A few friends and family members have been asking about contacting their loved ones who have passed. And their loved ones have asked me to help them learn.
All my life, I've felt a little strange. I love to learn, I love to read, I soak it all in, but if someone were to ask me what my hobbies or interests are, I always draw a blank.
My husband and I laugh because I can watch a movie and shortly after watch it again as if I'd never seen it before. I'll have a vague recollection of the movie, but I can't quote any of the lines and will enjoy it like a first viewing.
It's as if the center of my mind is an empty vessel and everything I've taken in is tucked away somewhere deep. It's all there somewhere but not in the forefront of my mind. Sometimes, I feel like my brain is a sieve. Where did it all go?!
The best advice I can give is that you have to clear your mind. You can't be thinking about what to make for dinner or who said what on last night's tv show. Your mind can't be wandering to this or that. In order to perceive that something outside yourself is coming in, you have to wipe the slate clean and bury your own thoughts so you can recognize the thoughts and emotions of others.
When you've finally reached that place of zen and your mind is quiet, it's time to go fishing. Drop the line and then wait, watch, listen. It will come. Maybe not right away. Maybe not even the same day. But, eventually it will come. And how do you know? Something calls out to you. Something feels different. Something is unusual. You're perceiving not what's within, but what's around.
You might tap into what people refer to as your "inner voice." But, hearing outer voices feels different. Words, images, thoughts that are not your own are captured and it truly does not feel like it comes from you. It feels like it is coming from outside of and through you.
Start out small. Take 10 minutes of quiet a day. Ask for guidance and protection. Pose your question or reach out to your loved one. Chances are good, you will hear from them in some way. It could be a sign of some sort, a pattern, a quote in a book, a photo, a conversation with a good friend, a song playing on the radio. It's often subtle and can be easily missed.
Once you start to recognize the signs of contact, you'll be able to receive signals and messages outside your meditation time. It's a matter of practice.
A few of the books I've read on this topic give concrete examples of ways that spirits try to communicate with us. Check out the booklist (it's one of the postings) for my favorite reads.
Be patient. It's different for everyone. But it can be done!
