We've lost a lot of famous people recently, more than usual, it seems:  Farrah Fawcett, Ed McMahon, Michael Jackson, Patrick Swayze, Mary Travers, Henry Gibson, Senator Edward Kennedy, Robert McNamara, and many others. And people you've never heard of die every day, from old age, cancer, an accident, or in a battle zone. What happens to these beautiful souls when they die? Where do they go?

Most people who are grieving a loved one's passing want to know if their loved one is all right. The answer, of course, is yes, and more than yes. When people die, they return to the source of all things, and they assume their true form again:  they are Light. However, each soul's journey is unique, and there is a healing process that occurs when people die.

Some people cross very easily and have a relatively short transition period on the other side. Typically, this is because they had resolved a number of issues before crossing or their belief system supported the reality of what happened to them, so there was no conflict or shock. For others, the transition may take longer. For these souls, they spend time in what I like to call "ER"—a metaphysical emergency room where they can finish healing and let go of their ego baggage. In this "place," they are helped by other entities, mostly people who have also had lifetimes on this planet. The goal here is to help the soul remember who it is and to separate from their earthly life.

There are all kinds of reasons why a soul may need a little ER time. For example, if a person dies believing that they will go to hell, they're in for a surprise:  there isn't one. But their belief in one will probably result in experiencing hell in the form of self-torture in ER. Eventually, however, they will be able to let this go, forgive themselves for what they think they did wrong, and move on fully into the Light.

Strong beliefs of any kind can make the transition process more difficult. If a person really doesn't believe in God or an afterlife, they'll have to adjust. On the other hand, a highly religious person may have an equally difficult adjustment period because they expected "heaven" to look a specific way—and then it doesn't. But regardless of the beliefs that are held, the end result is always the same:  healing, letting go, and taking our rightful place in the Light with God. Only our individual journeys are different.

When a soul first crosses, they are naturally drawn by the suffering of their loved ones, even if the transition is easy for them. Generally, they will stay near the family for as long as necessary to try to comfort them. After awhile, it is important for them to move on—both for them and their family. When this happens, it doesn't mean that the soul is abandoning their loved ones or that they will stop protecting or communicating with them. It just means that they move higher into the Light. When this happens, the ego or "personality" that we knew can be released, although the energy of that soul will still be the same.

Some souls take it upon themselves to remain at a lower vibration so that they can protect their loved ones, as guardian angels. It is something they agreed to do when they contracted to be with you in this lifetime. While you can communicate with any crossed soul who is willing to do so, your day to day communications often come from these guardian spirits, in addition to your own spiritual guides.

Communicating with a crossed loved one doesn't require a "special gift" on your part. You just have to be open. A lot of communications occur in the form of "coincidences" or "synchronicities." Our mind likes to pretend that these occurrences aren't real, but of course they are. A song heard on the radio, a found penny with their birth year, and a license plate with their birthday are all ways in which spirit communicates with us.

Sometimes, we feel our loved ones. Have you ever been alone, but you felt like you weren't? Have you ever had an idea or a memory just "pop" into your head? Our feelings are the most psychic sense that we have. Use them. Trust them. When your loved one speaks to you, and they will, trust the message. Trust that you received it. Our loved ones want to talk to us. They want you to know that they're all right. They want you to know how much they love you. Hearing the message is a gift you give to them, as well as yourself.

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