and all days, involve Love.

Spring and Nature’s Lessons on Overcoming Grief

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Once again, I’ve been wanting something to happen sooner rather than later. This time it’s Spring! However, Mother Nature says Spring will arrive when she’s ready, not when I want it to. I understand that, of course, but after all, we’re now past Easter, having devoured the chocolate rabbits, the colored eggs, and those special dinners. Before that it was the passing of Groundhog Day and the March 21st equinox, neither of which brought much warmth. Come on Spring, get here!

Okay, that’s my mini-rant. Now I’m calming down because this morning the birds – thank God for the birds – and especially robins were everywhere. As has been in the news, so many birds had to change their flight paths to adapt to climate change, some not so easily. But that life, isn’t it? Things change.

As many have experienced, sometimes when we lose someone, our lives change dramatically and it feels like we will never be the same. There is truth in that, of course. So we need to take time to grieve, and then sort things out. Sooner or later, we begin to figure out how to move on as best we can, despite that initial devastating blow.

Just like with the delay of Spring this year, when we lose someone close, there are no magic wands or remotes to fast forward us to the next chapter. As humans, we need to go through the grieving process. Those of us that don’t take the time to grieve, and instead do everything we can to avoid facing the reality of our emotions, are merely postponing the inevitable. At some point, now or 10 years from now, the loss will impact us emotionally. It’s a good idea to deal with the loss sooner rather than later, and let the healing process begin.

Here’s another thing I’ve learned in all my years doing this work. However long it takes you to get beyond the passing of a loved one, and into a mode of normalcy, honor that. If someone tells you to “Get over it” or “Move on already,” tell them, “Walk a mile in my shoes, and then we’ll talk about it!”

Just like getting beyond Winter is taking longer than usual this Spring, overcoming grief can take longer than we hoped and planned. If you find yourself in that kind of situation, just let Nature take its course. Don’t rush it.

Even though Spring is only here on the calendar, it’s very exciting to know that – unless there is another upcoming event that I am unaware of – I will be seeing many of you in the coming months. My special return to Cromwell always warms my heart, and I’ll be doing a fund raiser for Liam Nation this month. I’m then off to Roanoke, Chicago, Denver, Baltimore and Philly. Check out my events page for details.

Spring – A Time for Fulfillment

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I for one am counting the days till Spring, and waiting for the air to get warmer, blossoms to bloom, the grass to turn green. Spring is truly the season that we all regain that bounce in our step, smile at the sun, and remember how love feels. Someone reminded me recently that there are so many babies born in February, nine months after Spring hits its stride in May.

Every season contains its own wonders, but it is Spring that gives us the energy to say, “I need to do this NOW,” and then – if we are serious – follow through on making the dream a reality.

Spring can also be a time for reflection, and a time to revisit past dreams that may have gone unfulfilled.

Recently, I re-read the words spoken from loved ones who were about to cross over. The number one regret is: “I wish I’d had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.”

When a person realizes that her life is almost over, she can look back on her experiences and see how many dreams have gone unfulfilled. Indeed, most people have not honored even a half of their dreams, and sadly they pass away knowing that this failure was due to the choices they had made along the way.

Now, in life, we know that it isn’t always that easy to follow our hearts, and work at our dreams. But it is so very important to try and honor at least some of your dreams. The moment you lose your health, it is too late. Health brings a freedom very few realize, until they no longer have it. So while you have your health, give it a try. Think about all the Springs in your past, the dreams you had, the ones you followed, and especially the ones that have passed you by. See if maybe one of your dreams is still worth pursuing, and think about putting it into action. Don’t wait until you’re on your death-bed to smell the flowers. Instead, choose to follow a dream this Spring.

As always, I am looking forward to seeing so many of you again. I’ll soon be going back to Cromwell, Connecticut, and a fundraiser in Massachusetts. Later, a return to Roanoke, Denver, St. Louis and Canada. Visit my website for all the details.

Valentine’s Day, Love, and Reflections on Sandy Hook

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It’s February, a month for many that is so very cold. Yet, it is also the month associated with warm hearts. Partly due, no doubt, to the influence of the famous St. Valentine whose devotion to Love sustained him even while he was in prison.

I must confess that the importance of Love is something that preoccupies my daily thoughts. I am at times very taken aback when I perceive that Love is absent, for I have seen the reality of people dying of a broken heart.

Of course I know, and often say, that Love never dies, even when there is a physical detachment. In my work, Love is what facilitates the connections I make between loved ones-every woman, man, and child – be they here or on the Other Side.

For close to forty years, I have stared into the eyes of hundreds if not thousands of mothers, fathers, sisters, and brothers who have lost a child who was so very close to them. The look on the faces of those left behind is always the same, reflecting in that moment how their lives have changed so dramatically. So many of them are simply never the same.

Since Christmas, I have been inundated with questions about the innocent children killed at Sandy Hook, an event of nightmarish proportions which appears to have no rhyme or reason. Like everyone, I don’t have THE answer, but I know this: everything happens for a reason. We may not always be able to perceive what the reason is, but it does exist.

With regard to events like Sandy Hook, perhaps one “reason why” we can all agree on is the importance of realizing how precious is the life of every child. Whether we are talking about a kid of well-to-do parents on the upper West Side of Manhattan, or a child on the verge of starving to death in the war-torn Middle East, we must do what we can to cherish and care for every child in the world. Millions of them are so in need of shelter, water, food, clothes, and LOVE.

Can we all imagine, in the words of John Lennon, what the world would be, if Love replaced war as the dominant theme here on Earth? Try to focus on that, and do what you can for a child near you, or half way across the world. All children should be allowed to feel safe, free, and loved. Please do what you can to help make that happen.

One very simple way, if I may so suggest, is this. During this month of February, the month of warm hearts and Love, give a child, or even someone who is a child at heart, a great big hug. Just to let them know that you care.

In my work, I have had the distinct honor and privilege of being able to reach out to many of your beautiful children in Spirit, and reconnect them to you. Realize, however, that you can do this yourself, at will. If your child is in Spirit – as is my nephew who was born on February 13th and will always be my “funny Valentine” – reach out to him or her with Love. They will receive your message. They will feel your Love. And you will feel the better for it. Guaranteed!

Looking forward to seeing many of you in next few months on West Coast, Canada, Arizona, Denver, Chicago, and of course my own Northeast.

Have a Happy Valentine’s Day!