Spirit is Talking to You: True Stories of Signs, Wonders, Inspiration, Love and Connection. Joan Doyle

significance for her. The truth is if God is everywhere present, omnipotent and omniscient, then it’s totally plausible that we could see his/her handiwork everywhere.

      Yes I believe all people are an expression of Spirit, of God, so people can be angels in our lives, and people drop pennies. Spirit works through people. I have certainly been affected by things people say in passing–something that takes me out of my rut of repetitious thinking or petty concerns. Like the older man at the supermarket yesterday. He was just so sweet as he carried the kitty litter to the car for me. He said to come find him in the store if I ever needed anything carried. He was so obliging it made me think what a spirit of willing service–of love to be more accurate–he brought to his job. I was touched by his attitude and it made me want to have a better attitude myself.

      Of course I feel I have many angels in my life; I am grateful for that. Justin is a major blessing and a wonderful encouragement to me in all of my endeavors, as even now he extorts me to put our stories into book form.

      I’m still not convinced, as I ready myself for my day at the library where I work part-time. Funny, I think, how I resist getting in the shower when I am warm and dry in my bed in the morning, and how when all warm and wet, I resist going out into the cool air to dry off again. We humans don’t like change much, do we?! Still, if we stay put, it’s not much fun either in the long run. We need variety. Maybe if the book of stories could be more than just about pennies, but signs in general–messages from the universe, love notes from the ever-present Spirit in a myriad of shapes and manifestations, maybe then I could get behind it. I’ve certainly experienced those in many forms. Maybe today I can be more watchful. What we look for we find; I am familiar with that idea. I often tell the people I counsel to watch for love in their relationships–to be love finders, instead of fault finders. OK, I’m decided; I am looking for Spirit’s guidance, looking for a sign that this is the way to go with my writing.

       I reach in the closet for my denims. I like this idea of watching for the good in my life. I think it’s bound to increase my happiness whether I write the book or not. I stick my hand in to flatten the pockets of my denims. What’s this? There’s a laundered and folded paper in here. I pull it out. It’s a ten dollar bill. God! That’s better than a penny; the higher the denomination, the more resounding the YES! I can’t wait to tell Justin–talk about an instant answer! Thank you Spirit.

      And just in case I was in any doubt that I got full approval for a book about the universe’s messages to us, this was not the only sign I got that day. When I got to work at the library, the very first book in the pile to be checked in on my arrival, out of all the possible topics was, “Finding a Literary Agent.” And with that book was a bookmark inscribed with a quote from St. Francis de Sales. It told me, “Make yourself familiar with the angels, and behold them frequently in spirit; for without being seen, they are present with you.”

      I am listening and I am heeding the direction I am being given as I write down these stories. It is my hope that you may be inspired also to trust that there is help and guidance available to you, too, if you choose to believe and be watchful.

      Tennyson wrote,

      

       “Speak to Him thou for He hears, and Spirit with Spirit can meet. Closer is He than breathing, and nearer than hands and feet.”

      I would love to hear your stories. You may e-mail me through the book’s website, www.SpiritIsTalking toYou.com

      

      

       Sign

       By Amanda Sargenti

      “Change is the only constant in life,” is a famous saying I try to live by, and that helps me put things into perspective when I feel I need to color my life differently. When it’s time to make changes I often tend to favor the ripping off the band-aid technique. Since I tend to lose my equilibrium and inner harmony when assimilating changes in my life, why not change everything all at once? Sure, this temporary sense of insanity is by no means flattering to anybody, but at least I can give myself a break, knowing that I am trying to run a marathon on quicksand.

      When living in Monterey, California, a few years back, I was flirting with the idea of changing my life one hundred percent. By this I mean: changing jobs – preferably careers, moving back down south, and ending a long relationship. Changing my immediate environment constituted not only leaving the majestic ocean and lusciously green, famous cypress trees but also an eclectic and genuine support system of individual souls.

      I decided to drive to Los Angeles to visit my brother in the hope of buying some time before needing to make these long overdue life-altering decisions. After getting into my car and driving on a windy road towards the freeway, I began setting my intentions for this trip on which I was embarking. All of a sudden I remembered something I used to ritualistically do whenever I felt the blanket of confusion wrap around me. When the going gets tough, I ask God and the Universe for a sign–some sort of confirmation or guidance. Even though I usually enjoy a challenging and analytic, even cryptic thought process, I suspected my feelings of uncertainty to have clouded my vision and ability to filter in any insight. Paralleling the mind of a banana slug or maybe even an amoeba (with all due respect), I summoned my heart energy together and pleaded to God and the Universe to please send me a sign to work with, something that would help clarify the path I was meant to take. I remember advising the Universe to be gentle with me because I was in no state to dissect any abstract hints from the beyond. Understanding the importance of being specific when asking for a request, especially when involving the Universe and God’s help, I recall humbly asking that a “foolproof sign” would be granted to me. By this description, I hoped that I would be given a “sign” that did not need much interpretation or analyzing.

      Just as soon as I set my intentions and verbalized my heart’s desire, a big truck coming out of what seemed left field, blended into my lane, forcing me to halt. Before I could even react to the dance my car was involved in with this truck, I started to laugh, close to hysterically. Much to my amazement and disbelief, there was one word written in large red, bold letters on the back of this truck that demanded my attention. Any ideas what this one word was? Of course…the word was no other than “SIGN.”

      Sometimes I can’t help but laugh at the absurdity of life… “SIGN?” “Really??” “What sign, and for what?” I soon began to ponder. Well, once again, the Universe gave me exactly what I had asked for…nothing more, and nothing less. I had asked for a “simple and obvious sign,” one that did not need any interpretation.

      Even though I did not have any clarification as to the decisions I needed to make, I did realize two things: how quickly God and the Universe respond to us when we are in need and reach out for help–if we listen and are receptive. The other reminder was for me to keep and strengthen my faith, to remind myself that although I don’t have (and probably never will have) all the pieces to the puzzle of my life, I ought to be confident and never forget that no matter what happens and despite what my perspective on life might be, I am guided and loved by God and the Universe. I was then; I am now, and I will always be. You, too, are loved by the same Universe and can feel guided and connected if you just listen and allow yourself to be molded by the natural flow of things.

       I Am Here and All is Well

      

       By Sandi Duncan

      

       It was New Year’s Eve 1990, going into 1991, and I was on my way to a peace concert at St. John the Divine in New York City. It was freezing that night; the temperature was sub-zero and there was a biting wind. I was tempted not to go out, but Kathleen Battle and Odetta were singing. It was one of those concerts you just didn’t want to miss, so I was braving the elements to be there.

       My partner and I grabbed a cab and were hurtling across a darkened and pot-hole ridden street