As a spiritual teacher, I spend a lot of time encouraging people to look for signs in their life.
My friend’s daughter is currently in Israel, studying and connecting to her Jewish spiritual heritage. As part of the process she decided to take a Hebrew name (choosing a meaningful name is a way of setting an intention for one’s spiritual journey). She reached out to ask how she might know if she landed on a good choice?
My immediate answer was to ask the Universe for a sign.
She mentioned that the name “Hannah” had been sticking in her mind as a possibility. And wouldn’t you know it, the next day a new friend she met on the program said “Have you ever thought of using ‘Hannah’ as your Hebrew name?”
I was so excited to hear this story and enthusiastically told her that it was clearly a good sign. It seemed to me that her ancestors were trying to connect with her by validating her name choice.
Signs can be a powerful way to receive validation from source, but it takes practice to spot them. And even if we do successfully notice a sign, it’s common to feel skeptical when it comes to accepting them.
On our recent trip to Florida, I had asked my husband David if he wanted to visit the cemetery where his dad was laid to rest a little over 6 months ago.
I thought it might be nice to be there, just the two of us, and to see if any thoughts or feelings came up for him. My main goal was to hold space as he is still on his grieving journey.
The moment we stepped into the cemetery I could immediately feel his father’s energy. The closer we got to his burial place, a robust and happy image of my father in-law started dancing in my head.
I found it interesting that I seemed to easily sense my father in-law around us after his transition. I’d been disappointed because I haven’t been able to feel my mother as easily, even though she died three years ago this month.
Within seconds of having that thought, I had an image in my mind’s eye of my mother and David’s dad together. They were both smiling and seemed happy – but I quickly discarded it as imagination.
I then said out loud, “If you are really here, I need a bigger sign.”
As we stood there, two butterflies suddenly appeared in front of us and were fluttering around. They were different colors, but they seemed to be dancing around each other and hovered near us for quite some time.
“I had a vision of my Mom and your Dad when we got here. Do you think those butterflies are a sign that they are together?”
On our walk back to the car we both discussed what we saw, and naturally we questioned the validity of the “signs”.
We then spontaneously decided to visit a nearby residential community that David’s dad built back before he retired. David wasn’t sure he wanted to go, but something in my heart felt like it was important.
As we pulled into the community David excitedly perked up.
“Wow I remember that used to be the model house. I would play for hours in that garage. This is fun!
We slowly drove down the street and I listened to him share what it used to look like. Unlike those early days, the trees were now fully grown and the houses all filled with families. What a fun way to connect with someone’s legacy.
“Look! There is an open house! We’re going in”, I said to David.
“Really? Are you sure?” David said apprehensively.
I opened the door and told the broker in full disclosure that David’s dad built this community. We just wanted to look around and have a moment of nostalgia.
She gracefully allowed us to walk around while David took some photos and shared more memories.
We walked into the master bedroom when suddenly the speakers in the entire house started playing upbeat, happy music.
“What is going on?” the broker said.
She walked over to the speaker system and kept trying to turn it off.
“This has never happened before. I’m sorry, I can’t get it to turn off.” She said and left the room to see if she could turn off the music elsewhere.
David looked at me and whispered “Do you think that’s my dad?”
I think it is.
It’s so funny to me that when someone else experiences a sign, I believe it to the core of my being. But I tend to doubt them when the message is for me.
It’s natural to question coincidences and signs. But to me, the underlying message is always more important than the sign itself.
It’s also made me think perhaps I should pay a little more attention to spotting the magic in my own life.
So mom, or anyone out there. I am open to signs! I am going to work on being more observant and playful with energy. And thanks for letting us know you’re there.
What kind of signs have you noticed in your life? Let me know in the comments!
Much Love,
29 Responses
I had just hung up the phone with my very first college roomate. We have stayed in touch through holiday and birthday letters for 40 years. I suprised her by calling her through facetime (she does not do technology). My call found her in the hospital bed of a psychiatric ward. After hanging up, as I cried for her, my daughter sent me a picture of the most beautiful angel wings that had formed on her wall-a reflection off of a glass mosaic table I made for her.. in that moment, I knew our angels were supporting all three of us in our moments of need-but first and foremost, that my long time penpal was surrounded by their wings.
Recently, I was debating whether or not to contact someone, and asked for a sign. Shortly after that, their name came on the TV, only switched around. First was last and last was first.
I was drawn to this page.after two things that happened a couple of weeks ago,
My sons grandmother passed away a few weeks ago I Hadn’t spoken to her or seen her for a while and was unaware she was in such bad health.
