Grief Cracked Me Open

After my son Cory passed, my family and I traveled to Houston, Texas—the place where he had died—to see his body before cremation.

It was just three days after he left us, and as you can imagine, the experience was profoundly heartbreaking.

We decided that each of us would take turns spending time with him privately.

Afterward, we would all gather together one final time in his presence.

When I saw him, I was struck by how handsome and peaceful he looked.

Because he wasn’t being buried, he hadn’t been embalmed—which often gives a person an unnatural appearance.

Instead, Cory looked untouched and real.

He had just gotten a haircut the day before his trip to Houston, and in that moment, it looked as though he were simply taking a nap.

During my turn with him, I spoke softly, telling him how much I needed his help in carrying forward his legacy of love and compassion.

Tears flowed endlessly, as though my eyes were an open well of grief that had no bottom.

Later, when we were all assembled—my family and a few of Cory’s close friends sat quietly in the room.

I stood beside his body while the others sat in silence, each wrapped in their own sorrow.

And then something extraordinary happened.

Suddenly, I felt a rush of energy sweep over me—like cool water cascading up, down and through my entire body, as if I were standing beneath a spiritual waterfall.

I began laughing and crying at the same time, the feelings so overwhelming and alive that they moved through me with a power I couldn’t contain.

It was exhilarating!

I could feel my family watching, perhaps wondering if I was losing my mind.

I looked at them and pointed to Cory’s body.

“He’s not there,” I said, my voice trembling with awe.

Then I placed my hand over my heart.

“He’s here.”

That moment marked the first of what would become a cascade of supernatural experiences—gifts my beautiful son Cory would continue to offer as part of my grief journey.

I look back with immense gratitude—for the beauty, for the unbearable pain, for the unspeakable loss, and for the transformation that rose from its ashes.

Even, and especially, for the trauma.

Because without all of it, I wouldn’t be who I AM today.

Thank you, Cory.

I love you always.

————-

If you’re struggling with the trauma of loss, know that you don’t have to navigate this path alone.

I would love to hear from you and learn more about your journey.

I invite you to join our Healing Hearts Community, where together we can share, grow, and heal.

Learn more through the link below:

Healing Hearts Support for Bereaved Parents

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The Cycle of Life and Death: A Mother's Perspective

When my son Cory died, it felt as though my heart had been ripped out and discarded—much like the loss of a limb, except it was my heart that was taken away.

Later, I discovered that during pregnancy, fetal cells from the baby distribute throughout the mother’s body, embedding themselves into her organs.

This means that, in a profound way, your child becomes a part of you!

This phenomenon beautifully explains the deep bond between mother and child and why the impact of a child’s death is felt so intensely by a mother.

The cycle of life and death has intrigued me; I have witnessed it both in my external world and within myself.

As I journeyed through my grief, confronting Cory’s death head-on, I experienced my own egoic deaths nearly every day…

- Death to how I thought life should be…

- Death to my dreams and aspirations for Cory, my family, and myself…

- Death to my old way of being…

- Death to relationships that faded away…

- Death to the places I once held dear…

- Death to belief systems that once felt so vital to me…

Yet within this cycle, there is always life on the other side of death.

In facing my losses with courage, I also birthed new life…

- Life to a brand new world that looked nothing like my old one…

- Life to expanded dreams for myself and the shared experiences I now have with Cory on the other side…

- Life to perspectives I had never imagined—more open and vibrant…

- Life to new relationships with like-hearted souls and a fresh tribe…

- Life to my heart’s desire to live in Austin, TX, where I truly feel at home…

- Life to an exhilarating new reality I never thought possible.

Through this journey, I’ve learned that life and death are two sides of the same coin.

By embracing death, I was able to give birth to new life.

The death I experienced became fertile compost, nurturing rich beginnings that blossomed in ways I never could have envisioned.

As arduous and traumatic as it was to endure Cory’s passing, I am profoundly grateful for the gift of acceptance that enabled me to let go of the old and welcome in the new.

Death and life are among the most natural occurrences we face.

I am no longer afraid of death, for I now recognize it as an integral part of life’s progression.

Today, I feel immense gratitude for both my experiences with death and life, as well as the support I’ve received from Cory and others along my journey.

-————-

If you’re struggling with the trauma of loss, know that you don’t have to navigate this path alone.

I would love to hear from you and learn more about your journey.

I invite you to join our Healing Hearts Community, where together we can share, grow, and heal.

Learn more through the link below:

Healing Hearts Support for Bereaved Parents

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The Three “R”s for Connecting with Departed Loved Ones

When someone close to us departs this realm, the grief can feel overwhelming.

We miss them deeply — so much so that our sorrow can sometimes block the very connection we long for.

But here’s the truth: no one ever truly goes away.

They simply shift into another dimension, one we can learn to touch and feel.

Connecting with our departed loved ones is a powerful way to heal, to dissolve the illusion of separation, and to remember that love never dies.

Here’s how:

1. Remove Limiting Beliefs

The first step to connecting with your loved one on the other side is to remove any limiting beliefs that are standing in your way.

