love

Wisdom Gained in Chile, and Celebrating Spring Holidays

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Welcome to April! We are now officially in Aries, the first sign in the Zodiac, corresponding with the March 20 Vernal Equinox.

This would be a good time to check things out with your local, trusted astrologer. Let them get you up to speed on all that’s happening from their astrological perspective, and see what resonates and works out.

This April has many religious holy days — Passover and Easter being the most well known here in the U.S. Many of these days reflect Spring celebrations and beginnings. Eggs are set at the table for Easter and Seder, and lamb and greens are served at both celebrations. Yes, whatever your religious persuasion, a table with lots of food to eat makes for a grand time.

I know that for many families during this holiday season, what is very important is enjoying the children who are smiling and having fun. Coloring Easter eggs, going on Easter hunts, etc. At Seders, the little ones get to sit next to grandma and ask four questions.

One theory holds that the symbol of the bunny rabbit on Easter stems from a pagan tradition, specifically the festival of “Eostre” — named after a goddess of fertility whose animal symbol was a bunny. Rabbits, known for their energetic breeding, have traditionally symbolized fertility.

I recently traveled to Chile. OK, you’ve heard me rave about Africa, still my favorite trip. But I now have to say that Chile comes close to tying Africa as my favorite destination. If Chile is not on your travel list, I would highly recommend that you add it, and don’t hesitate to go!

I know many of you have heard about Patagonia, a famous place in Chile (seen in the picture above). However, there are many other beautiful places there, including deserts, lakes, and mountains where the third largest glacier is.

Mother Earth (Mama Pacha, as the Chileans refer to her) is revered by the indigenous people who live in harmony with the Earth, and do all they can to preserve their traditions, land, and country. Chileans are very proud of their country, and are very willing to express their love of Mother Earth with others.

A shout-out to Almendia, who enlightened me regarding the Chilean land, history and culture. Lots I didn’t know. For instance, there is a huge German population that emigrated to Chile.

People travel from all over the world to get to Chile, and it’s very cool to interact with those fellow travelers. Mostly I met Brazilians and Argentinians, but there were also lots of Brits, Germans, Canadians and Asians, as well as many Americans.

Interestingly enough, although Chile is a Catholic country, while there I heard that many parents have left the Church, because they are disappointed with much of what’s going on within the Church itself. The holidays remain important in relationship to the family, but not the Church. I’m sure many of you can relate.

I’ve always been a big believer that sometimes we need to stretch out of our comfort zone, to better ourselves. Traveling to Chile, or to another country, or even another area in your own state, is one way of stretching out.

There are many ways to travel, and many wonderful companies that can arrange your adventure at a very reasonable rate. One thing I’ve noticed is that many retired teachers love to travel! They deserve it for all the services performed to help educate children.

Speaking of children, I’m doing a fundraiser on April 4th, for TEEG (Thompson Ecumenical Empowerment Group) — a small grassroots non-profit social service agency in North Grosvenordale, CT. They began in 1985 as a group of volunteers that joined together to meet the needs of “Three Rows”, the largest mill village in the North Grosvenordale section of Thompson. The community volunteers determined their focus was to create a safe place for children to play and to foster “self-help.” In 1988, TEEG was incorporated as a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. At TEEG, they have always believed that the quality of their service rests on two things: Compassion for those who seek their service, and accountability to those who fund their programs.

Ah yes, Spring is here! Enjoy this wonderful time of the year. And kids, it’s time for those seeds to be planted! Quite literally, and of course symbolically on other levels as well.

I look forward to seeing many of you at my upcoming events. Yes, it’s all about those we love.

Happy Month of Love!

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February — the month of love, love, and more love.

During my work, it’s been shown to me over and over again, how deeply we are affected by matters of the heart. Not only the romantic “Valentines Day” kind, but matters of the heart that are not easy to endure.

Like when someone you love says a harsh word, and you take it to heart. Or when a person close to you gets injured, and you feel so bad for them. Or when you’re grieving the loss of a partner, relative, or friend.

Sometimes the heartache is so great that you can feel it physically, as if your heart were literally about to break. And sometimes that can actually happen, like when people “die of a broken heart.”