I went into the garden and a beautiful white butterfly with an orange stripe flew around then came and landed on me it stayed for a few moments then flew off, My sons grandmother was the first person that came to mind.
I’ve never seen such a beautiful butterfly and I’ve been unable to find a picture of one similar online.
In the same week my husband was going to a nearby town where there is a beach and I asked him if he had time to look for a piece of sea glass from the beach, he came back with a few pieces and a piece of white pottery with no patten on and I wondered what had drawn him to it, when I turned it over it had her initial B and her surname MADDOX printed on it,
Definitely think she was letting me know she was around. The pottery was a piece of pottery from the manufacturers B MADDOX who went on to become B MADDOX and Son, she had 1 son and he had passed before her <3
B MADDOX was.her name so hence the significance.
Hello Dougal,
Thank you for sharing this story. I have felt an affinity for you since enrolling in the Angels and Aura Livestream course hosted by you and Radleigh Valentine this spring.
I am sharing a lengthy story about a miraculous Ancestral Healing with several confirming signs.
In the early hours of Friday, June 10 I awoke from a dream so vivid that I sat up, turned on the light, and wrote it all down, knowing I was going to want to recall and process the dream when my head wasn’t fuzzy with sleep.
The dream began with my son bringing his friends to our house so that I could assist with caring for a premature infant born to one of the friends. The birth mother wanted to surrender custody, knowing she was unable to care for the baby boy at this time. Holding the baby, I knew he needed to go to the hospital, and I intended to get him there. Calm, but on a mission, I conveyed a plan to all present, letting the birth mother know she was making the right decision and she needed to take care of herself. My daughter, upon hearing I would be bringing the baby to the hospital, went and retrieved the blue and white checked infant car seat used when my kids were babies. I distinctly remember that detail, as well as the birth mother informing me twice of her full name.
After conducting an energy healing on the baby and transporting him to the hospital, I knew I had done exactly what was needed for him. I knew he was not meant to be raised by me and felt peace in my heart knowing he was going to be taken care of by a loving couple, even though I had no idea who they were.
Later that evening, my godson’s wife unexpectedly delivered their son, healthy and three weeks premature.
Over the next week I was able to make a number of illuminated connections:
• The birthmother’s name is that of the mother of a boy my son went through school with. That boy’s name is Connor.
• In 2002, just before Mother’s Day, I miscarried a son. His name was Connor Michael.
• The car seat my daughter handed me in the dream would have been used by Connor.
• When I was pregnant with Connor, my daughter was 2 and really wanted a baby sister. To try to prepare her for possible disappointment, I asked her what would happen if the baby was a boy. My daughter matter-of-factly stated “He will go to heaven, and everyone will be sad.” I found out I’d miscarried 3 weeks later.
• Shortly after my son went blind in 4th grade he told his teacher he “wished his brother Connor was alive.”
My godson’s baby went home to start his new life on my younger son’s birthday, 10 years after Jake made the wish Connor was still alive, 20 years after the loss.
Knowing the fantastical nature of this, I asked for a clear, unmistakable sign to confirm my intuition. I asked for any of those listed below:
• Seeing the initials R and C together
• Seeing synchronistic number sequences
• Seeing a rainbow, one not related to Pride Month as that would be too obvious (though I love that my son, who is gay, was born in June).
I experienced all the signs below the day after the baby’s birth and have experienced similar signs in the weeks since:
• Numbers:
a. Roadway signs where Rt 6 and Rt 10 merge driving to Providence. Providence is defined as the protective care of God as a spiritual power.
b. Losing power at 10:06 pm and 10:14 alerted by a beeping sound
• RC as the memory tag on the license plate of the car I was driving behind while the song “Angel” played
• A rainbow mist in the air
Later that week, while scrolling to find the license plate photo on Father’s Day, I noticed my computer titled all photos taken the week before with the name of the hospital where the baby had been born. At the time of this awareness, my cursor was hovered over a photo I’d taken of a field of daisies. I had gone to the beach to meditate after work that day, and following the meditation came upon a beautiful field of daisies. Seeing them elicited a rush of happiness and wonder.
Daisies have significance for my sister-in-law, so I figured my happiness was due to how joyful it felt to be surrounded by these sweet flowers as well as anticipating sharing the scene with her. I felt compelled to look up the significance of daisies and learned that in the Celtic tradition, daisies symbolize innocence and purity, stemming from an old Celtic legend. According to the legend, whenever an infant died, God sprinkled daisies over the earth to cheer the parents up.
