Presence Through Transitions in Life

Let’s start this newsletter with a {{{{{drum roll}}}}} for the greatly awaited Spring Equinox, coming March 20th!

For those of you who may wonder what an equinox actually is . . . well, an equinox is commonly regarded as the instant of time when the plane of the Earth’s equator lines up with the center of the Sun. This occurs twice each year: around March 21st and around September 21st. It is the moment when the center of the visible Sun passes directly over the equator.

Interestingly enough, the March Equinox occurs when many folks are beginning a new project for which Winter hadn’t provided any inspiration. Spring is also a time when many folks look for a different job, career, or new relationship.

I, for one, am always chomping at the bit waiting for Spring to arrive. Don’t get me wrong, though. Winter, like all the other seasons, has its beauty and place. But I’m a Spring and warm weather gal at heart.

I’m also a gal who has certain moments when I realize what it’s like to be living (as I do) in two different “worlds” — not only doing the routine things here on Earth, but also of course connecting to the Other Side. Somehow this realization reminds me of how precious each moment on Earth is, and how life can change on a dime. Like when suddenly we are faced with losing a loved one to physical death.

I recently went through something like this with my sister, who lost her sister-in-law (her husband’s sister) who had made her transition. The sister-in-law was the center and “the Rock” of her immediate family which was devastated by her loss.

The family really doesn’t yet have a clue how to put any of the pieces back together again. Life will never be the same for any of them, and adjusting will take time. Yet, this tragedy can be an opportunity to grow.

I actually got to meet the departed sister-in-law several times before she crossed. Not only was she the Rock, but she was also “the Connector” to her siblings and their 93 year old mother.

This is a pattern I often see — many women serve as the Rock in the family. And when they cross over, well, a new reality of life begins for all those whom “the Rock” has touched. Indeed, there is a ripple effect among all those who loved her, and for all those who were loved by her.

In my work, I have met many folks who have gone through this difficult experience. Ultimately, every second, minute, and hour of the day has to be experienced from a new perspective. Life doesn’t come with a manual, and death affects each of us in different ways. We have to figure out how to move on. But, it ain’t easy!

For the record, the last thing many of the mourning want to hear is something like, “She’s in a better place,” so consider avoiding that phrase (even though it is literally true) because at that moment, the deceased’s family’s world has fallen apart, and “good news” words like those don’t truly resonate with everyone.

During the conversations I had with my sister, all I could repeat to her during her sobs was that she should hold the husband’s hand, listen to what he has to say, and mostly “just be there.” And yes, tell him how much you love him, how much your sister loved him, and that Love never dies.

Of course, we can never walk another person’s path, or pain . . . but it is good for those who can be there to just be there.

Remember that if you believe that Love never dies, and if you can keep your heart and mind open, you can hear or feel your DPs around you. It takes a big leap for some to accept this, but that is what continuing Love is all about — opening up your heart, paying attention, and connecting.

Sending you my thoughts of Love, along with this reminder — we are not walking this journey alone.

As always, looking forward to seeing so many of you this upcoming Spring when the cycles of life in Nature remind us that rebirth is upon us.

Check my website for my upcoming events.

How Hurricane Harvey, Lady Gaga, and Love Has Brought People Together

So . . . Are we feeling the “shortest” season fade away? No doubt that this summer was for many very challenging, especially for those impacted by Hurricane Harvey. Whether Harvey was a natural event as the mainstream media states, or a geoengineered event as some experts have found, our hearts and support go out to all those who ended this summer on such a tragic note – loss, loss, and more loss.

The Northeast had the coolest August in like, forever, but we’re not complaining here, since so many places are hurting and need all the love, positive thoughts, and whatever help we can send, in any way.

I personally know people in Houston, about whom I happily can say are okay. Others I know in Louisiana weren’t as lucky.

I’m still waiting for my friends and family on the West Coast to give an update of what is going on there, as I write this. A very difficult and painful time. How do we put it all back together?

Of course, our prayers go out in the hope that family members and friends made it out alive. But if not, we know that they were met by their loved ones on the Other Side. And, believe it or not, tragedies like this are always harder on the folks who survive.

