Yes, whole heartedly. The spark that is the soul of a person has not been found.

As a Native, though it is also true in many other cultures, I believe we travel on. The Creator or who ever you choose to name him, carefully determines our steps of growth. Sometimes offering another life as a help for us or to let the soul grow more, before entering the heaven with Grace. Or a trip back to comfort or protect those still here.
But there is a difference in time concepts, also our perception of moving on. Some take longer than others, some stick around for their own reasons and some just aren't aware they passed. But for whatever reason, they can be felt to a certain extent if you are open to it.

Children and pets often "see" better, because they are not yet jaded by society to the possibility.
My dog stopped, pointed and barked a few times after John passed. The same bark of recognition like when John was getting ready for work, or coming home. He immediately settled, when I told him "It's okay, that's just Poppy"

This answer is based on my religious beliefs. None of the great religious leaders have explained much about the next life. It's very different but also a paradise.

Souls passing to the next life can assist us here, and we can assist their journey of moving 'closer' to God by saying prayers and doing charitable works in their name.

We believe that those pure souls that have passed into the next life are responsible for the arts and wonders in this life. I think of it as they are the intuition that our artists and scientists have when they create.

So, I don't believe that a medium can do anything about this connection. There is a connection between us and our loved ones who have passed, but it's on a spiritual level, and it's nature is unknown to us here.

This is an area outside of science, so you will have to turn to religion to get some insight to this.

I truly do believe there is life of the spirit after the physical body transitions to the next. I also am conscience that many things that are left here, like his love and his humor remain in those who love him. To me these are the important things in life. (not the car you drive or thd house you live in). It is who you are, how you treat others, and your love and kindness that remain. Our Creator who to me is called God, is forgiving and looks to our heart. The physical is only seen for our comfort here and the spirit is who we are. JMHO Sharon

In a weird way, the only comparison is when you are out in public, perhaps sitting in a restaurant or sitting on a bus. For some reason you look directly at someone that is looking at you, you somehow sense you are being looked at or feel something that draws your attention. I think we feel loved ones who have passed in this same way, perhaps differently.

I actually got a reading from the long island medium and I believe it to be the real deal..she told me stuff that only he and I knew about . I had a list of questions before I saw her and she answered every one! I also, believe that WE receive signs from our loved ones. I am a Christian so you can see where my comment could get me into some troubles but... I cant give any answers..all I know is that I believe what the bible say and I believe what I have seen with my own eyes.

" Even if you don't believe in mediums, do you believe there is a connection between this world and the next or is it all wishful thinking?"

I do not believe in mediums. I do believe that something continues after this life, and I have felt Cliff's presence many times, had many signs of his presence, and also had signs of his influence in this world. There are some things that only he would affect in the ways that they were affected. So, yes, I think we maintain a connection.

Different faiths have different views of the question of afterlife, rebirth, after death communications, etc., just as 'heaven' means different things to different people.

I think trying to understand where they are now is like trying to understand a completely foreign language. You might get some sense of what the next existence is like, but there is no way to fully understand it. One analogy which I always thought was apt was that we can no more understand the next life than we could understand THIS life while we were still in the womb. In the womb, we can feel our mother's movement, sort of hear her voice although it is not clear, and we are enveloped by her body and warmth. We are alive and developing, preparing for our birth into this world. But no infant has any real clue what this life is like. It learns its way around when it gets here. I think the next life is kind of like that, too. We develop towards it while we are here, but we will find our way around when we get "there" - whatever "there" is.

I know that for my life here, it is more important that I continue living as a good person instead of worrying what comes next. Cliff always believed in the next world, and I am content to let it go with that.

I know Cliff would never contact me through a stranger, so I know I would never believe anything a medium said or did. TV shows are for entertainment, not reality. It's one of those "wouldn't it be nice if" kind of things - as in, wouldn't it be nice if you could just pick up the phone and dial heaven and talk to them. Then it would be almost like they never left. It would be just like talking to long distance family in another state (or in my case, another country). You would know if they were happy, being treated well, and could even ask what the weather was like in heaven because they would tell you themselves. That would be nicer than stories, theories, myths, and tv ad campaigns.

The more I begged for signs, the less I got. When I let it go, there were a bunch. Cliff shows up in my dreams a lot, too.

I am sorry for your loss. I do understand missing the direct contact. I do know it is difficult to put aside some of the questions about life after death that come up. My answers to those questions may not be your answers. I hope you find some peace in your heart.

Love and Hugs,
Martha

I know there is more to this than the physical here and now we experience. We lived on a ranch and my bedroom was converted from the attached single garage, so to get into my room you could come in from the outside (which was ultra convenient later on during my wild child phase) or you could come up from the main house through the basement. One night I woke up and there was a presence in my room, the curtains were blowing, the windows were shut and the room was freezing. I knew I was in the presence of evil and I needed to get out of there and into the main part of the house, with my family. What was uppermost in my mind was not to engage the presence and not to be alone with it. I started to pray out loud, got up and went through the basement and up to my siblings bedroom. When I look back on it I am surprised that I wasn't afraid to sleep out there after that, I have no idea why, if it happened now I think I'd be packed and relocated in no time. When I confided in my younger sister her answer was so simple and has always stuck with me. She said well then I believe in God. It just made sense to her that if indeed there are evil presences among us, there must be good as well.
And when I was 20 I moved to live with my dad as he was ill and needed help with his businesses. The house he lived in was on an acreage and I am sure it was haunted. Even my dad was frightened by some of the noises, things knocked over, unexplained temperature changes etc. My sister and stepmother experienced it as well. When my dad went into the hospital and I lived there alone with my 2 year old daughter I could barely stand it. I remember someone visiting me once commented on hearing footsteps coming down the hall, and one day I locked myself out of the house and slept in the car with my daughter because I didn't even want to get in. I remember the closet doors in my dad's bedroom were metal and they would all ping late at night. I dreamt that I ran into the spirit couple that lived there, in one of the bathrooms, and after that I was OK there. Years later my husband and I were in the Okanagan for a holiday and I went to the house and asked the couple living there if they also experienced weird things and they did.
I do think some people are intuitive and may be more receptive to messages from the other side, but I think the fakes who take advantage of grieving people outnumber them by a zillion to one. Wasn't it Dionne Warwick who had a psychic network phone line? And then she sustained an injury when something fell on her? Seems like one of her mediums would have given her a heads up...