Every one of our relationships is a matter of the heart, and those relationships are impacted by our interactions with others, which can also serve as a barometer of our selves — if we are willing to open our own hearts.

As most of my newsletter readers are aware, the job of our loved ones on the Other Side is to continue a relationship with us here, with their “hearts” open.

Often, the DPs (dead persons) tell me that they don’t want us to focus on negativity — past illnesses, for example; or woulda, coulda, shoulda-type stuff. Instead, they want us to go to the memory of happy times spent together — times when we hugged, and laughed, or maybe just hung out. Those memories are ours to hold in our open hearts, and keep the love alive.

So, do keep those loving moments close to your open heart. And remember that love is, and remains, the single most important mental, emotional, and spiritual aspect of life here on Planet Earth.

On another note, I feel I must say that I also appreciate expressions of love sent via Hallmark, etc. I think it’s wonderful that, for example, parents (especially mothers) give Valentine cards to their kids. Some sisters and brothers also use Valentine’s Day to express their love for each other. Whoever you love, you can say it with a card.

Many folks, I know, save those Valentines Day cards from years gone by. And going through that old chest or shoebox, looking at the cards your mom sent you way back when, can inspire some wonderful childhood memories, I am sure.

Now, I do recognize that Hallmark and other card companies likely make a significant profit on Valentine’s Day, but hey, it’s America, and it’s still a good thing. The card makers are providing a very worthwhile product, though their prices do seem to have gone up lately.

If buying a card doesn’t appeal to you, consider expressing your feelings the old fashion way — by making your own card.

Or get modern with a phone call, text, or email. Or even a personal visit. Whatever — Do express your love on Valentine’s Day.

As most of us know, gifts are also an appropriate way to show love on Valentine’s Day (and other times, of course), although exchanging gifts is not for every relationship. It all depends. You make the call!

Recently, I was reminded of a prayer that I had been called upon to include in one of my newsletters years ago. The prayer is about having an open heart. Hope you like it. Feel free to use this prayer, if the words suit you.

Mother and Father God in Spirit,

Help us remember that the jerk who cut us off in traffic last night is a single mother who worked nine hours that day and is rushing home to cook dinner, help with homework, do the laundry and spend a few precious moments with her children.

Help us to remember that the pierced, tattooed, disinterested young man who can’t make change correctly is a worried 19-year-old college student, balancing his apprehension over final exams with his fear of not getting his student loans for next semester.

Remind us that the scary looking bum, begging for money in the same spot every day (who really ought to get a job!) is a slave to addictions that we can only imagine in our worst nightmares.

Help us to remember that the old couple walking annoyingly slow through the store aisles and blocking our shopping progress are savoring this moment, knowing that, based on the biopsy report she got back last week, this will be the last year that they go shopping together.

Mother and Father God in Spirit, remind us each day that, of all the gifts you give us, the greatest gift is love. It is not enough to share that love with those we hold dear. Open our hearts not to just those who are close to us, but to all humanity. Let us be slow to judge and quick to forgive, show patience, empathy and love.

I think this prayer says it all!

Looking forward to seeing so many of you at my upcoming Spring events. I’m doing another wonderful fundraiser in April and returning to Club L.E.D. in March. Plus, don’t forget that this coming Monday, February 4th, I will be doing my monthly Blog Talk Radio show with my special guest, medium and soul gardener Austyn Wells. Immediately after the show – at 7:30 pm EST / 4:30 pm PST – I will be doing another LIVE Facebook event. Last month’s event was so well-received, I’m looking forward to connecting with more of you on Monday!

All my love to all of you, this Valentine’s Day season!

Coming Together in Gratitude at the Afterlife Conference

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Here we are in November — the month of connecting with family and friends while enjoying food, drink, laughter, and most importantly, Love — especially on Thanksgiving.

“Sharing our bounty” where it’s needed is key. And sharing Love that’s needed around the world is part of the program. When giving to charities, be selective.

Just did another Afterlife Conference. This year the event was held in Orlando, Florida. As always, a very special conference — lots of sharing with so many wonderful people who worked tirelessly in giving, in any way they could, to help others.

Reminded me of hospice workers, nurse practitioners, shamans who assist their clients’ transition to the Other Side, and all those who are there to listen to folks who have had a loved one pass away, sometimes right before the holiday season.