When a tragedy like Harvey strikes, people band together. There are so many wonderful warm and giving folks who step up to the challenge. This moment was no exception.

I can’t tell you if it’s in the air or whatever, but . . . this is a very difficult time to live in. So many people with whom I have come in contact over the last several months have expressed just that.

My thoughts and words previously expressed in other newsletters and in my books, I shall repeat: In the BIG scheme of things, the one constant is Love. Hang on to Love, and it will help you through these very rough times.

Remember that our loved ones in spirit had their own conflicts and challenges while here, and they faced all that. For many, facing up to those challenges made them stronger. We can learn from that.

I am often told wonderful stories about grandparents, great grandparents, aunts and uncles, etc., who endured so much but kept going on. For many, it was the love of their family, and/or other loved ones, that helped them persist.

Things can be replaced. People cannot. So when our loved ones cross over, there is no need to try and replace them. They are there for us, on the Other Side. Connect with them through dreams, feelings, and intuition. As I indicate at my events, every soul gets out alive.

On another note, a quick sharing from one of my 2017 summer highlights. I saw Lady Gaga at Boston’s Fenway Park, the oldest major league baseball park in America. Needless to say, Lady Gaga filled Fenway. She is an amazing talent.

There were many moments that stuck me of her gift of giving every part of herself, but what I didn’t know initially was who “Joanna” was.

I had learned that Lady Gaga’s song to Joanna was a tribute, and when Lady Gaga opened up in song about who Joanna was, I could feel the connection. Joanna was her aunt, her dad’s sister who died when Lady Gaga was three years old. That event impacted her whole life since her father sort of smothered her (they are Italians) because he was so devastated by his sister’s loss. This somehow translated to fear of losing his daughter.

Lady Gaga’s story is one of many similar experiences reflecting how physical loss of a loved one can impact our lives. This was as true for her just it is true for so many of us who have walked a similar path.

However, what was wonderful to me was that Lady Gaga decided to, and did, share her experience with the audience, many of whom, I am sure, totally understood.

This is one thing an effective artist can do, but discussing the death of a loved one is not something many artists dare to share.

Kudos to you Lady Gaga! And as far as the music was concerned, I sat among so many wonderful people who had such a great time. We all did hoop and holler!

One gentleman near me was around 75 years old and wearing a red “Joanna Tour” tee-shirt from Cape Cod. Boy, was he a fan! He knew everything about Lady Gaga and it was he who told me who Joanna was before Lady Gaga shared her story on stage. And when she did share, it was at that moment she asked, “Can you feel all the love in this room?”

Yes! We did! A night I will always remember.

Enjoy the rest of what summer is left. Technically, Autumn doesn’t come until late September.

“All things come to an end,” they say, but never the one thing that is most important: Love.

As far as my Fall travels, I’ll be going to some new places and returning to favorites. I’ll be in Atlanta, Asheville, and Tarrytown this September, and California in October; specifically, Sacramento, LA, and San Diego.

Looking forward as always to seeing some of you for the first time, and others again.

Matters of the Heart

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!

The Month of “Thanksgiving”

November, the month of “Thanksgiving,” and for many a favorite holiday! It’s a time when we can share with many that need of family and friends. Of that desire to help out at a soup kitchen or local shelter. Truly a time to be thankful for all the blessings we have, beyond of course having a bountiful meal which many of us don’t have.

Some people, I realize, feel sad over the loss of our loved ones who are not sitting with us at the dining room table. Our loved ones on the Other Side know this and will often come around on Thanksgiving (or other holiday, or birthday, or anniversary, etc.) to remind us that they still want us to have that great meal and enjoy it, even if they’re not here in the physical. Some DPs (dead persons) just love having a place set for them, so if you are of a mind to do that, consider it! It’s one way to honor our departed loved ones.

Of course, as all pet owners know, honoring departed loved ones does not only apply to our deceased humans. Every once in a while a beautiful story of honoring is sent to me or it comes to me because of my total love and respect for the animal kingdom. Below is an edited version of the story of Lawrence Anthony (1950-2012), which appeared in Care Connection.