Thank You for all your responses. I think believing in something unexplained does not compromise your religious beliefs. There is so much unknown. I do remember feeling my fiance's presence very strongly one day this summer but he was much happier. Like Lincoln I believed it but then again didn't but it was a warm fuzzy feeling that I keep trying to get back but can't. I would love to see the LI Medium Mommyisme4. How did you get to see her? I don;t have the money and I could not afford it but I am more spiritual since Stephen died, not just in this way but religiously. I have bee praying fervently for something good to happen in my life. Times are rough all around. I just wonder why I don't get help from God or loved ones who have passed. I never had a spirit encounter but I would like a sign or something.. I not only think of my fiance but my parents and all who have gone before me and would rather be wherever they are. I dream of them all sometimes and it is nice to be with them. I just wish I could feel it more and that they would be with me more in these difficult times.

QP

I completely believe in mediums. I saw one about 6 months after my husband passed and she was amazing. She "tapped" into my husband and knew almost everything even as to how we approached the cancer on our own terms. She gave me so much comfort it was wonderful. I am going to see her again soon, its been 3 years now. Also they say spirits can use electricity to communicate with us. One evening about 9 months after he passed, I turned off the tv and went to bed. The next morning I turned the tv on and somehow the screen had turned to the search where you can look up shows. I was shocked when I read "Dad" That was all it said and I used to call him that all the time. He said before he died that if he could come back to us anyway, anyhow he would. I could not ask for a clearer message than that. I know he is still with us and the pets know it too. I catch them looking off somewhere and there isn't anything to see. My new dog who never knew him stares and then climbs on my chest and actually shivers. He's protecting me from my hubby but does not know it. I also know there is more than this life. Like Carrie Underwood sings, this is our temporary home.

Thanks switz02, I wish I would get a clear message like you although that one day this summer I really felt my fiance's presence and it was a nice day. you are lucky to have found a good medium. I have not ruled it out if I ever get any money. I visited a friend ths weekend and saw her sister in law who lost hr husband. I met her before and she had mentioned the Long Island Medium and her and I were talking about it and everyone else didn't know what we were talking about. It just shows how a terrible loss will make you more interested in these things and the afterlife. It is the new season tonight and I know I will be watching. It gives me hope and I feel better that these people who have lost someone may get a sign. I just wish I would get another sign or feeling or anything.

QP

I am just in the process of making a appt with a medium in my city and I am not the type of person to go to those things. Truthfully not even sure why I am going or what to ask but I am somehow drawn to it. As for a connection between this world and next. I absolutely beleive that. Seen to many examples not to beleive it. Gerald

It is sometimes that 1) We are into much pain, we give off an aura, some are easier to get through but extreme grief is said to block messages. If the passing was traumatic to the spirit it may need time to get to the otherside, destination. Since they must first understand they have passed.

2)Some don't know right away, staying here confused. Often close to where they passed or home. Going about doing things like normal.
They can also be stuck there from pull from us, unable to continue. This is why it is important to not say the name in "need" too much, you will draw them back, away from their journey for us at least four days to let them pass through the western door. For their peace, and pain free existence there. ( this is why I won't call on John for help)

3)Others go forward, then are allowed short visits to comfort(this may be your brief feeling) Or to help someone they cared for in this realm in crisis. ( ex. an unseen force pushing a child from danger or a warning to avoid something)

4)And yet other's choose not to go, fearing what is ahead. Not having believed here or on the otherside that there is another destination....Or they know, what waits ahead and don't want to face it.

My uncle who was a healer and seer of the otherside, taught me a lot since I would get the same type of feeling he did. I am Native American, this is so normal in our beliefs. Also in other cultures accepted knowledge



A spirit called must also be ready not just because it's called.

There is also a vibration of history in memories... best way to explain is that the one you care for left an imprint on you of memories. We believe that is a lot of what some less than skilled "mediums" are picking up, your and the one passed mutual "memory" vibrations/imprints. these can come across very clear. Why they "Mediums" will know of a memory of something only you know about.

But there is another consideration to take in, before I would ever want to open that door. Because it is like a door or curtain that separates. That there are others not so nice "entities" that will take advantage of an open door. Coming through with the spirit called. There should always be prayers of protection prior to calling forth someone that passed.

For both of you. Since they can be effected too on their side.

What you say makes sense. I knew that day I felt my fiance very strongly and it was nice but nothing since. My religion does not believe in dabbling in the occult but I always felt there was something. I think the reason they did not want people to do that was because of those not nice entities that you mentioned. It makes sense and that ban I think was more for people's protection in dabbling in something that may bring bad spirits to them. That is why I don;t try much on my own also. It's just that that one day it was so nice that I would like to get that back.

QP