And then, of course, there are mediums.

Whoever the speaker, the message always is this: We are all here to help heal and give in any way we can — to and for those who need our services. Yes, we are all at times called upon to perform a service, though some of us may not hear, or heed, the call.

For those of us who do hear and heed that call, there are so many ways we can assist. Whatever is performed, it doesn’t have to be of earth-shaking magnitude. It can be a simple task like helping an elderly person across the street.

The other day when I was home in NYC, a woman who was trying to get on the bus was having difficulties — her eyesight was so bad she couldn’t select from her purse, the right change to put into the machine to get on the bus. So, another woman and I helped her out and got her on board.

Then while I was in Orlando, there were several women in my workshop who talked about how there was a rainbow all around the Pulse area where the tragic and infamous Orlando shootings took place. The women were all in awe of the rainbow, and spoke of how beautiful and powerful the rainbow was.

Another gentleman in the workshop remarked about how he happened to be in Northern California when the recent fires broke out — right near where his dear friend Jill had a rescue mission for horses. What he couldn’t believe was, all the barns in that area had caught fire, except one, which belonged to Jill. She had been sitting on the road for over three hours in prayer, and her barn was the only one that didn’t catch on fire! He said that if he hadn’t seen it with his own eyes, he wouldn’t have believed it. Yes, prayers can work!

These are just some of the wonderful stories that I have had the honor of hearing, as I performed my service as a medium.

Part of the joy of being at the Afterlife Conference was observing how so many attended not just because of a wish to connect with their loved ones on the Other Side, but to connect to Life here on Planet Earth.

I care about our existence here. My work is not about the DPs (dead persons) per se, but actually about the living folks who remain connected to their loved ones on the Other Side. However, all may and do benefit from the connection.

For all my living folks out there in Internet land, as we approach the holidays — Thanksgiving happens this month, of course — remember: don’t ever feel that the little acts and deeds that you do don’t matter, because they absolutely do.

Even a “Thank you” can mean so much. For example, a very humble young woman walked up to me after my workshop at the Afterlife Conference and thanked me for reminding her that there is no one way
for all of us who are on a spiritual journey, to proceed. I was so happy to receive that feedback.

Indeed, we are not all meant to be one thing. We are individuals meant to be who we are individually, and destined to engage the challenges that emerge along the way.

Next year the Afterlife Conference will be held in Salt Lake City. Hope to see you there.

Enjoy this wonderful time of giving and thanks. I look forward to connecting with many of you in my Florida events, Tampa, Boca and Fort Lauderdale and of course another special “Hope for the Holidays” in Roanoke!

Take Time to Savor the Little Moments

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This past Sunday, I was sitting on my deck in the country and looking out at the trees in the meadow. A breeze was moving the branches and leaves in a beautiful rhythmic dance. I could swear that the leaves were listening to the wind as music.

While gazing at the meadow, I got the message that “Life doesn’t get any better.” I just took in the communication knowing that even though August was drawing to a close and Fall was coming, it didn’t matter. What mattered most was that moment of joy, on that magical Sunday.

Fond memories are and will always be, ours to have. This is just one of the “pearls of wisdom” the DPs (“dead persons,” for the uninitiated) have shared with me.

Simple, joyful moments can help us through whatever challenges and difficulties may exist. As I’ve said during all the years of my work, it’s always the little things that count, like a simple breeze and a quick communication from a DP.

Remember, our loved-ones in spirit want us to know that they are around, and they want to share their wisdom with us. When they do, it’s a moment to treasure.

Another thing I treasure is radio. Recently, I was on my longest radio show ever, with Gary Craig at WTIC in Connecticut. Although I have done lots of radio in the Northeast, especially Massachusetts, I am especially loyal to Gary who has been having me on his show for twenty-five years. To say our connection is very strong would be a tremendous understatement.

During the show, I was promoting my upcoming fundraiser for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. The existence of this foundation is a personal honor for me since I was an inspiration, so to speak, for the lovely NYC couple, Clair and Sherwin, who started the organization in late 1980’s after losing their son to suicide.