Lawrence Anthony is a legend in South Africa, and the author of three books including the bestseller, The Elephant Whisperer. During his lifetime, Anthony bravely rescued wildlife and rehabilitated elephants all over the globe, saving them from human atrocities. For example, his courageous rescue mission at the Baghdad Zoo to protect animals was a counterpoint of light to the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003.

As his obituary read . . . On March 7, 2012, Lawrence Anthony died. He is remembered and missed by his wife, two sons, two grandsons, and numerous elephants. Two days after Anthony’s passing, the wild elephants showed up at his home led by two large matriarchs. Separate wild herds arrived in droves to say goodbye to their beloved “man-friend”. Believe it or not, a total of 31 elephants had patiently walked over 112 miles to get to Anthony’s South African House.

Witnessing this spectacle, humans were obviously in awe not only because of the supreme intelligence and precise timing that these elephants sensed about Lawrence’s passing, but also because of the profound memory and emotion the beloved animals evoked in such an organized way, walking slowly, for days, making their way in a solemn one-by-one queue from their habitat to his house. Lawrence’s wife, Francoise, was especially touched, knowing that for well over three years, the elephants had not been to Anthony’s house before that day! But yet they knew where they were going, and what had happened.

The elephants obviously wanted to pay their deep respects, honoring their friend who had saved their lives. They held so much respect that they stayed for two days and two nights, without eating anything. Then, the next morning, they left, to begin making their long journey back home.

This story left me in tears, and exemplifies the power of Love in all beings. I have known for many years from working with animal communicators just how unbelievable elephants are. I recognize how many of you hold such high respect for the animal kingdom, especially after experiencing the loss of a beloved doggy, kitty, horse, or other beloved animal friend. And I am aware that some of you took in dogs during Hurricane Katrina, with some rescuers being outside the U.S. So this story is primarily for all of you animal lovers out there, even tho it is definitely a story that anyone can appreciate.

It’s always about love.

I’m looking forward to seeing many of my Connecticut folks on November 10. I’ll also be coming back for another “Hope for the Holidays” in Roanoke on November 21.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving, everyone, with an abundance of love. Keep in mind that Love can come from so many sources, including two and four legged beings here, or on the Other Side.

Springtime Reflections and Connections

It’s May! Time to smell the flowers!

Of course, joy will be more tempered for us here in the Northeast this season, in light of recent events, including the wonderful people of Boston being victimized at their beloved Marathon, and the lockdown that followed. Tragically, it was a reminder of how life can change in a moment, or “on a dime,” as the old expression has it.

I had been asked last year if I would do a fund raiser in the Boston area for Liam Nation, a organization that helps children with Down syndrome and autism. Hey, I love Boston and do a couple of events a year there, and since this is a great cause, I agreed.

As fate would have it, my appearance there turned out to be right after the bombing. It was touch and go for a while whether I’d be able to get into the Boston area, but one thing I knew for sure: Boston needed all the healing it could receive during this time. So I persevered and fortunately was able to get thru.

I couldn’t help but feel a special connection to the people of Boston as the tragedy came with such an intensity, bringing me back to the unspeakable 9/11 horrors in New York City over a decade ago. Back then, and in Boston recently, so many people did manage to bond together to help heal their cities.

Once again, it is the loved ones left here in the physical realm who must deal with the loss and pain, and to make sense of it all. And once again, I get emails about my book, Everything Happens for a Reason. People ask, what was the reason for this tragedy?

My response is always the same. I can’t give you the specific reasons for everything that happens, but what this is about is our own souls’ processes and journeys.

And of course it could have been worse. I heard one officer say that although it was so painful for those who were directly victimized, and their families and friends, many more might have been injured or killed. Indeed, I got to speak to a number of families and connected to those who had lost limbs. Courageously, they said that they were happy to be alive.

As you know, my work is about the living – those who are still here, processing their pain and grief. It is important to remember that our loved ones who have crossed over are fine and well on the Other Side. We who are left here actually have the tougher job.

It helps to know deep in our souls that we don’t die, and that our loved ones want us to open our hearts to them, and to watch and listen for the signs they will send. We just have to work at being open. We have to figure out the way or the ways DP (dead person) contact works for us, and let it happen. Trust me, they are many ways, as I discuss in my books.