Ever since I lost Connor in 2002, I have wondered about who he was and who was going to be blessed with raising him whenever he was ready to incarnate. A part of me had always believed that because I lost him right before Mother’s Day, it was because I was not a good enough mother. I hoped and prayed that whomever his parents would be that they would love and cherish him as I did.
I have known that departed loved ones sometimes return to be a part of a family, but it never crossed my mind that it was possible the child I lost would choose to come back as a member of my family, never mind to my beloved godson. It was my godson who awakened the desire to be a mother within me: to have the gift of sharing life with a unique, perfect little child who would grow to be their own person. To dedicatedly, albeit imperfectly, unconditionally love and care for a child through the course of their life.
I thought this is where this miraculous story ended. But on the evening of the Summer Solstice, I sat in meditation expressing my intentions for this upcoming season when my lamp went out for 3 seconds and then came back on. I smiled and said, “Hi Pa.” During my last client session that day, I was counseling someone coping with survivor guilt over the loss of a close relative’s life to suicide. During the session I explained the various ways our departed loved ones in spirit communicate with us, sharing with her that my grandfather has long been a fan of playing with the electricity in whatever house I’m in to alert me to his presence and support.
Now Pa was letting me know he was present and, I sensed, had a message to share. I got quiet and connected. Immediately I saw him holding a baby boy which he handed to me, saying “I had him the whole time.” After a time, I shifted my focus back to meditation, but my grandfather had more to share. This time, he got my attention by shutting off the lights while a loud motorcycle drove past. I immediately got the instruction to surround the rider with protective light. After doing so I heard “Thomas” and was shown my grandparents together. I let a tidal wave of emotions break over me as I made the connection. When stillness returned, I was able to process the reality that Thomas, my grandparents’ stillbirthed son, had been miscarried by me two generations later and ultimately born into our family after four generations by my godson.
This child has been our son, brother, nephew, and cousin. Every member across five generations has been gifted with healing through his birth.
I understood in a visceral way the weight of my grief has been due to carrying not only my own but my grandparents’ grief at losing a son. My grandfather’s words “There’s a lot being made about a baby who hasn’t been born yet” clouded the anticipatory excitement of each pregnancy with a sense of foreboding. He was doing his best to protect himself and his family from the grief he felt at the loss of his firstborn son. Upon his passing, my grandfather was able to experience the joy of being reunited with his son, and oversee his journey to life on earth. Death was simply an interruption to the life of the soul, not its ending.
Although I felt a deep inner knowing of the veracity of my experience, I asked my grandfather to send clear signs to make it easier for his family to accept and comprehend the situation.
• The next day, I awoke to an email from my mom informing me my photo was on the front page of the Boston Globe due to participating in a Solstice Sunrise hike the day before. In the photo, I am standing directly beneath the shining ray of the sun.
• On my trip to purchase a copy of the Globe, I received two signs on work trucks; one whose logo is a little boy in overalls with the number sequence 0000 in the phone number. Repetitive 0s are a reminder you are one with God and is a sign that a situation has come full circle. Minutes later, while reflecting on how much more amazing and fun life is when you are open to the unexpected, I saw a truck with BROTHERS written across the side. Their business phone # included the sequence 333, known to be a sign indicating the presence of Jesus, Mary, and the Ascended Masters.
• The next evening, I went for a walk on the beach, where I saw a cloud in the form of a capital T in the sky. I then saw a rainbow in the sky next to the setting sun; something I have never witnessed before.
• Although these were all clear confirmation for me, I expressed to Pa we needed a clear sign his children would believe. He responded by looking at me with a steady gaze and after a time said “They know you. They will trust you.” His words carried the same conviction as when he was alive. I felt relief knowing I could stop looking for validation to prove what is only knowable by faith.
My loss before Mother’s Day is healed knowing it was in service to this child’s wish and purpose to be born just before Father’s Day to my godson and his wife and to bring multigenerational healing to our family. I feel a deep sense of humility, knowing my grandparents trusted me to be the intermediary guardian of their son and to be given the responsibility and gift to share this with the world. This child is a reminder of divine order, grace, and the everlasting cord of love that connects us through the generations.
Thank you for being who you are and sharing your wisdom and gifts.
Peace,
Maureen
I Love This Dougall!
I just now read your blog post and I’m in Ontario sitting in the lake front cottage that my great aunt (my mom’s aunt)built in 1934. Four more where built over the years. We are now 6 generations coming to this beautiful place. Because of the pandemic, we weren’t able to come up for 2 years. So it’s extra special having arrived here yesterday after my 10hr drive. This is the place I always feel the presence of my mom, her sisters and our Auntie May. While I often feel my mom near me, (she’s been gone 38 yrs.)it’s here I feel everyone that has passed.
