How to feel the presence of our loved ones

Updated December 16, 2025 by Elisa Branda

How many times have you asked yourself how to feel the presence of our loved ones?

Life and death are intertwined in a cycle that has always raised the deepest human questions. When a loved one leaves the physical world, we inevitably feel a void. Yet, for many, the certainty that this bond is not broken with physical death becomes a beacon of hope and consolation. Many cultures, philosophies, and religions teach that there is a way to communicate or, at the very least, sense the presence of those who are no longer with us.

This idea does not belong exclusively to religious dogmas: many lay people or people linked to different spiritualities tell experiences of sensations, signs and "coincidences" that convince them of the existence of an otherworldly contact. The aim of this article is precisely to explore some practices and reflections that can help anyone who wishes to cultivate a spiritual connection with those who are no longer here. We are not talking about “magical” practices or absolute truths, but about ways to open the heart and mind to a more subtle level of perception, in which memory mixes with affection and, sometimes, with signals that seem to go beyond.

How to Feel the Presence of Our Loved Ones: Death as a Transformation, a Change of State

For many spiritual traditions, death does not represent the total end of being, but rather a transformation, change of state or size. Historically and culturally, there are hundreds of stories and testimonies that describe the possibility of an “afterlife” or an existential plane different from ours. The idea is that the spirit or soul continues its journey, freeing itself from the limitations of the physical body.

1. Eastern Philosophies like Hinduism and Buddhism believe in reincarnation and the cyclical passage of souls.
2. Western Spiritual Traditions (Christianity, Judaism, Islam) propose a vision in which the soul survives the death of the body, awaiting an encounter with the divine or a future judgment.
3. Ancient Cults (for example Egyptians, Greeks, Romans) placed considerable importance on funeral ceremonies, since they believed that the afterlife was closely connected to the earthly one.

From here comes the possibility of imagining that those who are no longer with us, in some way, can still communicate with us or leave us “clues” of their support and their existence in another dimension.

But find out more in the section: Beyond the Veil

Ten Ways to Feel the Presence of Those Who Are No Longer Here

Below, I offer you a list of ten approaches and practices that can help us feel a connection with those we have loved and who are now on another plane. Each person is unique and may find a stronger affinity with some methods than others; we invite you to experiment with openness and respect, avoiding creating rigid expectations.

1. Meditation and Guided Visualization
2. Diary or Letters to the Soul
3. Signs and Synchronicity
4. Objects and Memories Charged with Energy
5. Dreams and Dream Journeys
6. Rituals of Commemoration
7. Connection in Nature
8. Support from Music and Art
9. The “Inner Voice” and Deep Listening
10. Professionalism and Discernment

In the following paragraphs, we will delve deeper into each method, offering practical suggestions and helpful reflections.

Meditation and Guided Visualization

La meditation It is one of the oldest and most universal doors to access a state of greater inner sensitivity. When there we sit in silenceBy focusing on the breath or a single thought (such as that of a loved one), the mind gradually calms down and creates a space in which we can perceive more subtle insights.

How to do

• Find a quiet place: turn off your cell phone, reduce distractions.
• Assume a comfortable posture (sitting or lying down), keeping your back straight.
• Close your eyes and breathe deeply for a few minutes.
• View your loved one: imagine her in front of us, in her most radiant and serene aspect. Feel her presence, evoke the happy moments shared.
• To relax and observe if images, words or sensations emerge.

Benefits

• It promotes a state of calm and centeredness.
• It opens the door to possible extrasensory perceptions.
• It can be repeated regularly, to strengthen the bond.

Diary or Letters to the Soul

Writing can be a profoundly cathartic act. Keeping a spiritual diary It helps us put down on paper our thoughts, memories and messages that we would like to send to those who are no longer physically present.

Example of Practice

1. Get a notebook dedicated exclusively to this purpose.
2. Whenever you feel the desire to communicate with your deceased loved one, write a letter: tell him about your day, your feelings, your worries.
3. Conclude the letter by thanking him or saying goodbye, as you would if he were still here.
4. Reread what you have written from time to time, to notice any changes or insights.

Pro Tip

• Writing in the evening, when the energy is calmer, can foster more intense emotional contact.
• Don't necessarily look for immediate answers: sometimes, the answer comes in the form of a dream or a simple sense of inner peace.

Signs and Synchronicity

One of the most common ways in which many people feel the presence of someone who is no longer with us is through signs o synchronicity. We often talk about:

• White feathers found in unusual places.
• Butterflies, birds or other animals that come unusually close.
• Changes in electricity: cell phones playing a random song, TVs turning on or off, lights “dancing”.
• Coins: Have you started finding coins? Here's a sign your loved one is sending you!
• Songs that appear on the radio just when you think about the missing person.
• Recurring numbers (such as 11:11 or the deceased's date of birth). Learn more about meaning of the number 11 11

National: It’s not about believing every event as a divine sign, but paying attention to moments of strong emotional resonance. Ask yourself: “Does this event touch me? Does it speak to me about him/her in some way?” If the answer is yes, it could be a significant signal for you.

