Communicating with Departed Loved Ones: Key Signs to Look For
Connecting with Loved Ones: How the Spirit World Communicates
🍂 What Happens When the Veil is Thin
Have you ever felt like someone who passed was trying to reach you?
A sudden song on the radio. A butterfly that won’t leave your window. A scent that stirs your heart.
Our departed loved ones often try to connect, when they cross over, they want us to know they’re okay-and that they’re still with us. They see us, hear us, and are aware of our actions. When the veil between worlds is thin, their messages become even more vivid.
In this post, I’m sharing real stories, subtle signs, and soulful ways to open your, heart to their presence.
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About Your Guide to Spirit Communication
I'm Janet Rae Orth, an intuitive consultant with over 30 years of experience facilitating spirit communication between families and their departed loved ones. Having conducted thousands of Messages from Spirit readings, I've learned that these communications are far more common and accessible than most people realize. My ability to communicate with those who have passed is one of the most meaningful aspects of my spiritual work, and I'm honored to help families find comfort and continued connection.
[Learn more about my background and experience →]
🔍 8 Common Ways Departed Loved Ones Communicate
When your loved one reaches out, they will often approach you in a way that has deep meaning to one or both of you.
1. Through Nature & Animals
If watching hummingbirds or butterflies was something you enjoyed doing together, they may show up that way. My grandmother's house was full of cardinal knickknacks; she loved the vibrant red little birds. So now, when a cardinal appears at my window and taps on it, I know it is my grandmother.
For more about animal messengers, read my blog: [Spiritual Meaning of Animals: What It Means When They Cross Your Path →]
2. Found Objects & Meaningful Symbols
If you used to collect heads-up pennies, you may begin to find them more often. Spirits often leave coins, feathers, or meaningful objects in impossible places, like finding a penny on your pillow or a feather in your closed car. Something about it will be unusual, maybe the frequency with which you see them.
3. Electronics & Technology
One of the most common ways spirits communicate is through electrical devices. Lights flickering, machines jamming or breaking (I used to always break the copy machine when I was an accountant, but it wasn’t really me) when you think of them, radios turning on to meaningful songs, phones ringing with no caller, or TVs changing channels to shows you watched together. Their energy can easily manipulate electrical fields.
4. Physical Sensations
You might suddenly feel their presence as:
Warm or cool spots in a room
Gentle tingling or chills
The sensation of being hugged or touched
A familiar scent with no source (their perfume, pipe tobacco, cooking smells)
5. Music & Sounds
Hearing their favorite song repeatedly, especially at meaningful moments. Sometimes you might even hear their voice calling your name or catch familiar sounds like their footsteps or laughter. For more about recognizing and developing your psychic hearing abilities, read [The Five Clairs Explained→]
6. Moving Objects
Pictures falling for no reason (especially their photos), books, doors opening, lights turning on and off, or finding objects moved to significant places. They're letting you know they're still present in your space.
7. Dreams & Sleep Visitations
Vivid dreams where they appear healthy and at peace, often delivering specific messages or simply spending time with you. These feel different from regular dreams, more real, more vivid, and deeply comforting.
Watch for the upcoming blog about dream messages- sign up for my newsletter above.
8. Perfect Timing & Synchronicity
Signs that appear exactly when you need comfort or are thinking of them. This might include seeing their name everywhere, encountering their favorite things repeatedly, seeing repeated number sequences like 111 or 333, or receiving multiple signs in a short period.
Learn more about recognizing meaningful coincidences in: [Is It a Sign? How to Recognize and Trust the Meaning Behind Coincidences →]
Curious about number patterns? [Learn about Angel Numbers and their spiritual meanings →]
💬 Real Messages from the Other Side
🍒 A Mother’s Name Was the Message
During a reading with a young female client of mine, a woman who had passed came to me, I strongly felt that it was her mother. She appeared in her prime-around the same age as my client, even though her mother had passed at an older age. (The departed often appear as they see themselves).
She held something in her palm that was red and round. I said, “it looks like a walnut..or a cherry”. My client responded: "My mother's name was Cherry."
There was no mistaking it was her.
🙏 A Grandmother Who Always Said “Thank You”
In another session, a young man in his early 20s was grieving his grandmother. They were very close, and he was struggling with the pain and loss. He was desperate to hear from her, and seeing what he was going through was heartbreaking.