I went out on the dock at 7am this morning and watched 6 loons circle in for a smooth landing. Five were far out, but one came near the shore. We made eye contact and I said out loud, thanks mom, I love you too. 🙂
I was very fortunate to have back to back vacations. One on a cruise with my husband and kids, and the other with just my siblings at our favorite childhood vacation spot, Wildwood Crest, NJ when we all lived in NJ.
The first sign I saw was an orange butterfly 🦋 when I was with my kids on the cruise ship on our first day. It circled around our heads for a quite awhile. We all got excited to see it and then it flew away. Then a few days later, while on the cruise, I dreamt of my Grandma, the first time ever since her passing many, many years ago. I thought the butterfly 🦋 must have been her visiting us on our vacation.
Fast forward to my vacation with my siblings. We had been talking about my parents & grandparents and fun memories we shared in Wildwood Crest when we were kids and shortly after I saw the same kind of orange butterfly 🦋. A few days later, while in the ocean riding the waves with my siblings I saw an orange butterfly 🦋 flying close enough for me to see, but not directly above us. I pointed it out to my siblings. Never in my life have I ever seen a butterfly 🦋 at the beach, and especially not over the ocean. . I truly believe it was my Grandma visiting us and enjoying seeing us all (my family and my siblings) having a good time.
I love this Jennifer!
DougalI, I was considering buying a newly constructed townhouse and asked for a sign that the purchase was a good idea. The image “Pepsi” appeared in my mind. When I went back for another look at the town house, in plain view on a counter was a bottle of Pepsi and nothing else. Nobody in this dimension knew of that signal but me.
Well, as I read this I am sitting by my pond and hmmmm, guess what just zoomed in ! Yes indeed not one but two different dragonflies, one blue one brown. I will take this as validation. The signs and magic are everywhere!
Big love to you and David .
I work at a grocery store and the shirts customers wear surprise me with “pings”. Shirts with my dad’s hometown. Accidently catching a visual look at a hemi car part on tv– my cousin Al’s pride and joy. Shirts reminding me of Mother Mary.
Big love right back at ya!
Apparently my angels know I’m doubtful or slow to notice signs so they get real obvious. Last week I was struggling with two issues, trying to find my dream home to buy and wanting to change the color on a car I ordered since my lease was up but the car dealer blew me off and being a recovering people pleaser I didn’t speak up. So Monday card of the day was don’t settle, Tues my phone did an update and the ad on the screen said big bold never settle, got in my car and the song on the radio was from 1970 “signs signs everywhere signs” so I said fine I won’t settle. Emailed the car dealer and easily got her to order the color I wanted it wasn’t even a big deal she wasn’t mad. So back to the house, still not finding anything but wondering if it’s gonna work out, getting impatient and Friday I turned on my car and there was Ace of Base playing “I saw the sign”. Ok ok so maybe I’m getting signs I’m supported and on the right path lol.
lol, I love this!
When my sister died at home, a white butterfly followed the ambulance down the street.
Thanks for this lovely reminder to keep my eyes & ears open for the signs! I’ve had many since my parents passed. Once when I was sitting on a bench near the ocean thinking about them & how much they both loved the sea, a pink petal in the shape of a heart appeared out of nowhere & landed on my skirt. I knew they were letting me know they were always with me.
Thank you Dougall and David – Many Blessings. I have in my daily spiritual & physical practice to look for signs and symbols. Some days I am more observant than others and after the live call 8/8 which I find a magical number anyway, I shut everything down, walked down my hallway and into the living room, opened my front door. While standing looking at my trees I sent some love out to them, thanked them, then looking to my right first came the Dragonfly I have named Michael, I said ok this is cool, then looking up I saw my first Hummingbird now things were getting really interesting, then came another Dragonfly a Silver one, not prepared for seeing that color as I had not seen one like that as in ever, and right behind it, yes, another hummingbird doing dances, and I will say here – validation yes as I pray daily for my Mom, Dad, brother Stephen, and nephew Kevin as they are my go to for signs to then the magic with the hummingbirds as my rainbows, reminded me of the colors for this month, validation from my loved ones and even as I write this I am so in joy for this memory and validation. So to others who don’t think they are receiving signs, just keep looking they are in each moment. Much Love and Thank You for this beautiful Blog.
Beautiful Janet!
Thank you so much for a lovely story. Your might be interested to know from what I recently heard from my consultant that she heard from somebody that in Okinawa, Japan, butterflies are said to be symbols of deceased ones, like your ancestors.