Nothing happens by chance, however.

Objects and Memories Charged with Energy

There are objects that retain a very powerful symbolic and emotional value: a photo, a garment, a favorite book, a piece of jewelry. These objects can become real “portals” to connect with those who are no longer there. The memory and the energetic field of the person, according to some, remain “imprinted” in what he or she has loved or touched often.

• How to Use Them:
  1. Keep them in a sacred place in the house (a shelf, a small altar).
  2. Pick them up during quiet moments, trying to sense the energy or memory they evoke.
  3. Say a thought or prayer while touching the object.
• Effect:
  • The sense of emotional closeness grows.
  • One feels comforted and reassured by the tangibility of memory.

Dreams and Dream Journeys

I dreams represent a privileged area in which consciousness can receive messages or intuitions from other dimensions. Many people tell of having met their deceased loved ones in dreams, often in peaceful or symbolic contexts. I can guarantee that you will be perfectly able to distinguish between a normal dream and a real visit from your dear loved one. When they visit you it is so real that you remain almost incredulous, then you remember everything about that dream and above all you will remember it indelibly for the rest of your life!

How to Encourage “Messenger” Dreams

• Keep a notepad on the bedside table to immediately write down any significant dreams upon waking up.
• Before falling asleep, mentally ask your loved one to manifest himself in your dream if he wishes.
• Practicing evening meditation to calm the mind and prepare it for receptive sleep.

Why It Can Work

• During sleep, the barriers of logic and rationality are lowered, making room for an intuitive plan.
• The unconscious can symbolically elaborate what reason struggles to accept or understand.

Rituals of Commemoration

Un ritual it is nothing more than a symbolic gesture repeated with intention, capable of creating a particular state of mind. The rituals of commemoration are based on some key elements:

• Luce: light a candle in memory of someone who is no longer here, perhaps in the evening.
• Password: recite a short prayer, a thought, a dedicated poem.
• Flowers: to offer flowers or plants as a sign of life in continuous evolution.
• Sharing: gather family or friends for a moment of collective remembrance.

Therapeutic Value

• It helps to process grief actively, not passively.
• It reinforces the idea that the bond with the person continues in a different form.

Connection in Nature

La nature has always been a privileged setting for the experience of the sacred. In many spiritual contexts, we speak of energetic places such as forests, mountains, river banks, which facilitate contact with the divine or with subtle energies. For those seeking the presence of those who are no longer there, a walk in a forest or on a beach at sunset could provide moments of great intensity.

The spiritual world is one with the natural world. Unfortunately, we are the ones who are totally disconnected from it. But if a breath of wind suddenly passes through you, it could just be your dear loved one who wants to let you know that he is always near you.

• Practice:
  • Find a natural place that reminds you of the deceased or that has a special meaning.
  • Sit or walk slowly, trying to perceive the sounds, colors, shapes that you encounter.
  • Ask internally for a sign or “greeting” and see if anything resonates in a particular way.

Effects

• It reduces stress and increases emotional receptivity.
• It can generate a sense of peace and unity with all living things.

Support from Music and Art

La music, painting, creative writing, and other art forms can become powerful tools for connection. A song that your loved one loved, a song that recalls a common event, a painting that evokes certain feelings: all of these become bridges between worlds.

• Music: hearing or playing a melody that the person enjoyed. Sometimes, it feels as if the melody were more “alive” than usual.
• Drawing or painting: paint a portrait of a loved one or a symbolic representation of the bond we feel.
• Poetry and writing: compose verses, stories or simple sentences that come from the heart.

Benefits

• Transform pain into creativity.
• It allows for an emotional dialogue that transcends the barriers of logic.

The “Inner Voice” and Deep Listening

Sometimes, what prevents us from perceiving the presence of someone who is no longer there is thehyperactivity of the rational mind. When one finds a space of inner silence, words, ideas and intuitions emerge that seem to come from a source other than the purely mental.

Exercise Example

1. Sit in a quiet place with an audio recorder or notebook.
2. Do a few minutes of conscious breathing.
3. Ask the missing person a question: for example, “How are you?” or “Do you have a message for me?”
4. Listen in silence, letting any phrases, images or sensations flow.
5. Write down everything that comes up, without judgment.

Please note:: Intuition can mix our words with spiritual “messages”. We do not seek absolute truths, but a delicate confrontation with our inner world.