Because both Clair and Sherwin are prominent in their professions, they know high-profile people, Gloria Vanderbilt and Judy Collins to name only two. Thanks to support from people like that, and so many others, the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention is now a national organization. I’ve gotten to meet many chapter members throughout my travels — special moments to be sure.

As those of us who have lost loved ones to suicide realize, that is one shattering experience. However, now, with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, there is finally more public awareness about suicide; and those contemplating such a fate can find help, survive, and thrive.

I do hope that you nearby Northeasterners will attend the fundraiser which will be held September 7th at the Courtyard Hartford-Cromwell in Cromwell, CT.

In October, I’m once again returning to LA. Also looking forward to several events in November, including The Afterlife Conference in Orlando, and several events with Thomas John. He and I are having a wonderful time together sharing messages of Love with our audiences. Also in November, I will be returning to Roanoke for “Hope for the Holidays!”

As always, I’m looking forward to reconnecting with old friends, and making new ones, during my travels!

Have a Happy Fall Equinox on September 22/23!

Love Is A Constant Force

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Happy June! Where flowers are blooming, couples in love are getting married, high school seniors are attending proms, college students (some graduating!) are taking a breather, and also, of course, last but not least {drum roll, please} Father’s Day arrives on June 17th . And a few days thereafter, we have the Vernal Equinox on June 21st , officially signaling the beginning of Summer. Whew!

I make sure my schedule always is aware of the many happenings that occur in June. For one thing, my mother is a June baby, and I will never forget when I was a teenager, I wanted to give her a surprise birthday party. Well, so many folks were just plain busy. But for the few that did come, I made a cake and instead of putting in baking powder, I added baking soda! Mistakes happen in life.

No matter who we are, or what our status or place is in life, no one is exempt from making mistakes. On the other hand, life’s moments can bring such incredible joy, and provide missing pieces to a puzzle. For example, we can become so connected to someone that he or she is in our hearts every minute of every day, and the thought of them brings us true happiness. Wonderful things like this seem to happen especially in June.

May was not too shabby either. While watching parts of Harry and Megan’s Royal wedding last month, the wedding of the year for sure, I noticed that love was being radiated, and everyone felt it. The connection between these two was quite obvious. Also, their trials and tribulations were similar. Harry’s mother – Princess Diana – is deceased and Megan’s father, while still alive, was not physically present at the wedding. Sad. I can tell you for sure that in connecting with loved ones here and in Spirit, during precious moments like weddings, people want their mothers and fathers to be present. Wonderful that Prince Charles could be there.

Historically speaking, what a VERY different wedding this was! Here we have Prince Harry marrying a successful bi-racial American actress, who is the type of woman his mother Princess Diana said he would marry (according to letters Princess Diana wrote to her son before her death): Someone who is smart, independent, and his equal. (Nevertheless, we know the Queen still had to approve of the marriage.) These are two young Royal people who can make a difference in the modern world. What a couple! And who doesn’t love to see some Love in the news these days?

I know so many people who met and married and knew in their gut that their mothers and/or fathers in Spirit had lent them a helping hand meeting and marrying their spouse. I have no doubt that Princess Diana had finally made this happen for her young son, when he was ready.

As for Megan, well it seems she too was ready to change her life radically, but again loves does that, does it not?

Love is and will always be the most constant force or energy you will have in your life. Love can give you strength you never had, enduring you through times you never thought you could get through. Just as a father often has to do. So this coming Father’s Day, let’s pay a special tribute to all the fathers, grandfathers, great grandfathers, and father figures here in the physical and on the Other Side.

Looking forward to seeing many of you at my upcoming events and small groups in Chicago, Detroit, Albany, Baltimore, and a few locations in MA!

Don’t forget to enjoy the Summer Solstice! Kick up your feet and feel the Love!

Honoring a Mother’s Love

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Welcome to the merry month of May, in which we celebrate Mother’s Day! In my work, the busiest times of the year are when my office phone rings non-stop around Christmas and Mother’s Day.

Mother’s Day is a hallmark “holiday” that can and does bring up every possible emotion – from intense love to intense anger and everything in between, depending on who you are and what your situation is. Of course if your mother has passed, then even more emotions may rise to the surface. And as I have noticed, losing a mother for many can be painful even twenty-years later.