Wow! Thanks for sharing that Rumie. Even more validation.
Dear Dougall – the second I opened this email post from you and saw all the butterflies, I knew I was immediately getting signs from the other side. And as I read though your beautiful post, so many things resonated/triggered within me. So, your post in itself has been my message from the other side today; just know I am so grateful and thank you for being the conduit.
Hi Kacey! Thank you – and it’s so good to hear from you.
Thank you for your story about you and David. It’s great that you also included the story of Hannah.
Thank you.
My husband deceased in 2007. Since 2010 I have been seeing hearts everywhere. There was a photinia hedge outside by the house were we lived which has diamond shaped leaves. From 2010 until I moved earlier this year (2022) I would always find heart shaped leaves. In 2014 a psychic medium told me that this is a connection symbol from my husband and that my husband will send me another symbol connection that will be very important. This spring when I was looking for another place to live, I was seeing stars everywhere. Starbucks, a star on a building, a dog grooming place called Star Grooming (my husband & I had a dog who needed to be taken to the groomer regularly) and one of my husband’s scarfs with stars on it. I ended up finding my ideal place to live and of course the street address has the word Star in it. I’m totally amazed by the power of signs.
my signs are these, mom and dad lived for little while alittle ranch in Oregon. they fed turkeys, deer, stray cats, anything that was hungry. when i went to visit, there were about 30 turkeys, large ones and afew babies. dad was outside feeding then day old bread and turkey food. the site to see having them all greet him outside with the food was amazing. dad passed 7/15/21 of cancer. at Christmas my husband and i went to the cemetery, I was thinking about dad… while i was getting the Christmas decorations out of the back of our truck, about 25 + large turkeys appeared and were walking on the side of the cemetery. dad was saying hello to me 🙂 mom passed 8/14/21 of cancer. we had a thing about butterflies, she has a Plack of large beautiful butterflies on her wall she gave to me. i have them on my wall. i asked her to let me know she is here, a very large, beautiful butterfly showed up and stuck around me.. we had just complained that no butterflies are around just the other day. this happened 2 days in a row then they disappear. how’s that for validation that they are right here with me:)
I thought your post this time was a GO sign for me.
I decided to speak my truth openly on the podcast, but this morning, I suddenly got scared.
I have children, and I was afraid they would be offended by me telling my truth.
In my life, I have encountered many strange phenomena such as psychic disorders, fairies appearing, balls of light appearing, and so on. For me, they are true, and through those experiences I am able to learn about the non-human world and non-human beings. But it is also true that there are people who look at me with strange eyes when I talk about them. If it was just me, I wouldn’t be so scared, but when I thought about my children, I started to get scared. That’s when I read your post about your father-in-law. It was a post that shared the butterflies dancing in the cemetery, the music that suddenly resounded, and the mysterious phenomenon. When I read it, I was like, “This is the go-ahead for me to tell my truth!” When I was able to capture it positively like that, advice also came down: It’s good if the words reach the minimum number of people, but If I show my greed to more people, I will receive a certain return. If it is within the minimum necessary range, what should be protected will be protected.
I wrote this using Google Translate, so I’m sorry if it’s hard to read🙏 Thank you for your courage❗️ With love from Japan💕
I was drawn to this page.after two things that happened a couple of weeks ago,
My sons grandmother passed away a few weeks ago I Hadn’t spoken to her or seen her for a while and was unaware she was in such bad health.
I went into the garden and a beautiful white butterfly with an orange stripe flew around then came and landed on me it stayed for a few moments then flew off, My sons grandmother was the first person that came to mind.
I’ve never seen such a beautiful butterfly and I’ve been unable to find a picture of one similar online.
In the same week my husband was going to a nearby town where there is a beach and I asked him if he had time to look for a piece of sea glass from the beach, he came back with a few pieces and a piece of white pottery with no patten on and I wondered what had drawn him to it, when I turned it over it had her initial B and her surname MADDOX printed on it,
Definitely think she was letting me know she was around. The pottery was a piece of pottery from the manufacturers B MADDOX who went on to become B MADDOX and Son, she had 1 son and he had passed before her <3
My Dad appeared to me numerous times after his death in 1999. After we helped Mom sell their home, I saw him walking by each room. He said “You did a great job, Chicken” (my nickname) He was a jokester and when my husband and I kept finding quarters in our toilet we knew he was the culprit! We didn’t keep change in our pockets and the quarters were always there before we used the toilet. Everyone who knew him agreed he was the one!