Thanksgiving

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!

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.

Connections, Loss, and Love in the Holiday Season

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Hope you had a very Happy Thanksgiving, and embraced those precious moments of “Giving Thanks.” Words that say how blessed we are to have family and friends in our lives. Personally, I find these words and the intent behind them to be very uplifting, especially during times of uncertainty.

Very heart-warming and validating to learn that in a study recently published by “Mother Jones,” the number one reason for feeling grateful is friends and family. Indeed, it is the people in our lives who are so important.

And then there are times when we are grateful for not having suffered the way others have, as with the recent inhuman atrocities inflicted on the people of Paris. So sad.

But despite all the war, terror, and violence in the world, Love, of course, remains the most significant force in the Universe. Some would argue that fear is the most powerful, and there is no denying that here on Planet Earth, fear is often in control. However, fear has no power in the Spirit World. On the Other Side, Love is controlling, and connects us to our loved ones who have crossed over. Fear is powerless in that regard.

And even here on Earth in ordinary reality, Love is very powerful, being the force that motivates people to help those in need – be it assisting the homeless in New York City, the refugees in a foreign land, the sick or the dying in our neighborhood, etc. Love is the force that drives the husband who has lost his partner and chooses to travel around the world when there is a season to plant, and instruct those who want to learn organic gardening. Or the sister who continues operating the shelter her brother ran after he contracted MS, and now has trouble just getting out of bed.

You never have to look far to find people who give of themselves, in service of humankind and the Earth that cares for us. For these folks, we should all be thankful. And in your own moments of feeling thanks and gratitude, consider asking yourself, “How can I can embrace Spirit and learn to feel the love of [your beloved DP]?” And further, remember to be thankful for whatever it is your beloved DPs have instilled in you. NO MATTER if the DP most special in your heart at this moment was blood-related or just someone who touched your life for a split second. Whatever it takes to pull the energy in from Spirit, and help us connect with those we love who are still in our hearts – let that be our guidance and inspiration.

It is so wonderful that given all the hardship in the world, there still are so many people who do seek to make a difference. It is this kind of activism – and not all the distorted media focus on all things negative – that I choose to honor and acknowledge.

Let’s take the opportunity to open up our hearts to those we love, give a hug when needed, and make a call to someone who needs to talk. Help someone cross the street or carry their groceries. Light candles for those in need, including ourselves. Make dinner for someone who could use a meal. Give of yourself, of your company. All, of course, if the situation warrants. These are just some of the many small things that mean so much and, as I say, are really the BIG things in life, which I have learned over and over again in doing the work I have been doing for over thirty-five years.

You know, whenever I am working an event and walk into a room, whether it is 50 or 250 people, I know one thing: Everyone is there because they want to connect with their loved ones who they have “lost.” But they are not really lost, are they? They have simply transitioned to where we will all transition one day, and reunite. As I always say, Love never dies, not even with death, and so it is my great honor and privilege to be able to reconnect people with the loved ones they have “lost,” especially during the holiday season.

Around this time of year, I often think about a Christmas when I was in my twenties, on my own, and by myself. I was living in Los Angeles at the time and I was invited into a group. I went, so as to not be alone. I can’t tell you how much love I felt, just being asked to be with others who wanted to include me within their circle of friends. I have never forgotten that special moment which turned out to be within a non-denominational spiritualist community. Another example of how we all remember an act of love and kindness. It is moments like this that we never forget. Looking back, I couldn’t tell you any of the names of the people there, but I most certainly can tell you how they made me feel. Wonderful!

In re-examining the past year, and the years leading up to this time, I see that so many people have gone through a variety of changes, some wonderful, others often challenging. There is a great challenge of course for those of us who have lost someone this year, or for anyone during the holiday season when we are again reminded of our loved ones on the Other Side..

Interesting how many people I’ve met in my travels express that during times of hardship, DP contact is more prevalent and intense. Indeed, if we listen, our DPs (along with our spirit guides and spirit helpers) can help us find what is really important – like performing a service for others – and inspire us to put “doing good” at the top of our list of priorities. Performing a service is good for the soul.

By the way, for the science-minded folks, studies now show that people are happier, healthier, and live longer when they do service for others, and daily express their gratitude for all the gifts they have in their own lives. On this point, there is a very interesting documentary called I am. Check it out!

Also check out my calendar of events. Next up on my calendar is seeing my hometown folks on Friday, December 4th in Nanuet, NY. Also, on my next Blog Talk Radio show – Monday, December 7 – I will be having a full hour of readings live on air! This is my special holiday gift to all of you.

Have a blessed holiday season!

A Time for Giving Thanks

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Welcome to the month of Thanksgiving, a time for giving thanks, and perhaps feeling the need to give back for the blessings we have.

As we approach the holidays, so many emotions come to the surface, along with memories past, and memories in the making.

Memories are personal to each of us, of course, and we all feel varied emotions when reflecting on days gone by, whether moments of sadness as when a loved one who has crossed over is missed, or at times touched in some other way we know is truly important. Wanting so badly to go back to that time when everything seemed right, is commonplace.

It’s been my experience that when our DPs come into our thoughts, a flood of emotions usually rises to the surface. If grief is in play, try to move to a place where your grief will lessen, focusing on the positive memories you had with a loved one who is now on the Other Side. Remember, our DPs want us to be happy.

Those special memories are always with you, and can be be filled with laughter. Maybe you remember having that Thanksgiving dinner when your brother wore that stupid tie to try to impress his new girlfriend. Or maybe that time your sister and her girlfriend tried to create a meal and there was so much smoke in the kitchen that the Fire Department showed up commenting that they were sure you were cooking up something other than dinner!

When we go to those wonderful memories, they can touch and heal our hearts, and once again make us smile. No one can ever take those from you. They are yours to cherish and hold dear.

