”Closer Than You Think” by Deborah Heneghan

Have you ever wondered if there was a way to connect with a loved one who passed away? Better yet, have you ever experienced communication with a deceased loved one? If so, then you’re not alone.

In Closer Than You Think, Deborah Heneghan recounts her own experiences communicating with her sister who passed away, and provides firsthand accounts from dozens of others who’ve had similar experiences. Deborah writes of receiving guidance from her deceased sister Kathy–who died when they were both teenagers–when she desperately needed it. While the concept of after-death communication might sound a little far-fetched to some, the highly personal and comforting nature of each story in the book has made me a believer.

Deborah woke up in the middle of the night not long after losing Kathy, only to see her image standing at the foot of her bed–but as she reached for her, she disappeared. From that moment on, Deborah’s life changed as she continued to look for signs from her sister. “When I needed confirmation of something,” she writes, “I’d flick on the radio and hear ‘Don’t Stop Believin’’’ — her favorite song by Journey. I’d awaken in the middle of the night to see 3:10 on the alarm clock — her favorite number combination — with the big, bold, red digital numbers glowing brightly on the panel as if validating my question or concern.” In this way, Deborah learned to pick up on the subtle signs that showed Kathy was looking out for her.

“From that moment on, Deborah’s life changed as she continued to look for signs from her sister.”

There are also other instances described in the book where loved ones from the other side reveal their existence to an unprecedented degree in what Deborah dubs a “Rock Star moment.” For example, a woman named Natalie made a daily effort to pray to her grandmother, who had passed away years before. After driving over an hour to-and-from work every day for nearly a year, Natalie felt exhausted and starting dozing off at the wheel. Just as she was approaching a turn at the top of a steep hill, she heard a clear whisper saying, “Take the steering wheel and turn left. Hard!” Jolting awake, she tried to turn the wheel only to find that it was stuck, and prayed to her grandmother for help. In that moment, she managed to make a hard turn and narrowly avoid a fatal collision. “I call this “Angel on Your Shoulder,”” writes Deborah, “You’re in urgent danger, whether you know it or not. Your loved one, from a higher vantage point, reaches out to steer you in the right direction –often to your amazement” (44). While we might not realize it at the time, it’s comforting to think that we can receive guidance in a potentially life-threatening situation.

Author Deborah Heneghan

Finally, Deborah offers some helpful tips for those looking to experience after-death communication and ease the grieving process after a loved one has passed. She advises:

• Have faith that every experience in your life is a necessary stepping-stone for all the good that’s ahead of you now.
• There’s no right or wrong way to grieve… work through it in a way that feels natural to you.
• Have faith, and relax your mind and body in order to be open to, and aware of, any divine messages coming your way.
• During this process, always remember to take care of yourself — it’s what your loved one would want you to do.

The process of grieving is exhausting. And trying to find a new sense of normal after a loved one has passed-on is an emotionally taxing journey. But by seeking help from others in your daily life–or from loved ones on the other side–we can discover the possibility of finding comfort and peace in a difficult time.
Have you ever communicated with a loved one who’s passed away? Would you want to, and why?