Professionalism and Discernment

In the desire to feel the presence of someone who has passed away, it is easy to come across sensational proposals or unreliable figures who promise certain and tangible contacts with the afterlife. It is important:

• Use discernment: if you turn to mediums or spiritual operators, check their reputation and seriousness. For example, I recommend that you find out about the person Suzanne Geisemann, US Navy Commander, evidential medium and spiritual teacher (read his biography).
• Knowing how to recognize when you feel manipulated or pressured into spending large sums of money.
• Maintain awareness that true spiritual contact arises from a private and intimate dimension, rather than from spectacular demonstrations.

Balance

• It is legitimate to seek support, but we must remain vigilant.
• Sometimes, a counselor or psychotherapist experienced in grief processing can provide invaluable support, helping to distinguish between a healthy search for comfort and possible illusions.

Summary Table of Spiritual Practices

Here is a summary of the main techniques described:

Spiritual Connection Path Diagram

Here is a simple flow chart that summarizes the key steps for anyone who wants to explore these practices:

[Inizio Del Desiderio di Connettersi]
           |
           v
[Ricerca di Silenzio e Consapevolezza]
           |
           v
[Meditazione e Visualizzazione]
           |
           v
[Pratica di Scrittura / Diario]
           |
           v
[Osservazione di Segni e Sincronicità]
           |
           v
[Eventuali Rituali di Commemorazione]
           |
           v
[Sogni e Approfondimento Onirico]
           |
           v
[Discernimento: controllare serietà di eventuali aiuti esterni]
           |
           v
[Proseguimento ed Evoluzione del Legame Spirituale]

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. Is it possible to establish direct contact with those who are no longer with us?
There is no single answer. The true answer is found in your heart. Many claim to have received clear messages in dreams or during moments of meditation. Others believe that perceptions are mainly internal and symbolic. These phenomena depend largely on individual sensitivity and one's beliefs.

2. If I don't feel any signs, does it mean the person is not with me?
Those who cross the veil are always with us, even if we don't realize it. There can be many reasons why we don't see their signs: remember that when you are in the midst of pain it is like being wrapped in a fog and it is difficult for them to communicate and for us to perceive. Furthermore, we see most of the signs...but we don't recognize them! I bet it has happened to you that your TV has turned on or off for no reason, that your cell phone has played a song without you activating it. Or you have noticed a flickering in the lights. They are all signs of the beyond. The important thing is not to force situations and to keep an open heart.

3. Are these practices in conflict with religion?
The spiritual world is beyond religions (man-made). My advice is to test the practice in your heart, like any other truth. Test it in your heart and see if it is in line with your being. Beyond religions or dogmas.

4. How can I distinguish a real sign from my own suggestion?
It is difficult to draw a clear boundary. Generally speaking, if the sign corresponds to highly unlikely circumstances or is repeated on multiple occasions, it is more likely to have a meaning. However, the important thing is not to label but to ask yourself if this event offers comfort and ideas for growth. But I will give you one more piece of advice. If your first thought was your loved one...then yes, it was his sign for you!

5. Can I receive negative or scary messages?
The spiritual world always sends messages of joy, love and peace. Usually the negative messages are part of our being, not of the person on the other side. If you experience feelings of fear or discomfort, it may be useful to temporarily stop the practice and perhaps talk to a professional (psychologist or expert in holistic disciplines) to understand the origin of such fears.

Conclusions: A Bridge of Love Beyond Matter

Le spiritual connections with someone who is no longer with us can take many forms: dreams, signs, intuitions, sudden perceptions. For some, it is a constant, almost daily dialogue; for others, rare moments in which one feels the closeness of a loved one. In both cases, the purpose is not to prove something scientifically, but rather to nourish the heart and face the void left by the loss.

The search for an otherworldly connection is, first of all, an internal and personal journey. Like any journey, it involves stages of amazement, skepticism, wonder and healing. Trusting your own sensations without falling into easy illusions is a subtle but precious balance. Those who are in a mourning journey and wish to explore these territories can combine spiritual practices and psychological support, transforming pain into an opportunity for growth.

I remember that thethe essence of those we love cannot be reduced to a physical body. Many testimonies tell us that love and affection can overcome the threshold of death, manifesting themselves in mysterious but profoundly real ways for those who experience them. We can therefore conclude that feel the presence of someone who is no longer there means, ultimately, recognize the eternal power of affection and the possibility that there is a larger dimension, in which the bonds of farewell are transformed into a new beginning.

I wish all who read to find comfort, hope and a serene energy in these practices, illuminating the bridge of love that still connects hearts beyond matter. May trust guide you, and respect for the mystery of life and death remind you that, in the spiritual dimension, nothing is truly lost: affection transforms, presence changes form, but love is eternal. Good journey.