Some of you may feel very strongly that you don’t want to celebrate the holidays. The thought process being that the times gone by were priceless, and that the present situation is just an empty echo of the past. But, let me preach here for a minute. Don’t you dare give in to that attitude! If you really want to honor those who have passed, then celebrate as they would have wanted you to. Realize that although your DPs may not be here in the physical, they are with you in Spirit. And again, they want you to be happy.

The DPs we honor include, of course, our beloved pets who gave us unconditional love before crossing over. Here’s a story about one. I recently was on a radio show and a techie there was listening to me on the air. The deejay asked me who I thought was going to win the World Series. I try never to make predictions publicly so I said, “I’ll tell you what I think, privately,” and he wrote what I said on a piece of paper for no one else to see. But, as luck or faith would have it, the paper fell onto the floor and the tech guy picked it up and saw that I had said that the Kansas City Royals would win, as would turned out to be accurate later – KC beat the NY Mets. So, the deejay said, “Oh, she meant the first two games,” which was not true – I meant the whole series. Well, the tech guy was already devastated with the Mets having lost Game 1 when they were two outs away from winning on the road. Then everyone shared why he was so devastated. He is a HUGE Met fan and had just lost his beloved dog Shea who had been named after Shea Stadium where the Mets used to play before Citi Field was built. Of course, had I known of the techie’s situation, I would have said nothing. It was still a very raw time for him. To the techie I could only say, “Your dog Shea will be with you always in your heart and if you can listen inward, she’ll be by your side jumping on your bed, during happy times, and there beside you when you are feeling blue.”

As we approach the beginning of the holiday season, know and feel all the love that we want to give and receive. The ability to share and experience love is with us all the time. We need not go further than walking out our front door realizing that every person could use a smile, a kind word, or just a nod hello, all serving as an acknowledgement that you are connecting on a friendly basis. Remember that it doesn’t cost you anything to be courteous and friendly, or to feel positive in your heart toward another. That, my friends, is a part of what Thanksgiving is all about.

Of course, the most poignant message that we all need to be reminded of is, “Do unto others only that which you would have be done unto you.” This is not without limitations of course – it may be that something you would not mind having done unto you is not right for someone else. So overlay this approach with consideration as to whether the person you are addressing is on the same page as you with regard to that which you are considering doing for them.

I personally want to give a HUGE thanks to those who received me at my recent events in California, including Good Day Sacramento. Also thanks to: Pat Walsh on KFBK; WQRC 99.0 “The Q” on the Cape, Karen and Ralphie; K92 Danny and Zack; and as it has been for years, WTIC with Gary Craig and Gang. There are so many more to list, I could go on and on.

To be able to do what I love, and be able to share that love with so many others, here and those beloved ones in Spirit and in our hearts – I am most thankful.

A Happy Thanksgiving to all of you!

The Month of “Thanksgiving”

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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.

Welcome to November

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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.

Happy Thanksgiving

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I just got back from over a week of events in Southern California, and I wanted to personally thank everyone for making me feel so welcome. Folks showed up that haven’t seen me in ten years!

It was equally special to meet so many of you at my Cromwell Ct. event as well. It’s been a wonderful fall, getting to meet many of you for first time and reconnect with those I haven’t seen in years. I want to thank Danny and Zack from K92 bringing me back to Roanoke for another Hope for the Holidays. It was always my honor to bring laughter, hope and love to those who attended.  EVeryone went out of their way to give me that southern hospitality.  Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

I – like many of you, I’m sure – can’t believe that Thanksgiving is right around the corner! Here is another chance to give to those that simply need a place to feel loved, and to feed the soul as well as the body. After all, that really is what “thanks-giving” is: reaching out for those that want to share and spend time with loved ones, or those that don’t have loved ones or even a place to go. I remember years ago on Thanksgiving, a friend of mine put together as many meals as her car would hold, and went to all the places in the city where people were homeless, to give them one unbelievable meal.

I couldn’t help feeling the sense of family while I was in Southern California. Firstly, it is November – not only the time of the Thanksgiving holiday, but also the month that both of my uncles passed over, as well as my beloved grandmother. For my mother, this is always a difficult month. The other reason why this sense was so strong for me is that my grandmother lived in San Diego, a city that continues to have a strong place in my heart, even after many years.

The first time I went to San Diego was when I was five years old. My grandmother had four children (which was very common in that generation) and raised them on the farm, and her wish was to have one in the hospital! To say she was/is strong would be quite an understatement. After leaving my grandfather – also quite difficult in those days – she saw an ad in the local newspaper from a woman who was looking for a companion to go across the country with her to California. My grandmother read the ad, and as they say, the rest is history! She lived the rest of her life in San Diego, a place she absolutely loved. Not long after, my uncles followed, leaving only my mother back east, essentially in the same small town she was raised in.

Spending two weeks in Southern California and feeling my grandmother’s presence, with wonderful memories, was very heartwarming to me. She not only was someone I truly admired, but in some ways, I hope that some of her qualities – being a strong, independent, good woman – were passed down to me.

Now, I know that holidays can bring up wonderful thoughts, and some not so wonderful ones . . . however, it is a great time to make connections with those here and on the Other Side. So, enjoy the people with whom you want to share this special time, and be thankful for the many blessings we all have. It’s not so out of our realm to set a place at the table for your DP’s – they don’t take up much room and, well, with them there’s lots of leftovers! For me, and for most of us, I would say without question when you use some family recipes or dishes that are meaningful to your DPs, or just include your them in your thoughts during this thankful holiday, they will be there in spirit with you. All this just adds to the time spent together with family and friends. Again, it really is a time to give thanks for all your blessings, and send out prayers for those who could use a loving touch.

Warmly,

Suzane