I recently did a session with three sisters who had just lost their mom. They all lived together. To say the session was intense would be a gross understatement. These three sisters shared the task of caring for their mother who had Alzheimer’s disease. Each of them did their best. One acted a nurse, another handled all the finances, another took care of the household chores. In order to care for their mom, the three sisters needed to take out a reverse mortgage so their mom could stay in the house. These three sisters also gave every penny they had to take care of their mother because they promised their dad that they would never put Mom in a nursing home.

During the session, while connecting to their mom, I listened to the sisters’ describing their emotions and thoughts of devastation and loss. They also wondered whether they had done enough. Now, I can tell you of so many . . . many . . . sessions I’ve experienced where devotion to a mother was the predominant theme, but the devotion of these three sisters clearly placed them in the Top Ten!

The sisters felt such a powerful devotion because their mother had provided them with a wonderful life, and they felt that caring for her when she was ill during the last phase of her life, was the least they could do in return.

A twist on this story involved the fact that there was a fourth sister, who had bluntly stated that she had dealt with Dad, so she would not deal with Mom. The fourth sister also made it very clear that she had her own family (two of the other sisters also had children), a “rich” life, and that she wasn’t going to put her life on hold to help take care of Mom.

The three sisters just couldn’t understand the fourth sister’s not caring. They kept asking me how the fourth sister could do this, noting that it was clear that she had the financial (but maybe not emotional) means to at least pitch-in, in some way.

It was not my role as a medium to understand and judge all that may have transpired among these four sisters. But clearly, there were three out of four sisters who bonded together in every way they could, in honor of and respect for their mother.

This situation was unique because usually the mom sessions involve one sibling holding much of the family together, and acting a guiding force. This session is also an example of what I had indicated previously, that there is a litany of emotions that can arise when a mother dies, within yourself and family members. One thing is for sure, the three sisters will have a bond together for the rest of their lives, given their common devotion and sacrifices made for their mom.

I just couldn’t resist sharing this story during the Month of Mother’s Day. Hope you enjoyed it.

On another note, I don’t want any of the “guys” to feel left out of my Mother’s Day tribute, because I’ve met many devoted sons who have honored their mom by taking care of her during the toughest of times.

Oh, and before I forget, especially during the month of Mother’s Day, let us never fail to thank Mother Earth, the caregiver to us all!

It is my hope that, whatever your personal journey is with your mother, or mother figure who cared for you during your life, send her Love, flowers, notes, and/or whatever she would prefer, and whatever else strikes you, along with a heartfelt Thanks for all your mom provided you! If your mom is on the Other Side, thank her for all she did, and wish her a Happy Mother’s Day – she will hear you, I promise.

So, with that, let’s bring on Spring, Spring, Spring, to celebrate all life!

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!

It’s a Wonderful Life!

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It’s a wonderful life!

I am sure most of you have either grown up with, or at least seen, the movie “It’s A Wonderful Life,” starring Jimmy Stewart. Directed by Frank Capra, the film was released in 1946 but is still a Christmas-time favorite on TV. I know all of you reading this who relate to angels, DP (dead person) experiences, dream visits, synchronicities, etc. can also relate to that movie.

The story is about George Bailey (Jimmy Stewart) who is in a dark mood and wishes that he was never born. An angel (Henry Travers) appears and arranges an alternate reality so that George can witness what life would have been like in his town if he were in fact never born. George observes the alternate reality and realizes all the good he has done, and how many lives he has helped, and how everything would have been very different in a negative way if he had never been born. He wants to go back to his real world, and manages to get there, feeling all the better.

What a wonderful reminder that we must take time to focus on the positive.

I’m also reminded of a quote from Maya Angelou: “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”

Meeting so many of you throughout my travels has made my life more wonderful, and hearing George Bailey-type stories from many of you always warms my heart. Never lose sight of the fact that you make a difference in other people’s lives.

In last month’s newsletter, I talked about this with regard to the fires in Northern California and the hurricanes elsewhere. So many George Bailey-type folks stepped up to help others, and make a difference.