Certain religions and cultures may label communicating with the departed as taboo or forbidden.

When my son Cory passed away, I asked myself:

“Am I going to let other people’s beliefs stop me from receiving love and communication from him?”

The answer was a resounding NO.

Another common limiting belief is the fear of being judged — that others might think we’re “crazy” for believing in signs, messages, or feelings from those who have passed.

I chose to let people think what they wanted. This was my life, my son, and his presence was undeniably real.

Some also fear the idea of ghosts or hauntings.

It’s important to know there’s a big difference between a spirit who has transitioned fully into the light — experiencing pure bliss and Love — and a soul who is stuck between realms.

Your loved one is at peace. They are in the Light. And they want nothing more than to love and support you.

——-

2. Raise Your Vibration

Grieving is natural and necessary.

But to establish a stronger connection with your loved one, it’s important not to stay submerged in the heaviness of grief all the time.

When we are deep in sorrow, our vibration is low.

Meanwhile, our loved ones exist at a very high vibrational frequency — making it difficult to feel or hear them when we are weighed down.

Learning to raise your vibration creates a bridge between their world and yours.

Here’s how:

Practice Stillness: Sit quietly for 5–10 minutes each day. Let your nervous system calm and your inner world settle.

Live in the Present Moment: Smell your food before you eat. Feel your feet on the ground. Breathe deeply. Look someone in the eye when they speak.

Use Gratitude: When you find yourself spiraling into sadness, gently shift by listing three things you’re grateful for.

Repeat Loving Mantras:

• “It’s okay to feel sad.”

• “I choose acceptance of what is.”

• “All is well.”

• “Everything is happening in my favor.”

These simple practices will gradually lift your energy — opening your heart to feel the love and messages your loved one is sending.

———

3. Relate to Your Loved One

Once you’ve cleared limiting beliefs and raised your vibration, you’re ready to relate to your loved one in new and beautiful ways.

Understand this:

They are using everything they can to get your attention — to remind you that they are with you.

Signs can come in countless ways, including:

• Visits from animals or insects

• Song lyrics that feel “too perfect” to be coincidence

• Finding coins or feathers

• Seeing their birthday numbers repeatedly

• Smelling roses or a familiar scent

• People who unexpectedly channel their messages

• Synchronicities and number patterns like 1111

Be open. Be curious. Be willing to receive.

You can also invite connection through your dreamworld.

Before going to sleep, set a simple, heartfelt intention:

“I would love to visit with you tonight.”

Dreamtime is an altered state where communication flows more easily.

In your waking life, you can communicate telepathically.

Talk to them in your heart.

Ask them questions.

Listen for the quiet, loving responses.

At first, you may doubt the messages that come — thinking they’re just your imagination.

But as you practice, you’ll notice a sweetness, a wisdom, and a knowing that didn’t come from your ordinary mind.

Telepathic communication is natural in the spirit realm.

The more you trust, the more effortless it becomes.

———

Before long, you’ll begin to experience something miraculous:

The illusion that they are “gone” will fade.

Instead, you will feel their presence — perhaps even more vividly, more profoundly — than you ever did when they were in physical form.

The spirit realm is more real than this earthly one.

When you learn to trust that truth, a whole new relationship with your loved one opens before you —one filled with guidance, connection, and a Love that endures forever.

————

Discover more about navigating grief through the link below:

Healing Hearts Support for Bereaved Parents

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New Beginnings Beyond the Storm

Two years and a half after Cory passed away, I encountered three baby woodpeckers that had fallen from their hollow tree branch nest during a fierce storm.

Among them, two were still alive, while one lay lifeless on the ground.

This moment resonated deeply with me, occurring just six months after Cory had passed away.

The symbolism of three, with two living and one dead, struck a profound chord within my heart, since I myself have birthed three children.

I cared for the surviving babies over the next few days, doing everything I could to keep them alive.

However, despite my best efforts, something came in the night and took them away.

The following day, one of the parent woodpeckers returned, desperately searching for its babies.

In that moment, I felt an overwhelming sense of failure.

I silently asked the parent bird for forgiveness and shared in its deep sorrow.

Two years later, as I sat enjoying breakfast, a large woodpecker suddenly crashed into my window pane, bouncing off and momentarily dazed.

It then examined the nearby tree, where I had created a bat memorial that holds some of Cory's ashes.

After a brief pause, the woodpecker flew away.

A few moments later, I noticed another smaller bird frolicking among the branches.

To my delight, it perched next to the bat on the trunk, revealing itself as a young woodpecker.

I watched as it pecked at the tree, its tiny red head bobbing back and forth in a rhythm of playful curiosity before it took flight again.

In that moment, it struck me: the woodpecker had returned to start a new family, despite the tragedy of the past.

And I couldn’t help but feel that this young bird’s visit was a sign, a gentle reminder from Cory that all is well.

——————-

If you are navigating your grief journey and feel prepared to begin connecting with your departed loved ones, click the link below for invaluable resources and support:

Healing Hearts Support for Bereaved Parents

You are warmly invited to join our support community, focusing on healing, wholeness, and connection.

Big love to you!

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