Somewhere Over the Rainbow
Exactly where is Heaven?
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Somewhere Over the Rainbow
Would you know my name, if I saw you in you in Heaven?
Like Eric Clapton, whose lyrics from Tears in Heaven I use above, I have questions.
When I was a little girl, I imagined Heaven was in the clouds. That’s where people looked when they spoke of it. It was the 1950s.
By the 1960s, the Space Race was on and photo evidence of what existed above the clouds became available. The photos did not include any godly figure or angels or heavenly hangouts.
So where was my father, who died in 1961? And all the grandparents, aunts and uncles who passed before I was born?
I’m not sure I knew the word ancestor yet, but I had a sense that a lineage of people existed before me and were somehow now watching or guiding me. The feeling wasn’t defined and yet I knew my people had my back—in the way a young girl might fancy.
But if Heaven wasn’t in the clouds, where was it?
Fast forward to adulthood, circa 1991. My mother joined my father.
Having spent almost 30 more years more with her than my father, I felt her loss much more deeply. It seemed I simply could not get past the desire that arose to call her, ask advice, and listen to her very long-winded stories about what happened to her that day.
She appeared in my dreams in a very normal manner. It wasn’t like she was dead and now alive. She was just there. It wasn’t until I awoke and remembered my dream that I got the sense it was a visit.
It’s interesting. I don’t remember much of my dreams. If I do, it’s mostly the ones that come in the early hours, just before waking. Yet I remember all the dreams when my loved ones show up. Always. In great detail.
For years, I just smiled and appreciated the fact that my loved ones wanted to see me again as much as I wanted to see them.
Yet, I often felt my mother’s presence during waking hours. Nothing specific. I simply felt her.
Then in 2014, my best friend since childhood transitioned. We had met on the first day of first grade and it’s a long, interesting story of how we continued to stay connected. Despite life circumstances that pulled us apart geographically, she kept showing up where I was. Specifically, on the same day, unbeknownst to either of us, we each bought property to build homes in the same Florida community on lots that backed up to one another. (Many, many more similar stories, but that’s an essay for different day.)
And so another loved one began to visit me in my dreams. And like with my mother, I’ve never lost the urge to call her and I frequently feel her presence.
I never gave it much thought as to where they were. I simply knew they were around. And I found it comforting.
Then on November 12, 2020 at 5:30pm, I watched my beloved husband draw his last breath. This was the first time I was present for the transition.
I physically experienced the sensation of him leaving his body… and I knew where he went. I quickly packed my things, left hospice, and returned home. At first I thought that was where he was. And he is, still. But in truth, he is with me everywhere, always.
I have many names for the various aspects of him. There’s the spirit of Joe that remains in our apartment. There’s Travel Joey that accompanies me when I go out, protecting me. There’s Find-It Joey who locates misplaced items for me. And more.
I have written much about how losing Joe opened up my connection to the Other Side. About loss. About grief. About growth.
Today’s transmission is not about that, however.
What I want to share with you today is that now I know where Heaven is. And Hell. Because I don’t think you can know Heaven until you visit Hell.
It’s all within and around you.
I’m hardly the first one to make this association. In a previous essay, I shared two quotes from Rumi that I think explain this reality perfectly.
“Lovers don’t finally meet somewhere. They’re in each other all along.” (To my mind, “lovers” in this context refers to anyone who has touched your heart.)
“Don’t grieve. Anything you lose comes round in another form.”
In other words, you are not separate from All That Is. Not separate from the Divine. And not separate from others.
And You have the power to view the Whole that we are from whichever vantage point you choose: Heaven or Hell.
Why write about this? Why now?
Well, we are in the Season of the Witch. Halloween. Samhain1. Day of the Dead. Today, tomorrow (Saturday), Sunday. The Veil is at its thinnest.
Welcome to my world.
Perhaps you’ve felt it too. Let me assure you, it’s real. You won’t necessarily hear some loud voice or see an apparition with your physical eyes.
Here’s how to connect: Be still.
Listen with your soul. See with your eyes closed. Feel your body.
Something may appear that connects you to a memory. A song. A smell. A dreamlike sequence.
In truth, there is a bit more to it than that. You must start with a belief that it’s possible.
But even if you’re simply curious at this point, I can help.
Friday, October 31: I’ll be offering a Prayer for the Dead during an online Samhain Celebration, at 7pm ET. I’ll also do a Tarot reading and talk about how loved ones can come through in intuitive readings. Leading the celebration is a shaman who will explain and offer rituals honoring the season and those who have passed. Contact me for an invitation and Zoom link.
Saturday, November 1: Intuitive Tarot Readings at Energetic Experiences in Asheville from Noon to 4pm ET. I’ll help you connect with your loved ones or simply get guidance.
November 11 (11/11) through December 16 (12/16) alternating 2pm and 7pm ET 90-minute sessions: Book Reading Group. Gather together (via Zoom) for virtual co-reading Don Miguel Ruiz (The Fifth Agreement) and Paulo Coelho (The Alchemist). Group discussion last 30 minutes. More about this offering in the next issue of The Farsighted Observer.
Despite the spooky or possibly scary energy generated by commercial media, this is a time of great celebration. It’s also an opportunity to tune into a much deeper understanding of love, life, and existence.
Thank you for reading. I hope to see you at one of the events above or on the pages (screens) of this publication.
As always, it is my greatest wish to support you on your journey. Please reach out if you’d like to explore guidance on a more personal level.
Until next time…
My best, Shelley
Samhain is pronounced sah-win or sow-in in various dialects. Just don’t say Sam Hayn.