Happy Holidays, and a very special thank you to all who entered the Sign Stories contest! As promised, I forwarded all of your submissions to Adrian Calabrese, author of Sacred Signs. She read all of your stories and chose her three favorites, all of whom received a signed copy of her book.

In this column I’d like to share two of the three winners of the Sign Stories contest. The third winner wrote a beautiful and heartfelt story, but asked that it not be published if he won, and I am respecting his wishes. I enjoyed reading all of your stories, and want to thank everyone who took the time to put their special story into words.

The holiday season is supposed to be filled with light and love, but this time of year can also be very difficult for those who have recently lost a loved one. Sometimes nothing anyone can say or do can ease the pain of grieving. I believe that our loved ones in the spirit world can and do reach out to us, often when we feel like things are bleakest. There’s some truth to the old saying, “It’s always darkest before the dawn.”

If you know someone who is grieving, I highly recommend Never Say Goodbye by medium Patrick Mathews. The title of his book refers to his strong belief that it is not necessary to “let go” before someone you love can pass on to Heaven, or however you conceive of the afterlife. They will automatically go. And, says Mathews, it’s also not true that once there they can no longer hear your thoughts or prayers about them, or reach out from the great beyond to communicate with you.

Many people who don’t consider themselves psychic have experienced what seem to be visits or messages from family members or close friends who have passed on. Has this ever happened to you? Perhaps you had an extraordinarily vivid dream, or received a “sign” in the waking world that was unusual and made you believe it was a message from someone in spirit. Maybe you saw or talked with someone one last time and later found out that your conversation happened after that person had “died.” Many people report such experiences around holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas, when they are likely to have been missing someone and revisiting old memories.

I’d like to announce a “Messages From Beyond” story contest, and invite anyone who has had such an experience to tell your true story. Please send your responses to messagescontest@llewellyn.com, or mail them in to Messages Contest, c/o Jennifer Spees, Llewellyn Worldwide, 2143 Wooddale Drive, Woodbury, MN 55125-2989. This time I’ll pick five winners to receive a copy of Never Say Goodbye, as well as two other books that I think you’ll also love: True Tales of Ghostly Encounters and Spirit of Love.

True Tales of Ghostly Encounters is a book of the best true ghost stories submitted over the past 50 years by the readers of FATE magazine. Many of these stories are about visits from departed loved ones, and range from funny to heartwarming. Spirit of Love by medium Jenny Crawford describes the messages of love that she has received from spirits who want their living relatives to know that they are doing well. This book also really shows how the personalities of spirits continue to shine through after death.

I look forward to reading your Messages From Beyond!

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Sign Stories Winner #1
Cardinals By Maureen Ryan


I was blessed with a wonderful grandfather. A man who began each conversation, no matter how serious or ordinary, with the same four words: “Maureen, I love you.” Only then would the conversation begin.

My grandfather was a very special man. He taught me of the ways of nature. The pleasure of watching fish swim beside our little wooden rowboat, the thrill of gently stroking the head of a frog while holding it in our hands. With him, I always felt safe, protected. And he could do anything — from fixing the broken hand of a dolly to mending a strap on my shoe. He was my mother’s (his daughter’s) pal. She could tell him anything. He was always there.

Grandfather did love nature. Birds were a favorite of his, especially cardinals. Being the state bird of seven states, it isn’t all that unusual to see them, but they aren’t as frequent as one might assume.

When Grandfather passed from this incarnation, Mother and I felt a deep loss. His passing was difficult. He had clung to my hand, trying to speak, wanting to tell me something, but was unable to do so.

Some time after his death, my mother made an interesting observation. While gardening, a cardinal seemed to watch her, perched on her fence. Jokingly she remarked, “Maybe Grandpa sent him.” Several times she would dream of Grandpa, only to sit at her kitchen table the following morning and, over her morning coffee cup, spot a cardinal on the fence, appearing to stare into the house at her.

I live in a lovely home. There is a birdfeeder out on the deck — clearly visible from my kitchen window. At times, a cardinal will “visit,” bringing a smile to my soul.

Not too long ago, my family was experiencing a difficult time. I promised my parents I would pray. I lit a white candle, spoke an invocation and spoke from my heart. With all respect, I asked for a “sign,” so that I could assure my family. Within a very short time, I lifted my focus from the candle’s flame to the kitchen window.

There on the deck, looking directly at me, was a large, proud cardinal. Even though it was not the “season” when they would be plentiful, there he was. Then, in but an instant, the feeder was filled with all manner of cardinals — some small, both male and female — many, many were perched in the trees surrounding the deck. Still, the one did not move, but continued to stare in my direction. I moved closer to the window. I smiled at the cardinal, thanked my deity, and said a thanks to Grandpa as well.

I phoned my father, telling him of my experience. His first response was, “It’s a sign.” We all felt a peace, a calm descend upon us. Yes, things did work out for us. Cardinals have since always manifested whenever I have asked for assistance.

We believe that they are a recognizable “message” assigned to us to remind us of the love and safety that is there for all of us, ever surrounding us, existing in all that surrounds us and touches our lives.

Thank you for allowing me to share my experience with you. It is through many of the books published by Llewellyn and written by “teachers” such as Adrian Calabrese that my belief system has been able to grow and to recognize so much of what I may have been blind to in the past.

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Sign Stories Winner #2
Snow Bunny By Delores Ele

My messages from the Universe often come in the form of a rabbit. I first encountered rabbit after I had a wreck in a snowstorm one night. The wreck was unavoidable.

It started snowing before I drove to the church for meditation group. I didn’t like the conditions so I called the minister, who told me it was going to be held. I had a premonition that I wouldn’t return from group unscathed.

You see, the town where I live is built on a series of hills. The church was at the top of one hill; the apartment house where I lived was halfway up another hill. I went. The snow kept coming, but the snowplows weren’t.

After group, I had to decide on the safest route home. I chose the long way home with the least steep hill. It was a mistake. The street I was on crossed another hill. A girl driving her mother’s car came sliding down the hill; she would cross the intersection at the same time I entered. I got a flash of her screaming face as I “T-boned” her car, mashing in the driver’s door and killing her.

I took immediate action. I spun the wheel as I slammed on the useless brakes. I didn’t avoid the accident, but I made sure that no one was killed. We both came away unhurt. Still, it snowed.

When the police finally came, the officer taking our statements had me move my car, as mine was the only one drivable since the girl’s had a flat tire. He took her statement first.

While he took her statement in her car, I stood leaning against my car with my back against the driver’s side door. The snow still came. The night was calm and surreal. The sky was red, and all sound was muffled. It seemed that time had stopped. As I mused on the landscape, a movement across the street made me turn to look.

A brown rabbit came hopping nonchalantly across the street in front of me — one lone rabbit. I watched the rabbit traverse the street and hop up another hill. This one had “Dorman’s Gifts” on top of it. The rabbit continued until it disappeared over the crest of the hill.

After the rabbit disappeared over the hill, time returned to normal. I felt relaxed and calm, rather than the shock that normally follows an accident. I was able to tell my version of the events leading up to the accident without becoming hysterical. No one was at fault due to the conditions of the pavement.

I don’t remember how I got home that night. Later, when I told a friend about the rabbit, he said, “Wow, Delores, you had a message from the Universe.” I guess the rabbit was saying, “Be not afraid. Things will take an upward turn from now on.”

I’ve experienced Rabbit messages several more times. They seemed to be telling me to relax and be unafraid. But those are different stories for different times.