Remember, the more you are open to communication to the Other Side, the better the chances of maximizing your DP connections. Love is the vehicle. Heed the words of John Lennon: “All you need is Love.”

In closing, please let me note that I’m doing my Mothers Day event once again this year for WXLO, outside Boston. I hope to see many of you there. I also look forward to returning to Chicago and Denver.

Thank you all who attended my Connecticut event, which is always so special.

Happy 2013!

Happy 2013 to all! We obviously we got through 12/21/12, despite some Mayan calendar interpretations predicting the end of the world. Obviously those predictions were wrong. It’s time to move forward. We now begin “a new cycle,” as astrologers, numerologists, and my fans well know.

Given that 2+0+1+3 = 6, 2013 is a 6 year-the number generally associated with family, service, responsibility, and work. To know how you may fit into this paradigm, consider meditating on this perspective, and/or doing some research, and/or checking with your guides and teachers who should be able to assist you on your journey into the new year. Also listen to the archives from my Blog Talk Radio show on January 7th. My guest was Bill Attride, a superb and very astute astrologer!

As most of you know, I was asked to be an honorary master of the winter solstice celebration at the Mayan Pyramid in Uxmal, Mexico. There were only a select few permitted to perform ceremony at the sacred pyramids. However, over 400 people attended, from all over the world. The very distinguished Masaru Emoto from Japan was there, and what a special honor it was for me to be at the ceremony with him. As the ceremony was in Spanish, translators came to relay the spoken words into Japanese, French, and English.

We arrived at the temple at 3am. The ceremony lasted four hours. What a beautiful experience! The focus of the ceremony was on Humanity, the union with Mother Earth, and how “All is One.”

During Mr. Emoto’s talk (interpreted into English by his son), he shared that when his grandson was born, he knew he had to do all he could to make the earth a better place. He noted how the power of water in all it’s forms is crucial to this change. With that in mind, he announced that he was donating 65,000 copies of his books to the people of Mexico, to share his message that he feels everyone needs to know. During Mr. Emoto’s speech, there wasn’t a dry eye in the house.

At the Mayan event, the idea of separateness was absent, and instead the emphasis was based on the oneness of Love. Of course, as I have been saying for some time at my seminars, galleries, and private sessions, no matter what the language, the message is Love.

Love is the key for connecting, even when the loss of a loved one is involved. For Love never dies.

Of course, there is no replacement for losing a loved one-ask any parent who has lost a child. From that moment on, our lives are never the same. However, we must learn to live with the loss, and the resulting new reality, until it is time for us to make our own transition, and we get to meet our loved ones again. That, my friends, I promise, is what will be.

As I’ve noted many times before, my mediumship work is about the living, those left here in the physical who need to go on and do what is necessary to continue, and honor our loved ones who are now in Spirit. They are fine, so don’t worry. And we will all experience that fineness once again, first-hand, once our journey here is ended.

Soon I’ll be going to California, Tucson, and Montreal-a first for me. Then to Florida, Denver, the Northwest, and of course my beloved Northeast. Check out my events page for details.

As always it’s my honor to connect or reconnect with each of you, this time in the New Year of 2013.

My thoughts of Love go out to all you. If I may suggest, embrace whatever you feel this coming year of 2013 is meant to be, for you.

Welcome to November

Welcome to November, the month of Old Souls Day and Thanksgiving, but here in the Northeast we are still reeling from the full-moon arrival of Superstorm Sandy which caused so much damage heading into Halloween.  Last year we had Irene, the fifth costliest hurricane in United States history, who still leaves her mark, including towns that no longer exist.  This year it was Sandy who wreaked unprecedented havoc on places like lower Manhattan, Coney Island, Breezy Point, and the Jersey Shore.  Scientists reportedly have been warning New York City officials for ten years that due to global warming and the rising ocean temperatures that intensify storms, levees were needed along the coastline.  Now, in the wake of Sandy, perhaps City officials will listen.  Governor Cuomo has proposed levees to protect New York City.