She appeared right away, looking like she was in her prime, and kept repeating, “Thank you, thank you.”
I asked her if she had anything else to say, but she simply repeated those two words. I checked again, but still "Thank you, thank you".
Finally, I told him that she was there and kept saying thank you. I told him I had checked in to see if she would say anything else, but she did not. He burst into tears. “That is so my grandmother,” he said. She had been a very gracious person and always thanked him for everything he did. Every time he saw her, she would thank him-for visiting, for being who he was, for the smallest gestures.. It was their thing.
That was her sign. Her message. Simple. Specific. Undeniable.
🍀 When Spirit Speaks Through Others
Our beloved pets also continue to communicate after they pass, often in the most unexpected ways.
When I had to make the difficult decision to help my beloved dog Bella transition, I struggled with whether it was the right time. The veterinarian wrapped her in a blanket decorated with four-leaf clovers, and something about that moment brought me peace, as if Bella was telling me it was okay. My friend who was with me made sure to point out the symbol to me too. She said it out loud.
Weeks later, I shared Bella's passing to her animal chiropractor. I hadn’t told her yet. Without any knowledge of what had happened that day, she sent me a message saying she felt Bella's gratitude and love, ending with several four-leaf clover emojis. No one uses that emoji! When I asked why she chose that particular symbol, she simply said, "That's what came through from Bella." I knew Bella was letting me know she was there - that she had orchestrated this beautiful sign to comfort me, confirm our connection hadn't ended, and let me know she had heard us having that conversation. It affirmed everything.
The same symbol, appearing through two completely different people who had no contact with each other, confirmed what my heart already knew, Bella was at peace and wanted me to be too. She was letting me now she was there the whole time even when her body had passed and was wrapped in a blanket.
This experience taught me that our departed pets often work through the people who loved them in life, using consistent symbols to let us know they're okay and that the love we shared continues beyond the physical world.
💌 Want to hear from someone on the other side? Book a private Messages from Spirit reading-gentle, validating, and unmistakably real.
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🔎 How to Know If It’s a Sign
When departed loved ones appear to us, they want to make it known they are here. They may send something that seems ordinary, like a bird, or a coin, but something about it will stand out.
If you keep seeing the same symbol over and over-especially at meaningful times, it could be your loved one trying to get your attention.
When Doubt Creeps In: Common Questions About Spirit Communication
Even when we're grieving and longing for connection, our logical minds sometimes create doubt. Here are the questions I hear most often in my spirit communication work:
"What if I'm just seeing what I want to see because I miss them so much?" This is completely understandable, grief can make us desperate for any sign of connection. The difference between wishful thinking and genuine spirit communication often lies in the specificity and timing. Real signs from spirits usually contain details you weren't consciously thinking about, appear in clusters, or come at moments when you most need comfort. If a sign brings you peace rather than anxiety, trust that feeling.
"Why don't I receive signs from my loved one?" Everyone receives spirit communication differently. Some people are naturally visual and see signs, while others are more feeling-oriented and sense their loved one's presence. Your departed loved one may be sending signs through dreams, sudden warm feelings, or even through other people who mention them at meaningful times. Sometimes we're so focused on looking for specific signs that we miss the subtle ways they're reaching out.
"How is this different from just missing them and imagining things?" Genuine spirit communication often contains information or appears in ways that surprise you. When my client's mother showed up holding something red and round that turned out to be referencing her name "Cherry," that wasn't something the client was expecting or imagining. But it made it clear it was her speaking. Real spirit signs feel like gifts from outside yourself, not creations of your own mind.
"What if I'm afraid of spirit communication or it feels overwhelming?" It's completely normal to feel nervous about spirit contact, especially if you're new to it. Remember that your departed loved ones only want to bring you comfort and love, they would never want to frighten you. If experiences feel overwhelming, you can always ask them to communicate more gently or take a break from actively seeking signs.
"Is it healthy to look for signs from the dead?" Spirit communication can be incredibly healing when it brings comfort and helps you feel the continued bond with your loved one. However, if looking for signs becomes obsessive, prevents you from living your life, or keeps you from processing grief in healthy ways, it may be time to seek additional support.
🌈 Our Double Rainbow Moments
My daughter and I constantly see full double rainbows, so often, in fact, that I’ve saved hundreds of photos on my phone. Most people don’t see one even once a year. We see several.
