community bulletin board Dear Laura: Ever since my mom's death last year near Easter, I know that she has visited me and guides me and this gives me much comfort. No one else in my family wants to believe that this is true. They say it is not possible and do not want me to talk of it. But I know that she is with me. You know what I mean, Laura. It is good to have somebody to talk to who understands. [Andrea] Dear Andrea: Certainly, the bonds of love that are forged in life are not broken by death. For some, communion is as natural as breathing; for others, it is an ability that must be developed. Do not let others' lack of faith rob you of this precious gift. But spiritual communication comes in many forms; would you mind writing again and sharing in a bit more detail your spiritual experiences? This could be a help to others who may have questions about communion, but are uncertain how to react or what to expect. Laura Dear Laura: Thank you so much. Yes, I will write you a real letter tomorrow. Your site is such a blessing. Thank you for being here to care and understand. [Andrea] Dear Laura: Thank you so much, it is a relief to finally have someone to talk to who understands. I know that my mom is near me in spirit. These feelings began the day of her funeral. We were in the car driving to church and I definitely felt her presence, there by me, in the car. It was like she was saying, "It's okay. I'm still with you. I'll never leave you." My brother saw I was very quiet and asked if I was all right. I didn't tell him what had happened until later that evening. We had always been very close as kids when we were growing up, so I thought I could confide in him. (I need to tell you that we are both in our 30's with families of our own now.) I was surprised when he tried to tell me that what I had experienced was all in my imagination. I have not brought it up since. I feel like I am now so alone with my "secret." It is a joy to me that my mother is near, but it makes me so very sad no one else in the family can share this. Several weeks after I first felt her presence, it happened again. I had returned to my parents' house  and was helping my sister clean out some of my mom's things. I was alone in the kitchen, where my mom spent most of her time, and was thinking about what it was like when we were kids, when I felt as though some one had come [into the kitchen] and I noticed a very strong smell of cooking - like cooking bread or rolls. The kitchen had not been used for months since my mom had been in the hospital, but there was no mistaking the smell. But just as suddenly as I noticed it, the smell was gone along with that feeling of not being alone. Laura, I know that my mother's spirit is with me. There have been other times I have felt her presence. Lately, it has been in dreams where we talk like we used to. I need to know how to share this with the rest of my family. It hurts they cannot share in the joy and peace these visits have brought me. [Andrea] Dear Andrea: Who are the people whom you've confided in? What exactly was their response? Do you think that, with time, they may be open to changing their minds and expanding their belief system? I know how difficult it can be when one has joyous news to share and there is not a receptive audience. Maybe I could be of some help if I knew more about their backgrounds, individual personalities, and just how they reacted to your "news." Also, would you mind describing a typical visitation/reunion dream that you have had recently? You say that you talk with your mother in these dreams as you used to: but much in a dream is symbolic, there is often a richness in these messages which can be overlooked. Laura Dear Laura: Sorry I did not write sooner. But I need to tell you of a dream I had last night that is different from the others dreams I had with my mom. It is very disturbing/confusing. In the dream, my mom is in the garden back at the old house where we all grew up and she keeps motioning for me to follow her and pointing to something on the ground. I want to follow her, but when I try to move, my feet will not move. I have had this dream for the past week(four times). Every time, it is the same dream. What is she trying to tell me? Should I be concerned? How can I move my feet and see what she is pointing[at]? How can I understand her message? Thank you again, Laura; there is no one else who I can talk to about this and I know it is important. [Andrea] Dear Andrea: Not being able to move is a very common theme in dreams. The main thing to focus on is how this inability to move made you feel. Did you feel frustrated? Did you feel as though you were struggling? The feelings evoked within a dream can help in its interpretation; they, sometimes, can be even more important than its images... What I would suggest is that you, just before you go to sleep at night, place in your mind the idea of you flying. You can inject some degree of outside imagery into a recurring dream by doing this. Next time that you have this dream - it surely will happen again - try not to move towards your mother with your feet. Let yourself fly. Do not look down at the ground. Reach out to her and allow yourself to glide towards her. This type of guided imagery can allow you to gain some control over the flow of these dream messages. These experiences are much more than your garden-variety dream; they are, rather, a form of spiritual communication and, as such, there must be active imput on your part if you are ever going to understand fully the message which they contain. As to what she is trying to tell you by pointing at something... this symbolism is very significant. When you're finally able to "see" what it is, that will be when the secret of this message will be revealed. Since this dream has occured repeatedly, it is clear that this message is of some importance. Whether it will be of events to come or those of the past is not yet clear. Only its importance is evident now. And, you need not be afraid of these dreams - I do not sense fear in your letters - for messages from a loving soul are meant to guide and benefit. Our lives are intertwined through all phases of existence; you still are bound in love to your mother and she to you - that will never change. Laura Dear Laura: I did what you said and I did dream of my mother again and, this time, I was able to go to where she was and she what she was pointing at. She was pointing at the base of an old tree behind our old house and when I got to where she was, I saw that there was a baby laying at the base of the tree. The baby was smiling. My mother was smiling. And I could see myself smiling. When I woke up, I felt so happy, Laura. But thinking about the dream is scaring me. Why was the baby on the ground? Does that mean someone is going to die? The more I think about it, I get mored scared. Please help me understand this dream. What is the message? [Andrea] Dear Andrea: You're allowing yourself to worry too much. Accept the dream for what it is. Go with the feelings that came with this dream. It's message is very clear: Are you pregnant? Your mother is welcoming a new life into your family(your family tree). It may sound hokey, but that's what this dream seems to be saying. Write back as soon as you can. We're all waiting. Laura Dear Laura: I'm thinking this can't be true. I and my husband have been trying to get pregnant for years. But I went to the doctor the day after I read what you said about the dream, and we are going to have a baby!! How did you know? This is all so strange and wonderful: my mother and the baby and this feeling now that we are all connected somehow. Thank you, Laura. Thank you. I'm crying and shaking so much as I am writing this. I am so happy. Thank you again. [Andrea] Dear Andrea: How did I know?... My dear, you told me; and your mother told you in your dreams. Remember we are all connected through love: for now and for always. It's just that, sometimes, we allow our fears and our sadness to get in the way of feeling the love that surrounds us. Enjoy your new baby. Name her after your mother, keep that connection alive. Laura                     Go to index of current message topics. Return to homepage.