Fortunately and thankfully, I live on the upper west side of Manhattan where you would have never known Sandy had passed thru.  Still I can relate.  It’s a time to come together and help your neighbors.  Attitudes change in crises like this, even among New Yorkers.  I  remember so vividly after 9/11 when people at the airports were telephoning their families, friends, and significant others, and saying when they could finally get through, “I love you.”  It struck me deeply then, as it did during Sandy, how life can change so dramatically in just a moment.  Makes us realize how precious our lives are, and why love is so important.

Doing what I do, I have seen so often that people who have lost their loved ones focus on all the “woulda, coulda, shoulda’s” that suddenly become impossible.  Sandy will bring that out.  She caused over a hundred deaths.  Not to mention the thousands upon thousands of homes and cars that were destroyed.  While those material possessions can be replaced, the physical presence of a lost loved one cannot.  However, we need to remember that although our bodies pass away, our spirits live on.  As does the love we feel for those we have lost, and their love for us.  The soul is real.  Love never dies.

This coming Thanksgiving, for those of us who were fortunate enough to have escaped Sandy’s wrath, I would suggest that we not only be thankful, but also share whatever we can with others less fortunate.

In my journeys this month, I look forward to connecting with those of you who can attend my event at the Edgar Cayce facility in Virginia Beach.  I’ll also be doing another “Hope for the Holidays” in Roanoke, and revisiting my soul family in Connecticut.  Please visit my website for the details.

Spring is Around the Corner!

The most wonderful thing happened just the other day…I heard cardinals singing outside my window!  Now I know it’s supposed to be the groundhog who predicts how long the rest of the winter will last, but he is often wrong.  The cardinals are never wrong!  So cheer up my Winterland friends, because Spring is right around the corner. I hope that this news brings music to your ears, the way the cardinals brought a song of Spring to me.

Although I am chomping at the bit for Spring to arrive, I will share with you that I did very much enjoy my recent trip to Denver.  The people there made me feel so welcome, which in turn helped bring about the many miraculous connections between the Denverites who attended my events, and all their loved ones in Spirit.  It was truly an honor to share such wonderful experiences while in the presence of those majestic Rocky Mountains, whose beauty overtakes you wherever you go.

This Spring, on the vernal equinox, I’ll be in Teotihuacan, Mexico-described by Wikipedia as “an enormous archaeological site in the Basin of Mexico, containing some of the largest pyramidal structures built in the pre-Columbian Americas.”  I’ll be there at the pyramids -to welcome Spring while embarking on a true shamanic journey.  This will be my very first trip to Teotihuacan, and one I’m truly looking forward to.  I’ll be sharing stories from my years of working with clients-allowing attendees to gain a greater understanding of the death process and why our loved ones continue to communicate with us even after their physical death, and in the process bring us the peace of knowing that Love never dies.

I’m often asked, “What if my loved ones spoke another language, will you be able to relay their messages to me?”  The answer is Yes! DP communications come thru the universal language of Love. So I am able to connect with DPs who spoke no English while they were here in the physical.  Sometimes a specific expression or phase may have a meaning that I do not understand but I will pass it along.  The family members and friends here will recognize what their loved ones in Spirit are talking about. And the basic message of Love and connection will come thru loud and clear.

Oh, and let us also not forget that a few days before the vernal equinox, on March 17, everyone becomes Irish.  Join in to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, and if the spirit moves you, connect with the faeries and leprechauns, those lively cheerful energies that bring us luck and make us dance and sing. Ah yes, St. Patrick’s Day-a wonderful reason to celebrate, especially in New York City, home of the great St. Paddy’s Day Parade!  Another sure sign of Spring!

Finally, as Spring approaches, don’t forget to mark your calendars to tune into my radio shows.  On Monday March 7 (6 PM Eastern, 3 PM Pacific), my guest will be Dr. Gary Schwartz, the University of Arizona professor with whom I worked as part of “The Afterlife Experiments.”  Also, on Monday Apr 11 (6 PM Eastern, 3 PM Pacific), my guest will be Dr. Judith Orloff, author of the very popular “Emotional Freedom,” which has just come out in paperback. If you can’t be there for the live broadcasts, check out the archives at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/search/northrop/

That’s all for now!  Take care and be well!