Recently, I was in the doctor’s office doing a routine check-up when one of the technicians came by. I did what I often do, and started a conversation. I learned in a very few minutes that the technician was from Haiti, and that after all these years in New York, she still didn’t like the cold but loved her job. The conversation went from that to how her grandmother would not go to sleep at night until they had a conversation.

The technician went on to say how she grew up in a mud house that her grandfather had built, and how all the family still goes there to carry on traditions, pass down stories, look at the sky, and take in the nature of the island. She stressed that every year she takes her children to her home village where they all engage in family traditions, and show their respect for elders and Nature.

I listened attentively, knowing that I had just shared a bonding moment with a kindred spirit. And like George Bailey, she recognized so many wonderful things about her family. Most impressively, she has been engaging in these family gatherings since she was three years old. That, my friends, is a gift.

As Christmas approaches, the little ones will be looking forward to their holiday gifts. But let us not forget that when the children grow up, and the toys are all but forgotten, what the kids-turned-adults will appreciate most are the happy moments shared with family and close friends, and the differences made in the lives of others – just like George Bailey during his wonderful life.

Looking forward to my last “Home for the Holiday” event in Sturbridge, MA with Thomas John on December 19th. Of course, I’ll also be gearing up for 2018 as well. There will be some new places to attend, and old places to revisit. Looking forward to meeting old and new friends along the way.

Wishing you the best Holiday Season ever. As my special gift to you this season, I’m offering a full hour of readings live on my December radio show! My special guest will be Austyn Wells, spiritual medium and soul gardener. The show will air on Monday, December 11 at 6 pm EST / 3 pm PST on Blog Talk Radio. I hope you will join us!

Pausing, Reflecting, and Moving Forward Into Fall

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Hello! We are now, as they say, officially in the Fall Equinox which arrived on September 22, 4:02 PM EST.

Oddly, in the Northeast, the summer wasn’t as hot as usual and September felt more like August! We’ll have to see what the rest of Autumn has in store for us.

I do know this – tomatoes like it warm. In my garden, there was a challenge in that regard, but most everything else was fine. Except of course for the destruction of my cucumbers by a family of woodchucks. I’m sure there are many of you out there who can relate. I see you smiling because you know that story!

I have to pause and send prayers to all those impacted by Hurricane Maria if she in fact landed on your or your family’s or friends’ doorsteps. Goodness gracious! Living in NYC, there are many Puerto Rican folks who call NYC their home. My heart goes out to all of them, and their families and friends in Puerto Rico.

Given that Puerto Rico is, like many of the other islands – St. Thomas, St. John, St. Marten, etc. – so very beautiful, it is so very traumatic to see your native land destroyed. Again, I empathize with all those who have been affected by this tragedy, and all the other recent hurricanes. So many devastating storms this time around. Nothing in recent memory can compare.

However, again, as per my calling, I must reiterate: 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.

Things can be replaced. People cannot. So when our loved ones cross over, there is no need to try and replace them.

And don’t forget that they are still here, there, and everywhere for us, for they have transcended death while transitioning to the Other Side. Connect with them through your dreams, feelings, and intuition. While no “body” here gets out alive (as Jim Morrison once sang), every soul DOES get out alive (Mr. Morrison missed that point). And, since we are spirits having a human experience, remember that death brings us back to our natural state. So, death ain’t nothing to worry about, even if our animal instincts tell us otherwise.

On another note, I was so warmly received recently in Atlanta and Asheville, such beautiful cities. Gotta love those Blue Ridge Mountains. Loved Tarrytown too – will certainly return!

I will mention again, and for as long as I have a voice – Love is, and will always be, our most prominent constant. No matter where I go, no matter what town, city, state, country, or continent, Love is, and always will be, what we all in one way or another know as the Truth in our hearts. Love is our greatest teacher, pervading all of our thoughts and feelings – consciously or subconsciously – throughout our daily lives.

To be sure, we all have different paths to walk, but if you are open to it, Love will be with you every step of the way. Connect to Love, and you will be the better for it.

And again, welcome to Fall, and all it’s glorious colors and changes. As is customary for me, I’ll be returning to California in October, up North and down South. Looking forward to seeing familiar faces once again, and of course I am totally open and happy to meeting and welcome new folks in my travels.

As the old saying goes, we will keep on keeping on!