And we tend to see them at moments when we need reassurance about a decision we are making or a path we’re considering.
We know exactly who is sending us that sign. A double rainbow is a very clear sign that we cannot mistake, not just because it’s rare, but because it comes in the exact moment we need comfort or confirmation.
These signs bring comfort, clarity, and confirmation. And they often arrive just when we need them most.
✨ Pause and Reflect
Have you experienced a sign from someone you’ve lost?
What moment made you stop and wonder, “Was that them?”
You may already be receiving messages-just waiting to be acknowledged.
📓 Want to Track the Signs You’re Receiving?
Sometimes we miss the message because we didn’t write it down, or we don’t realize how often a symbol repeats.
✨ Don’t ignore the signs. Download the free [Signs from Spirit Tracker ➝] and start connecting the dots.
🧘 How to Open the Channel Between Worlds
Our departed loved ones desire to communicate with us. They want to comfort us, guide us, and most of all, remind us they are still here. After 30 years of facilitating these connections, I've learned that the most important ingredient is simply opening your heart to receive.
Creating the Right Conditions
Find Quiet Moments Spirit communication happens most easily when your mind is calm and receptive. This might be during meditation, in the early morning hours, while taking a peaceful walk, or in that drowsy state just before sleep.
Set Sacred Space Light a candle, hold something that belonged to them, or sit in a place that reminds you of your loved one. Creating sacred space signals your intention to connect and helps you feel closer to them.
Speak to Them Directly Talk to your departed loved one as if they're in the room with you-because they often are. Tell them about your day, share your worries, or simply say "I miss you and would love a sign that you're okay."
Daily Practices to Strengthen Connection
Morning Invitation Each morning, take a moment to mentally invite your loved one to walk with you through your day. Ask them to show you signs of their presence and thank them in advance for any messages they send.
Evening Reflection Before bed, review your day and ask: "Did my loved one try to reach me today?" Often we receive signs but dismiss them in the moment. Evening reflection helps you recognize the subtle ways they've been present.
The Two-Week Awareness Practice For two weeks, pay extra attention to:
Songs that remind you of them
Finding objects in unexpected places
Dreams that feel unusually vivid
Sudden warm feelings or sense of presence
Electronics acting unusual around significant dates
Write down anything that catches your attention. Patterns often emerge that reveal their unique way of communicating with you.
Soulful Shifts to Deepen Connection
💗 Take the Comfort Offered Let yourself feel the love and connection, even if it seems small or subtle. A cardinal at your window is just as meaningful as a dramatic sign-sometimes more so because it's gentle and personal.
🧘♀️ Get Out of Your Own Way I've found that if I can get out of the way during a reading, the message will be clear. The same is true for you. Don't overthink it or analyze every experience to death. Trust your first impression, it's usually right.
🙏 Trust the Timing Spirit communication doesn't happen on our schedule. Sometimes signs come immediately, and sometimes they come weeks later when we most need them. Trust that your loved one knows the perfect moment to reach you.
❤️ Feel with Your Heart, Not Your Head Your logical mind will try to explain away every sign. Instead, notice how potential signs feel in your heart and body. Does seeing that cardinal fill you with warmth and peace? Does hearing that song make you smile? Your heart knows the difference between coincidence and connection.
When You Don't Receive Signs
If you're not experiencing obvious signs, remember:
Some people are more visual, others more feeling - oriented
Your loved one might be sending signs you haven't learned to recognize yet
Sometimes the absence of signs is actually peaceful presence, they're simply with you
Grief can sometimes create static that makes signs harder to perceive
Your loved one may be waiting for you to heal enough to receive their messages with joy rather than desperation
The most important thing to remember: love never dies. The connection you shared in life continues after death. Sometimes the greatest sign is simply the love you still feel for them and the ways they continue to live on in your heart.
Continue Your Spiritual Journey:
Ready to dive deeper into recognizing divine guidance? Explore these related topics:
🔢 Angel Numbers Explained: Why You Keep Seeing 1111, 222, or 333 →
🐾 Spiritual Meaning of Animals: What It Means When They Cross Your Path →
🎯 Is It A Sign? How To Recognize & Trust the Meaning Behind Coincidences →
🔮 The Five Clairs Explained: Turn Your Sensitivity Into Your Superpower →
🔮 Two Ways to Go Deeper
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