My brother-in-law passed away in a tragic car accident. This morning at exactly four a.m., I woke up and opened my eyes and saw that my bedroom light was on. I live alone. (This light is a torch floor lamp; you have to turn the knob for it to turn on/off.) I felt like there was a presence in my room. I lay there for quite some time, unable to go back to sleep. Earlier in the evening, I was watching TV in my living room and saw what appeared to be a dark shadow moving in my bedroom, which is off to the right of my living room. Could this have been my brother-in-law trying to contact me? How can I be more in tune to the presence of departed family members?
Laura
Susyn:
These events could definitely have been signs from your brother-in-law. Since you noticed a dark shadow in your bedroom and then witnessed the floor light come on in the same room, these events appear to be connected. While this could have indicated the presence of any loved one who has passed over, you are wise to trust your sense that it was your brother-in-law, for typically, the first person we think of when something like this happens is the spirit who is trying to contact us.
To me, the most interesting aspect of this experience is how he showed himself in shadow and then managed to turn on the lamp. Perhaps he is trying to convey a message: that although he passed in a sudden, unexpected way that cast a dark shadow over the family, he now resides in the light. I encourage you to share this wonderful message with all those dear to him in case this is what he is trying to say.
Spirits sometimes reveal themselves to a third party instead of their immediate loved ones. It is most likely that he appeared to you instead of his spouse or other family members because those closest to him are still too emotionally distraught to hear or see him.
There are a number of ways you can connect with your brother-in-law. One of the most effective, satisfying methods would be to schedule a session with a psychic who specializes in channeling. If you choose this option, you will be able to receive direct messages from him and also ask questions as well. I highly recommend getting a reading so that you can interact with him as soon as possible.
You could also meditate to invite your brother-in-law in for a conversation, though if you choose this option, it could take a while before you are able to make direct contact. This method may also stir up some confusion if you have trouble deciphering the messages he is sending you.
When a loved one dies suddenly, it can take a while before they are able to interact with us on a regular basis. Typically it takes six weeks before they can communicate, longer if they have not moved into the light yet. Given the manner in which your brother-in-law appeared to you, I would say he has definitely adapted to the spirit world and is ready to communicate with you.
Now that this has happened, you may start to notice other signs that are obviously coming from your brother-in-law. You may frequently hear his favorite song, an aroma that is specific to him, or begin to have dreams in which he plays a key role. Since it seems he is ready and reaching out, you may want to encourage your sister to try and connect with him if you feel she is ready for that sort of experience.
*****
Oceania:
I'm sorry for your family's loss. Your brother-in-law's passing is a poignant reminder of the fragile, precious nature of our lives here on Earth.
If the soul consists of energy, it seems reasonable that it might either accidentally or purposely short-circuit an electromagnetic field and communicate with us via a light or some other electronic appliance. Either you had a visit from your brother-in-law, or you need an electrician to check the wiring in your home!
Author/illustrator Nick Bantock writes children's books for adults,
most notably Griffin and Sabine in which you can remove the correspondence of the characters from envelopes. His books are large and colorful, jam-packed with original artwork, and contain delightful, intriguing supernatural stories.
In The Venetian's Wife, a 15th-century explorer is struck dead by lightning, leaving his disembodied soul trapped in electricity. After 600 years or so, he begins to travel through telephone lines and learns to send email from the other side. You might enjoy this magical tale of a spirit who creatively communicates through electricity!
I once woke up in the middle of the night and noticed that a light was on downstairs. I got up to investigate, and upon reaching the staircase, saw my dead stepfather standing at the bottom, looking up at me. No words were exchanged but I clearly understood he had come to make peace. (He died in the midst of unresolved family conflict.)
I believe he appeared to ME because I was the most spiritual, intuitive member of our family of skeptics. I believe your brother-in-law chose you for the same reason. You intuitively sensed it was him. Your question and visit to Kajama indicates that you are paying attention to the spiritual side of life! Like me, you weren't frightened by this experience. That you couldn't fall back to sleep following such an exciting, extraordinary event seems normal to me.
You can be more in tune with departed loved ones by thinking of them, talking to them, putting up photos and sharing memories of them with friends or in a bereavement support group. One thing is for sure: the passing of your brother-in-law is a reminder of how quickly a loved one can exit from our lives.
Please share this experience with those family members receptive to hearing about it. Also, in addition to reconnecting with the departed, spend quality time with the living. By playing games, discussing interesting questions, sharing and listening from your heart and exchanging hugs and other expressions of affection, you can turn your brother-in-law's passing into something positive for the family.
Astrea:
Many times in life we hear, "You will always have what you NEED, but not necessarily what you WANT." Your spirit must have needed to experience the feeling of leaving your human body, and the suggestion in the next chapter of Sylvia Brown's book was all it took to get you there.
Even though you hadn't read it yet, your SOUL recognized the title of that chapter as something it had been seeking, and your soul, knowing that you had that reference to read after your experience, got with it and out you went!
While I don't usually recommend her books, Sylvia Brown has a wide reaching and powerful effect on lots of people. A Gemini like you would be able to relate easily to her writing and put it to good use. Synchronicity - you gotta love it!
I like your description of "getting caught." That's exactly what it feels like, isn't it? One minute you're free and hovering above the room, and the next minute, ZAP! back down into your corporeal form you go!
As a little kid, I loved that "feeling of return." With practice, most of the time we can control that event, but sometimes, when our physical ears hear a distracting noise or something else occurs to knock us back into reality, back we go. With practice you will be able to control your return better.
I find it interesting that you were visiting your mother-in-law and not someone in your own genetic family. Evidently, you and your husband got married for reasons that are even deeper than love. His family's interest in "psychic stuff" will nurture your children in such matters and help them to grow into their own abilities.
You'll never have to be concerned that when your daughter visits them, she'll be discouraged from exploring her own psychic life and power. My parents encouraged me to develop my psychic senses in a time when it wasn't nice to even discuss such things in public. Heck, it's STILL not considered a great topic at the dinner table in some families!
Your kids will get to talk about it ALL and ask questions and read and study. This is going to give them such an edge in life! Talk with your husband about how you want to present this to your kiddos, so that you are united in your approach and ready to tell them their experiences are all natural and okay.
A word or two of warning: Geminis often have difficulty staying grounded in REAL LIFE. Don't get so strung out on your ASTRAL life that you neglect what you're doing here on Earth.
You are at the beginning of a long journey to learn where your power really lies. Try to be patient with this process and take your time.