8 Ways Departed Loved Ones Send Signs: How to Recognize Messages from Spirit
Connecting with Departed 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.
These are not random.
When the veil between worlds is thin, our departed loved ones speak more clearly. These signs from departed loved ones are intentional - they're messages from spirit on the other side trying to reach you.
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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, or pets is one of the most meaningful aspects of my spiritual work, and I'm honored to help families find comfort and continued connection.
🔍 8 Signs from Departed Loved Ones: How They Communicate
Learning how to communicated with spirit starts with understanding the common ways they reach out. 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.
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 places they know you will see 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.
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.
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.
💬 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."
Spirit lets us know, they provide certainty. 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. It was something only they would know.
🍀 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 pointed out the symbol on the blanket to me. She said it out loud.
Weeks later, I shared Bella's passing to her animal chiropractor. I hadn’t told her yet. I knew she would want to know. 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 in spirit- she wanted to confirm our connection hadn't ended, and most importantly, let me know she had heard us having that conversation. It was so clear. No coincidence. A sign. A connection that was undeniable.
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 know she was there the whole time even when her body had passed and was wrapped in a blanket. She heard us talk about the blanket.
This was one of many experiences that taught me that our departed pets often come 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 a pet or someone on the other side? In a Messages from Spirit reading, I'll help you connect with your departed loved ones in a gentle, validating space where their messages can come through clearly.
[Book Your Messages from Spirit Reading →]
🔎 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. Or like the four-leaf clover, impossible to be a coincidence, like I said, no one uses that emoji. And it would have been an odd choice to use in that text conversation had it not been a sign from Bella. 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 recognizing spirit communication 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. They touch your heart. Like Grandma thanking him as she always did, once again.
"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.
🌈 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. It would have been easy to miss the four-leaf clover emoji - sign; and not connect that to the blanket Bella was wrapped in. It requires presence to be aware and notice what is there.
🧘 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, make it known that 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. Look at a photo of them. 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 Spiritual 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 Spiritual 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.
If you are having trouble connecting on your own, I am here to help. Schedule a session below.
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Love never dies. The connection you shared in life continues after death, and I'm here to help you experience that connection.
🕊️ [Book Your Messages from Spirit Reading →] Connect with your departed loved ones and pets in a safe, loving space where their messages can come through clearly.
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The most important thing to remember: the love you still feel for them is proof that they're still with you. Sometimes you just need help hearing what they're trying to say.